Facet Joint Nerve Ablation

Facet Joint Nerve Ablation

If you have radiating pain from the facet joint in your spine, facet joint nerve ablation may be an option. This minimally invasive procedure cauterizes the nerves causing the pain like a root canal stops a toothache where the nerve is destroyed, but the tooth is fully functional. 

Facet joints are found between two vertebrae, allowing your spine to move. They can be damaged by back injuries and arthritic changes in the spine and can be painful and limiting. The small medial branch nerves serve the facet joints, which carry pain signals from the back and neck joints to the brain.  In this outpatient procedure, the nerves that carry pain signals to the facet joints are removed with a laser. 

The treatment typically lasts up to a year on average.