Award winning Specialist
A facet joint injection is a back and spine treatment that reduces inflammation and pain in the joints between your vertebrae (the bones of your spine). Back and spine conditions, including arthritis, injury, trauma, and degenerative disc disease, can cause damage and discomfort around the facet joints. Here, learn how facet joint spinal injections can help you overcome these conditions.
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Pain relief for back, reduces inflammation & restores movement
Harley Street Specialist Hospital is an award-winning private hospital where you’ll receive the highest standards of patient care in a convenient, comfortable setting. Backed by the UK’s largest pool of pain management consultants, we can address all kinds of back pain to get you back on your feet.
Facet joint injections are readily available at our private central London hospital. If you’re eligible for this treatment, you’ll often be assessed, diagnosed, and treated on the same day, so there’s no need for multiple appointments.
After your treatment, you’ll be referred to a private physiotherapist who can help you stay pain-free even after the facet joint injection wears off. It’s all part of our holistic, patient-centred approach to treatment. To get started, book an appointment with our back pain specialists at a convenient time for you.
Each spinal segment is connected by a pair of joints called facet joints. These provide stability and mobility along your backbone but can also become inflamed and painful due to arthritis, injury, or overuse. This is sometimes called facet joint disorder.
A facet joint injection involves injecting a solution of local anaesthetic and steroid medication into the painful facet joint to reduce swelling and minimise pain.
A facet joint injection is normally a day-case procedure, so you won’t need to stay in the hospital overnight. Here’s how it works:
1. Assessment and eligibility — The first step is ensuring you’re a good candidate for a facet joint injection. Our team will perform diagnostic and imaging assessments to determine the source of pain.
2. X-ray or ultrasound guidance — An X-ray or ultrasound scanner will help the team find the best point to give you the facet joint injection.
3. Local anaesthetic — You’ll be given a local anaesthetic to numb the spine and make the facet joint injection less uncomfortable.
4. Facet joint injection — The needle is inserted into your facet joint under X-ray or ultrasound guidance. Then, the medication is injected to alleviate pain and swelling.
5. Recovery — You’ll be monitored for a few hours after the procedure to ensure you feel well.
Sedation isn’t always recommended, as it can interfere with your pain response after the injection. But if you are sedated, you won’t be able to drive home afterwards, so it’s best to arrange alternative travel.
Learn more about facet joint injections in these frequently asked questions.
Facet joint injections can treat many conditions involving damaged facet joints. This includes:
Facet joint injections can be administered anywhere along the spine. Lumbar facet joint injections tackle low back pain, while thoracic and cervical facet joint injections treat neck and upper back pain.
Up to 92% of patients get short-term relief from facet joint injections (up to four weeks). Long-term relief (up to three months) may be felt in up to 62% of facet joint injection patients.
Facet joint injections are safe and well-tolerated by most patients. However, there are some potential side effects to be aware of:
There’s also a very low risk of infection, nerve damage, and allergic reaction after a facet joint injection.
Like most injections, facet joint injections can be uncomfortable. However, the pain is short-lived and will quickly subside as the medication takes effect.
Harley Street Specialist Hospital’s facet joint injection treatment costs range from £2,768 to £3,143 for self-paying customers. Patients with private medical insurance are also welcome to enquire about facet joint injections.
Spread the cost of your medical treatment over several months with our finance options and medical payment plans. This is ideal for patients seeking the speed and comfort of private healthcare without significant upfront payments.
Use our self-payment options to get prompt care with the consultant of your choice. Patients looking for fast, efficient treatment without private health insurance are welcome to pay for treatment before their procedure.
We welcome patients with private medical insurance from approved insurers, including Bupa, AXA, Aviva, and many more. Find out how to claim for your treatment with private health insurance to get optimum care and comfort.
Find out more about facet joint injections and how they help with back pain below.
Facet joint injections can treat many conditions involving damaged facet joints. This includes:
In some cases, back pain can get worse after a facet joint injection. This is due to swelling at the injection site, which will improve as the steroid takes effect. Any increase in pain is normally temporary and eases off after a few days.
For most patients, pain relief from facet joint injections lasts at least four weeks. It can last as long as three to six months before you need a top-up injection.
Most patients can have facet joint injections up to three times a year, depending on the effectiveness of the treatment.
Facet joint injections are successful for the majority of patients. But there’s a chance your pain will return after a few weeks or months. In this case, other injections or certain types of spinal surgery may be recommended to give you longer-term relief.
At Harley Street Specialist Hospital, we strive to offer the best in patient care, comfort, and safety. With no waiting lists, your assessment, diagnosis, and treatment is our top priority. You can often get your first facet joint injection on the same day as your initial appointment if you’re eligible.
We cater for self-paying and privately insured patients. Book an appointment to discuss facet joint injections and other back and spine pain treatments at our central London clinic.
