By NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute

01/18/2021 When you have cervical facet syndrome, it’s more than just a pain in your neck. It can stop you from participating fully in your life. Furthermore, it’s a chronic pain that doesn’t go away unless it’s treated. When you’re tired of getting injections or popping painkillers that just mask the pain, turn to Dr. Branko Skovrlj at NU-Spine in Edison, NJ. Dr. Skovrlj is a renowned neurosurgeon who performs minimally invasive surgery to stop your cervical facet syndrome neck pain for good. Call today for an appointment.

What Is Cervical Facet Syndrome?
Cervical facet syndrome is a condition that plagues the facet joints of the spine. These joints help you to twist and bend, while simultaneously preventing you from going too far or in the wrong direction. The facet joints act as connectors to the spinal bones, providing additional support and greater flexibility.

When the cartilage between the facet joints become thin and brittle, flakes break off into the synovial joint fluid that aids in movement. Cervical facet joint pain erupts when degeneration of the joint cartilage leads to friction between the bones that have lost cartilage.

To treat this condition, seek an immediate diagnosis from an experienced spine specialist like Dr. Branko Skovrlj in Edison, NJ. Neck-related injuries and degenerative conditions can lead to disability. Dr. Skovrlj is a spine surgeon at NU-Spine, The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute, and he’s amply qualified to alleviate your neck pain.

What Causes Cervical Facet Joint Pain?
Neck pain, whether or not it stems from a neck injury, is the most common medical complaint after back pain. Nearly 55 percent of all facet joint syndrome cases involve the cervical or upper back and neck area of the spine. Only about 10 percent of low back pain sufferers have problems with cervical facet arthropathy or other joint diseases.

Common causes and risk factors of cervical facet joint syndrome include:

• Elderly people are the most often afflicted, due to a lifetime of daily wear and tear.
• Suffering from arthritis. Spondylosis and cervical degenerative joint disease are types of arthritis commonly seen in people with cervical facet pain.
• Trauma from a whiplash injury. Younger people usually develop the cervical facet syndrome due to a serious neck injury, such as from an automobile accident.
• Workplace stress. If your work involves repetitive movements that put stress on your neck or increases the wear and tear of those joints, you’re more apt to get cervical facet syndrome.