What is Facet Arthropathy?
What is Facet Arthropathy?Facet arthropathy is arthritis that affects joints in the spine called facet joints. Each vertebra in the spine is connected to the next one by a pair of facet joints. These joints support the spine and help it bend and twist. Normally, they slide smoothly over one another.
Facet arthropathy happens when the joints rub roughly and become inflamed and painful. The condition is also known as facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA), facet syndrome, facet joint syndrome, or facet arthritis. Most people will develop some degree of facet arthropathy with age, but it is not always painful.
Types of Facet Arthropathy
TypesFacet arthropathy is a general term for arthritis in the facet joints of the spine. More specific names for the condition describe the joint damage or the location of the joint or joints affected. The vertebrae in the spine are numbered, and these numbers may be used in naming the type of facet arthropathy – for example, “facet arthropathy of L1-L5” for joints in the lower spine.
Your doctor may refer to your arthropathy as:
- Cervical, affecting joints in the neck
- Thoracic, affecting joints in the upper back and rib area
- Lumbar, affecting joints in the lower back and spine
- Multilevel, affecting joints in more than one area of the spine
- Bilateral, meaning the joint is worn down on both sides
- Degenerative, another term for arthritis or degenerative joint disease
- Hypertrophic, meaning the affected joints are enlarged
Signs & Symptoms of Facet Arthropathy
SymptomsSymptoms of facet arthropathy commonly involve low back, neck, thoracic spine or cervical spine pain. This can range from a dull ache to chronic pain that makes it difficult to do daily activities. A spine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian can help find the best treatment option for you.
The range of facet arthropathy symptoms includes:
- Low back pain that worsens with twisting, standing, or bending backward
- Low back pain that radiates to the buttocks and backs of the thighs
- Morning stiffness, or stiffness that makes it difficult to get up out of a chair
- Neck pain
- Difficulty moving the head or twisting the neck
- Pain that radiates through the upper neck, shoulders, and upper or middle back
- Muscle spasms
What Causes Facet Arthropathy?
CausesThe main cause of facet arthropathy is joint degeneration from wear and tear. This happens to everyone as they age. When healthy, the facet joints slip over each other easily because of a layer of smooth cartilage lubricated by synovial fluid. Over time the lubricating fluid thins out and the cartilage wears away, so that the joints rub against each other and become irritated, causing facet joint pain.
Less common causes of facet arthropathy include:
- Trauma, or a blow to the spine from an accident or injury
Risk Factors
Risk FactorsMany factors can increase the risk of developing facet arthropathy:
- Aging
- Trauma (injury) and fractures to the spine
- Degenerative disc disease
- Family history of osteoarthritis
- Being overweight or obese
- Poor posture
- Repetitive bending or twisting
- Sedentary lifestyle
Complications
ComplicationsOther spine conditions can complicate facet arthropathy and make pain worse, including:
- Osteophytes, also called bone spurs, can form where the facet joint rubs together, restricting movement
- Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal, irritates nerves and causes pain, numbness, and weakness
- Disc degeneration, or breakdown of the shock-absorbing discs between the spine’s vertebrae, can put extra pressure on the facet joints. A normal part of the aging process where there is a breakdown.
- Spondylolisthesis, when one of the vertebrae slips out of position onto the vertebra below it
Prevention
PreventionTo some degree, facet arthropathy happens to everyone as they age. But there are ways to reduce the risk of it becoming very painful, including:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly, especially low-impact activities like walking or swimming
- Eating a balanced diet
- Using proper lifting techniques when lifting heavy objects
- Paying attention to good posture
- Not smoking
This content has been reviewed by the following medical editors.
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Facet Arthropathy Care
Contact a spine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian to get treatment for your facet arthropathy , a common cause of back pain. Our doctors can confirm your diagnosis and make an individualized treatment plan. Many effective treatments are available for facet arthropathy, and it’s important to get the right ones to relieve pain and restore movement.