Inflamed facet joint

[Deleted User]

I'm having a nightmare with a back injury. Now I seem to at least have a diagnosis of an inflamed facet joint.

Has anyone here encountered this? If so any recommendations for recovery or what is the recovery turnaround?

I'm hoping this is something that with a bit of time and care can be recovered from ok...

[Deleted User]

Is your injury due to a recent trauma or chronic?

[Deleted User]

Recent "trauma".

[Deleted User]

Did your Dr give any indication?  Imflammed facet joints due to trauma will usually settle down in 4 - 6 weeks but it is really important during that time that your posture is good as bad posture can inflame them more and the injury can become chronic.  Are you seeing a physio?

[Deleted User]

I've been to the physio lots though only recently have they reached this conclusion.

It happened in December. Doctor has seen it but not said much about from rest, better posture. Basically the physio has relieved the muscles several times only to flare up again. Basically it wasn't caught and I should have been more vigilant on it.

I work in a desk job which doesn't help and bad posture has probably flared it up. I've been working on this a lot as well as resting which is helping however not out of woods yet.

What about strengthening / stretching? Any advice on it?

Thanks for taking the time to reply by the way - appreciated. 

[Deleted User]

Difficult one TG - I wouldn't advise without you speaking to your physio - I can only tell you about mine.  How was it diagnosed?  MRI or x-ray?  You say this happened in December....... if it is no better now it is more a chronic condition - it has lasted longer than 6 weeks.  Often the pain is caused by the muscles tightening/spasming because the facet joint has become locked.  But this isn't always the case, sometimes you get a bone on bone degenerative thing going on or it can cause awful sciatica if a nerve becomes involved.  Things which help are heat, pain killers (I used and still use if I get a flare, Nurofen plus which is ibuprofen + codiene - a muscle relaxant and massage but most important is good posture.  I took up Pilates to increase the muscle strength to my core and it definately helped. Get a good DVD if you can't face a class and speak to your physio about posture and stretching/strengthing.  I did mine 2 years ago and its still not right but am still fell running.  I found it was better to keep mobile (except when really painful when you can't do anything... ) as resting made it stiffer and more prone to lock up and spasm. 

Desk jobs are killers for this condition.  I got a large gym ball and sat on that in work for a couple of hours a day as doing this engages your core and stregthens it.  Got some strange looks but I'm thick skinned!  Try not to sit too long and also supporting the bottom of your back with a small rectangular pad helps.  I make sure i walk at lunchtimes and mid morning/afternoon. 

[Deleted User]

'The Back Sufferer's Bible' by Sarah Keys, I bought it for 1p + postage on Amazon. Plenty of good reviews for this and lots of advice + exercises.

[Deleted User]

Yes Rich - good one.  I got "pilates for bad backs" DVD which was excellent.

[Deleted User]

TL - to be honest it is what the physio thinks it is rather than x-ray / MRI.

I have BUPA so might try and initiate an MRI to be definitive about it.

I fell on December and ran on it. Only in mid / end of January did things start to get as bad as they are... Seemed to be a progressive (well digressive) thing.

Thanks Rich - just recommended that on saturday by a fellow runner actually along with the back block. Hadn't looked in great detail into it yet though.

[Deleted User]

The back block is quite expensive for what it is. I use two volumes of 'The War Memoirs of Lloyd George' which seem to do the job. Since being given exercises to do by an NHS physio which rendered me immobile and put me in considerable pain I decided to take control of the problem myself using the book and haven't looked back. Have read all the technical stuff and do the exercises every day, and just ignored the negative comments she makes about jogging and marathon running!
With regard to sitting posture I've always used a cylindrical foam lumbar roll which I find really helps maintain the correct posture whilst seated. Also good for driving.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Rich.

A guy in the running club swears by it too so based on a few reviews now sounds to be worth looking at. (The exercises withimprovised block that is!)

Most physios / back specialists that I would know recommend against running anyway so I wouldn't  pay much attention! (That's even when you're 100% fit!)

The key place I need to aid posture is the car so might look at one of those lumbar rolls too.

joules1

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<div><a rel="nofollow">tommygunn</a> said:</div>
<div><p>I'm having a nightmare with a back injury. Now I seem to at least have a diagnosis of an inflamed facet joint.</p><p>Has anyone here encountered this? If so any recommendations for recovery or what is the recovery turnaround?</p><p>I'm hoping this is something that with a bit of time and care can be recovered from ok... </p></div>
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joules1

Hi I have been suffering with this for four years, the pain in the right of the spine in the small on my back. Physio, Ostiopath, acupuncture and much more money spent, the cure? excercise your core! Palatis! hold your core strong while you lie on you back bring the legs up, brilliant and not difficult!