— Facet Joint Injections
Last reviewed: April 26, 2026
Are you experiencing persistent joint pain that affects your daily activities and quality of life? At SOLUTIONS Pain & Spine, we offer advanced and minimally invasive treatment options, including Facet Joint Injections, to provide effective relief from chronic joint discomfort.
What Are Facet Joint Injections?
Facet Joint Injections are a specialized medical procedure designed to alleviate pain caused by inflammation or dysfunction in the facet joints of the spine. The facet joints, located at the back of the spine, allow for smooth and controlled movement between adjacent vertebrae.
During the procedure, our experienced medical professionals use fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray guidance) to accurately target and inject a combination of anesthetic medication and anti-inflammatory agents directly into the affected facet joints. This helps to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and restore mobility.
Conditions Treated by Facet Joint Injections
Facet Joint Injections are commonly used to treat various conditions and provide relief from chronic joint discomfort, including:
Facet joint arthritis: This degenerative condition causes inflammation and stiffness in the facet joints, leading to chronic pain and limited mobility.
Facet joint syndrome: Often associated with spinal conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis, facet joint syndrome results in localized pain, muscle spasms, and restricted movement.
Facet joint sprain or injury: Trauma or excessive stress on the facet joints can cause sprains or injuries, resulting in acute or chronic joint pain.
The Facet Joint Injection Process at SOLUTIONS Pain & Spine
At SOLUTIONS Pain & Spine, we prioritize your comfort and safety throughout the entire process. Here’s what you can expect:
Comprehensive evaluation: Our skilled medical team will conduct a thorough assessment of your medical history, symptoms, and diagnostic imaging to determine if facet joint injections are an appropriate treatment option for you.
Procedure preparation: On the day of the procedure, we will provide you with detailed instructions and address any concerns or questions you may have.
Injection procedure: You will be positioned comfortably, and a local anesthetic will be administered to numb the injection site. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the specialist will precisely deliver the medication to the targeted facet joint(s).
Recovery and follow-up: After the procedure, you will be monitored for a short period before being discharged. Our team will provide post-procedure instructions and schedule any necessary follow-up appointments.
All Treatments
Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection
Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
Inferior Hypogastric Nerve Block
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
Lumbar Sympathetic Plexus (Ganglion) Block
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD Procedure) for Spinal Stenosis
Occipital Nerve Block & Ablation
Sacroiliac Joint Injection/Fusion
Radiofrequency Ablation of Facet Joints
Radiofrequency Ablation of Genicular Nerves of the Knee
Radiofrequency Ablation of Peripheral Nerves
Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial & Implant
Superior Hypogastric Nerve Block
Superion InterSpinous Spacer for Spinal Stenosis
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection or Selective Nerve Root Block
Facet Joint Injections for Neck and Back Pain in Georgia
Facet joint injections are a targeted, minimally invasive treatment for chronic neck and back pain caused by inflammation or degeneration of the facet joints — the small stabilizing joints located along the back of the spine. At SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors, Dr. Priscilla Agbenyefia provides expert facet joint injections at all four of our Georgia locations: Peachtree Corners, Buford, Decatur, and Athens.
Understanding Facet Joint Pain
The spine contains pairs of facet joints at every vertebral level, from the neck (cervical spine) to the lower back (lumbar spine). These joints allow the spine to bend, twist, and extend while providing stability. Like any joint in the body, facet joints can become inflamed, arthritic, or injured — leading to localized pain, stiffness, and in some cases, referred pain that radiates into the shoulders, arms, buttocks, or legs.
Facet joint pain is one of the most common causes of chronic neck and back pain in adults, accounting for up to 40% of chronic low back pain cases and up to 60% of chronic neck pain cases. It is often described as a deep, aching pain that worsens with extension (leaning backward) or rotation of the spine.
Conditions Treated with Facet Joint Injections
- Facet joint osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease of the spine)
- Facet joint syndrome
- Cervical facet pain causing neck pain and headaches
- Lumbar facet pain causing low back pain and buttock pain
- Thoracic facet pain causing mid-back pain
- Post-traumatic facet pain following whiplash or spinal injury
- Spondylosis (age-related spinal degeneration)
Diagnostic vs. Therapeutic Facet Joint Injections
Facet joint injections serve two important purposes:
Diagnostic: When the source of pain is uncertain, a facet joint injection with local anesthetic can confirm whether the facet joint is the primary pain generator. Significant pain relief following the injection confirms the diagnosis and guides further treatment planning.
Therapeutic: When combined with a corticosteroid, facet joint injections provide anti-inflammatory treatment that can reduce pain and improve function for weeks to months. Therapeutic injections are often used as part of a comprehensive pain management plan that may include physical therapy and radiofrequency ablation.
The Facet Joint Injection Procedure
Facet joint injections are performed as outpatient procedures using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance to ensure precise needle placement. The procedure typically takes 15–30 minutes:
- You will be positioned on a fluoroscopy table and the injection site will be cleaned and numbed with local anesthetic.
- Dr. Agbenyefia uses real-time X-ray imaging to guide a thin needle directly into the facet joint capsule.
- A small amount of contrast dye confirms proper needle placement.
- A combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid is injected into the joint.
- You will rest briefly in recovery before going home.
Facet Joint Injections as a Pathway to Radiofrequency Ablation
For patients with confirmed facet joint pain, a series of medial branch blocks (a related diagnostic injection) may be performed to identify the specific nerves supplying the painful facet joints. Patients who respond positively to medial branch blocks are excellent candidates for radiofrequency ablation, which can provide pain relief lasting 6 months to 2 years or more.
Contact SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors
If you are experiencing chronic neck or back pain that may be related to facet joint disease, our team is here to help. Contact us at (470) 275-3626 or request an appointment online. We serve patients throughout Georgia from our four convenient locations in Peachtree Corners, Buford, Decatur, and Athens.
Facet Joint Injections for Neck and Back Pain in Georgia
Facet joint injections are a targeted, minimally invasive treatment for chronic neck and back pain caused by inflammation or degeneration of the facet joints — the small stabilizing joints located along the back of the spine. At SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors, Dr. Priscilla Agbenyefia provides expert facet joint injections at all four of our Georgia locations: Peachtree Corners, Buford, Decatur, and Athens.
Understanding Facet Joint Pain
The spine contains pairs of facet joints at every vertebral level, from the neck (cervical spine) to the lower back (lumbar spine). These joints allow the spine to bend, twist, and extend while providing stability. Like any joint in the body, facet joints can become inflamed, arthritic, or injured — leading to localized pain, stiffness, and in some cases, referred pain that radiates into the shoulders, arms, buttocks, or legs.
Facet joint pain is one of the most common causes of chronic neck and back pain in adults, accounting for up to 40% of chronic low back pain cases and up to 60% of chronic neck pain cases. It is often described as a deep, aching pain that worsens with extension (leaning backward) or rotation of the spine.
Conditions Treated with Facet Joint Injections
- Facet joint osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease of the spine)
- Facet joint syndrome
- Cervical facet pain causing neck pain and headaches
- Lumbar facet pain causing low back pain and buttock pain
- Thoracic facet pain causing mid-back pain
- Post-traumatic facet pain following whiplash or spinal injury
- Spondylosis (age-related spinal degeneration)
Diagnostic vs. Therapeutic Facet Joint Injections
Facet joint injections serve two important purposes:
Diagnostic: When the source of pain is uncertain, a facet joint injection with local anesthetic can confirm whether the facet joint is the primary pain generator. Significant pain relief following the injection confirms the diagnosis and guides further treatment planning.
Therapeutic: When combined with a corticosteroid, facet joint injections provide anti-inflammatory treatment that can reduce pain and improve function for weeks to months. Therapeutic injections are often used as part of a comprehensive pain management plan that may include physical therapy and radiofrequency ablation.
The Facet Joint Injection Procedure
Facet joint injections are performed as outpatient procedures using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance to ensure precise needle placement. The procedure typically takes 15–30 minutes:
- You will be positioned on a fluoroscopy table and the injection site will be cleaned and numbed with local anesthetic.
- Dr. Agbenyefia uses real-time X-ray imaging to guide a thin needle directly into the facet joint capsule.
- A small amount of contrast dye confirms proper needle placement.
- A combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid is injected into the joint.
- You will rest briefly in recovery before going home.
Facet Joint Injections as a Pathway to Radiofrequency Ablation
For patients with confirmed facet joint pain, a series of medial branch blocks (a related diagnostic injection) may be performed to identify the specific nerves supplying the painful facet joints. Patients who respond positively to medial branch blocks are excellent candidates for radiofrequency ablation, which can provide pain relief lasting 6 months to 2 years or more.
Contact SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors
If you are experiencing chronic neck or back pain that may be related to facet joint disease, our team is here to help. Contact us at (470) 275-3626 or request an appointment online. We serve patients throughout Georgia from our four convenient locations in Peachtree Corners, Buford, Decatur, and Athens.