The Complex Causes of Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain. The 2 most common forms of pain in the human anatomy are Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain, although the cause of either can be complex at times due to so many different causes. There is however, a root cause or secondary cause of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain that is frequently overlooked, very difficult to diagnose, and oftentimes labeled as a secret or hidden cause. Neck Pain or Lower Back Pains hidden cause or secret source is known as Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome. Facet Syndrome, or simply Facet Joint Pain is directly related to pain in the facet joints, and is a chronic pain syndrome, which is a collection of Chronic Neck Pain symptoms or Chronic Lower Back Pain Symptoms.
What does Articulation have to do with a Facet Joint? The posterior spinal joint that interfaces an adjacent upper and lower vertebrae together, is called a Facet Joint or Zygapophyseal Joint. Articulation within defined ranges of motion, is the medical term for Facet Joint movement. The articulation of a Facet Joint includes flexion, which is bending forward, extension, which is bending backward, and Cervical Rotation, or Thoracolumbar Rotation, which is twisting from side to side. Facet Joint unload and stretch when flexed, and load and compress when extended, while having complex combination of either when twisted to one side or the other. Luckily for us, Facet Joints also limit excessive range of motion, which can cause damage to spinal discs in either the Neck or Lower Back.
Are Facet Joints Synovial Joints? Synovial Joints are the most common joint in the human body, and Facet Joints are most definitely Synovial Joints. Synovial Joints are characterized by having a joint capsule with synovial fluid that lubricates the inside of the joint and by having cartilage on the outside of the joint between the lower adjacent surface and the upper adjacent surface of each vertebra to provide for smooth gliding movements.
What are the causes and characteristics of Facet Arthritis? Degenerative Arthritis, a form of facet joint inflammation, is also known as Facet Arthritis or Facet Arthropathy, and is one of the syndromes of Facet Joint Pain. This Chronic Pain condition can be caused by wear and tear, degeneration of the cartilage surfaces, joint capsule.
Factors affecting Joint Movement? The Facet Joint must be able to move smoothly without restriction. Facet Joint Pain is often experienced when the joint becomes stuck or fixated in the open or closed position or in the partially open or partially closed position. The Facet Joint Pain dysfunction can cause the muscles surrounding the problem to become hypertonic-extremely tight in order to splint or support the problem. Conversely, the musculature that surrounds the joint could have a problem that is causing the joint to become stuck open or closed, resulting in Facet Joint Pain.
What are some Facet Joint Pain causes? Some causes of Facet joint pain are: Wear and tear, Degeneration of Cartilage surfaces, Joint Capsule or associated Vertebral Discs, Injury or Trauma, Incorrect posture, Excessive forward head posture, Forward Pelvic Rotation, Abnormal spinal curvature, Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back, Scoliosis-Lateral Lumbar spinal curvature.
What are some common Symptoms of Facet Syndrome for the Lower Back? The initial onset of pain might be related to a rotational spinal injury or a spinal injury involving hyperextension of the spine. Lower back facet joint pain symptoms include increased pain upon side bending or twisting or arching the lower back or torso, lower back pain or tenderness, deep dull aching pain that moves to the buttocks or the back of the thighs, and/or stiffness or difficulty with certain movements, such as standing up straight or getting up out of a chair.
What are the Symptoms of Neck-Cervical Facet Syndrome? Neck Pain, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, and/or difficulty side bending or rotating the head are all Facet Join pain neck symptoms. Check to see if the Facet Joint Pain Assessment indicates the pain scale for the associated problems. Find out if there is a history of whiplash or any other kind of neck injury.
Is Facet Joint Articulation restricted? Articulation is the single most important question that needs to be answered, and if we conduct a special test known as the spring test which can test for basic joint movement, we can maybe hope to have some kind of answer.
Can Exercises Relieve my Facet Joint Pain? Compression of the lumbar facet joints can be caused by Lumbar Lordosis and hypertonic hip flexors and hypertonic lower back musculature, so stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce joint compression and help prevent joint fixation can help to reverse the postural distortion that has occurred. If the cervical (neck) spine is affected by excessive forward head posture and hypertonic neck musculature, there are strengthening and stretching exercises for postural correction and hypertonicity reduction as well. An experienced Medical Massage Therapist will be able to formulate an effective exercise treatment plan.
What does Articulation have to do with a Facet Joint? The posterior spinal joint that interfaces an adjacent upper and lower vertebrae together, is called a Facet Joint or Zygapophyseal Joint. Articulation within defined ranges of motion, is the medical term for Facet Joint movement. The articulation of a Facet Joint includes flexion, which is bending forward, extension, which is bending backward, and Cervical Rotation, or Thoracolumbar Rotation, which is twisting from side to side. Facet Joint unload and stretch when flexed, and load and compress when extended, while having complex combination of either when twisted to one side or the other. Luckily for us, Facet Joints also limit excessive range of motion, which can cause damage to spinal discs in either the Neck or Lower Back.
Are Facet Joints Synovial Joints? Synovial Joints are the most common joint in the human body, and Facet Joints are most definitely Synovial Joints. Synovial Joints are characterized by having a joint capsule with synovial fluid that lubricates the inside of the joint and by having cartilage on the outside of the joint between the lower adjacent surface and the upper adjacent surface of each vertebra to provide for smooth gliding movements.
What are the causes and characteristics of Facet Arthritis? Degenerative Arthritis, a form of facet joint inflammation, is also known as Facet Arthritis or Facet Arthropathy, and is one of the syndromes of Facet Joint Pain. This Chronic Pain condition can be caused by wear and tear, degeneration of the cartilage surfaces, joint capsule.
Factors affecting Joint Movement? The Facet Joint must be able to move smoothly without restriction. Facet Joint Pain is often experienced when the joint becomes stuck or fixated in the open or closed position or in the partially open or partially closed position. The Facet Joint Pain dysfunction can cause the muscles surrounding the problem to become hypertonic-extremely tight in order to splint or support the problem. Conversely, the musculature that surrounds the joint could have a problem that is causing the joint to become stuck open or closed, resulting in Facet Joint Pain.
What are some Facet Joint Pain causes? Some causes of Facet joint pain are: Wear and tear, Degeneration of Cartilage surfaces, Joint Capsule or associated Vertebral Discs, Injury or Trauma, Incorrect posture, Excessive forward head posture, Forward Pelvic Rotation, Abnormal spinal curvature, Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back, Scoliosis-Lateral Lumbar spinal curvature.
What are some common Symptoms of Facet Syndrome for the Lower Back? The initial onset of pain might be related to a rotational spinal injury or a spinal injury involving hyperextension of the spine. Lower back facet joint pain symptoms include increased pain upon side bending or twisting or arching the lower back or torso, lower back pain or tenderness, deep dull aching pain that moves to the buttocks or the back of the thighs, and/or stiffness or difficulty with certain movements, such as standing up straight or getting up out of a chair.
What are the Symptoms of Neck-Cervical Facet Syndrome? Neck Pain, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, and/or difficulty side bending or rotating the head are all Facet Join pain neck symptoms. Check to see if the Facet Joint Pain Assessment indicates the pain scale for the associated problems. Find out if there is a history of whiplash or any other kind of neck injury.
Is Facet Joint Articulation restricted? Articulation is the single most important question that needs to be answered, and if we conduct a special test known as the spring test which can test for basic joint movement, we can maybe hope to have some kind of answer.
Can Exercises Relieve my Facet Joint Pain? Compression of the lumbar facet joints can be caused by Lumbar Lordosis and hypertonic hip flexors and hypertonic lower back musculature, so stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce joint compression and help prevent joint fixation can help to reverse the postural distortion that has occurred. If the cervical (neck) spine is affected by excessive forward head posture and hypertonic neck musculature, there are strengthening and stretching exercises for postural correction and hypertonicity reduction as well. An experienced Medical Massage Therapist will be able to formulate an effective exercise treatment plan.
About the Author:
Stephen Akamine focuses his efforts on the treatment of Myofascial Pain and is highly regarded as one of the top Licensed Medical Massage Therapists in the State of Hawaii. You can find Facet Joint Pain information and information about soft tissue treatment for pain at his online resource center.
