Causes
How We Can Help You for Facet Arthropathy
The doctors in the Stanford Medicine Spine Center are leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of facet arthropathy (pronounced “fuh-SET ar-THROP-uh-thee”), a form of arthritis affecting joints in the spine.
We personalize a treatment plan to help relieve your symptoms, which most commonly include pain in the lower back. Our team also can guide you to the best diet and exercise for your condition. We can even help you and your family members take action to reduce the risk of developing facet arthropathy or lessen its impact.
In addition, Stanford Medicine Spine Center patients with facet arthropathy may have opportunities to participate in research studies of new treatment approaches not yet available anywhere else.
What We Offer You for Facet Arthropathy
- Center of Excellence for advanced care of all spine-related conditions.
- Nationally recognized expertise in treating all types of facet arthropathy cases, no matter how complex.
- Precise diagnosis options including the latest imaging technology.
- Team-based treatment planning that brings together orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists and neurosurgeons, pain management specialists, rheumatologists, physiatrists, and others to tailor care to your needs.
- Advanced treatment options emphasizing noninvasive approaches whenever possible, including exercises, physical therapy, and medication therapy, and, when needed, spine surgery.
- Comprehensive support services including care coordination from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up.
- Active research program to develop new diagnostic and treatment advances.
Treatments for Facet Arthropathy
The team members of the Stanford Medicine Spine Center use the most advanced techniques to effectively treat facet arthropathy, a form of arthritis affecting joints in the spine. We have experience with all treatment approaches and use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.
Our team includes doctors from orthopaedics, rheumatology, physiatry, neurology, and other specialties, working together to help ensure you receive an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment possible.
Our treatments focus on:
- Reducing pain, stiffness, and inflammation
- Keeping your condition from getting worse
- Helping you continue or resume doing your daily activities
Treatment options include:
Our specialists focus on treating your symptoms and keeping your condition from getting worse.
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Improved control of motions that cause pain (for example, lifting, twisting, and stretching)
- Surgery, such as removing the bone spurs that are the result of facet arthropathy, to relieve nerve root compression. This may also be paired with a spinal fusion, if indicated.
- Facet joint ablation (also known as facet radiofrequency ablation): use of electric shocks to prevent nerves of facet joints in the spine from sending pain signals to the brain
The spine continues to wear down as we age. However, treatment can help relieve pain and other symptoms, and help you get back to activities you love.
Prevention
It may not be possible to prevent facet arthropathy, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing it. For example:
- Keep a healthy body weight.
- Exercise regularly—ideally, low-impact activities such as walking and swimming.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Avoid injuries. Use proper lifting techniques. Don’t lift objects that are too heavy. Wear protective equipment when playing sports.
- Keep a good posture. Sit, stand, and walk as straight as possible.
- Talk with your doctor about vitamin supplements. You may benefit from calcium, vitamin D, or another supplement. But always talk with your doctor before starting any new prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements.
- If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. It’s bad for your bones (and other parts of your body too).
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future.
What is Facet Arthropathy?
Facet arthropathy is a form of arthritis affecting joints in the spine.
Facet joints are located on the back of your spine. They help provide a counterbalance to the discs inside your spine’s vertebrae (the small bones that form your backbone). Facet joints help control the motion of your spine so that the vertebrae stay in a healthy position.
As we age, our facet joints wear down. When arthritis occurs in these joints, we call it facet arthropathy.
Our Clinics
The Stanford Medicine Spine Center is staffed by world-class spine specialists from neurosurgery and orthopaedics, who work together to offer you the world’s most advanced and effective treatment options—including those that don’t involve surgery. Our goal is to safely get you back to your normal lifestyle as soon as possible, and maintain long-term spinal health.
To schedule an appointment, please call 650-725-1125.