Cervical facet joint injections are a common treatment used to relieve neck pain that comes from irritated joints in your spine. If you’ve been struggling with stiffness, headaches, or pain that worsens when you move your neck, this procedure might be something your doctor suggests.
In this post, we’ll break down what cervical facet joint injections are, how they work, what to expect during the procedure, and how they can help you get back to your daily activities with less discomfort.
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What are cervical facet joints?
Cervical facet joints are small paired joints on the side of each vertebra in the neck that help guide motion and provide stability. Degeneration, arthritis, or injury to these joints can produce localized neck pain, headaches, and pain that may radiate into the head, shoulders or upper back.
When your joints become inflamed or damaged, you may develop a condition known as cervical facet joint syndrome, or cervical facet arthropathy. In these cases, targeted injections can help confirm the pain source, reduce inflammation and potentially promote healing.
What is a cervical facet joint injection?
A cervical facet joint injection is an outpatient procedure used to treat pain stemming from inflamed facet joints. This is an image-guided procedure that involves first injecting a local anesthetic (like you get at a dentist) to verify and confirm which level and joints your pain is coming from. Once the origin of pain is confirmed either corticosteroid or platelet-rich pasma (PRP) is injected into the small joints of the cervical spine (neck) to reduce inflammation and temporarily block pain signals.
This image-guided procedure uses x-ray technology to create live images of your neck. This allows the specialist to see the joints and bones clearly while placing a very thin needle into the exact spot that needs treatment. In this way, the procedure is precisely targeted to treatment areas.
During the procedure, the skin is cleaned, and a local anesthetic is applied to numb the area. The doctor then carefully inserts a small needle into one or more painful joints or nearby nerves. A combination of local anesthetic (for quick pain relief) and corticosteroid or PRP is then injected. The injection itself usually takes only a few minutes.
Real-time x-ray technology can help identify and avoid blood vessels, which may reduce the risk of injury. This is an important consideration for cervical procedures because vertebral arteries run close to the spine. It’s important for your doctor to know exactly where the pain is before they can treat it effectively!
Who is a candidate for facet joint injections?
Cervical facet joint injections are typically considered for patients with chronic neck pain that is believed to originate from the facet joints. This procedure may be recommended when other treatments have not provided relief. People with facet joint arthritis, whiplash injuries, or neck mobility issues may benefit from this procedure.
Before recommending injections, your Coast Injury Medicine car accident doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical exam. They may also order imaging to rule out disc herniation or other issues. If you are on blood thinners or have untreated diabetes, active infection, or certain bleeding disorders, you may be advised against facet joint injections until these issues are addressed.
To speak to a car accident doctor about a facet joint injection, click here.
What is radiofrequency ablation?
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses controlled heat from radiofrequency to destroy or disrupt targeted tissue. Your pain specialist will place a thin needle near the painful nerve under imaging guidance and deliver radiofrequency energy to reduce the nerve’s ability to send pain messages to the brain.
RFA is frequently used for chronic neck or back pain from facet joint arthritis. Because it is done through small needle punctures rather than open surgery, patients typically go home the same day, with the goal of longer-lasting pain relief after other treatments such as medication and physical therapy have not been effective. Speak with a car accident doctor at Coast Injury Medicine to learn more.
What to Expect During Your Cervical Facet Joint Injection
On the day of your cervical facet joint injection, you will typically check in as an outpatient. Wear clothes that allow your cervical spine, or neck area, to be accessible; otherwise you may change into a gown. You will be positioned on your side or face-down, so the probe can easily access the targeted areas.
After the skin is cleaned and numbed, your car accident doctor will use a probe to identify the correct vertebral level and facet joint or medial branch nerve. Under x-ray imaging guidance, a thin needle is then advanced into the joint or near the nerve, and small amounts of anesthetic and steroid are slowly injected. Patients return home within the same day, after a short observation period. For diagnostic tests, the patient will track their pain scores every half hour for about 6 hours.
A Note on Needle Anxiety . . .
Needle phobia is extremely common, affecting 10-25% of all adults. The car accident doctors at Coast Injury Medicine understand this. Our team has an anxiety protocol where mild anxiety medication can be used to help patients relax. We will also arrange your treatment to minimize patients seeing needles and equipment during the procedure. With this technique, we have been able to successfully treat patients experiencing severe needle anxiety. Please note that full sedation is not recommended for diagnostic tests, as this may interfere with the results.
Work with a Car Accident Doctor at Coast Injury Medicine
What does a cervical facet joint injection do?
Facet joint injections may serve both diagnostic and therapeutic roles. When the anesthetic provides rapid, significant pain relief, it suggests that the targeted facet joint or its nerve supply is a major contributor to your neck pain.
Risks, Side Effects, and Safety
Although considered safe and minimally invasive, cervical facet injections still carry risks, as with any spinal injection. Common, usually mild effects include temporary soreness at the injection site, minor bruising, or a brief flare in pain that settles within a few days.
Serious complications are rare but can include infection, bleeding, allergic reactions to medications, nerve damage, and—in cervical injections specifically—vertebral artery injury, spinal cord injury. Steroid-related systemic side effects such as elevated blood sugar, fluid retention, mood changes, or transient blood pressure changes are possible, especially with repeated injections in patients with underlying health conditions.
Note about PRP therapy: since PRP is simply a part of a patient’s own blood and body and no additional medication is added to what is injected, allergic reactions don’t occur. Only local anesthetic, and possible contrast, will be used; this minimizes overall side effects.
Steroid Injections vs. Platelet-Rich Plasma: Which Should I Use?
Both steroid injections and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can assist with pain relief after an accident. Steroid injections work fastest for immediate relief, reducing pain and inflammation; it is usually covered by medical insurance. However, they are not directly targeted at promoting healing. PRP introduces a concentrated dose of the part of your blood (plasma) that contains platelets and healing factors. Several types of car insurance will cover PRP injections in full.
For more information about platelet rich plasma, click here.
Facet Joint Injury? Coast Injury Medicine Can Help
At Coast Injury Medicine, your health comes first. Our team focuses on detailed evaluations, individualized treatment plans, and streamlined access to advanced care so you can recover as fully and safely as possible. Undiagnosed injuries can delay or derail your healing, so early assessment is essential.
Start with a comprehensive examination of your injuries to understand exactly what you need. You’ll partner with our dedicated team of specialists to build a recovery plan tailored to your condition and goals. Our goal: to help you return to your daily life without the pain, restrictions, or lingering complications from your injuries.
Book an appointment with our experienced car accident physicians today.