Last Updated on November 26, 2025 by Bilal Hasdemir

Facet joint injections typically relieve pain for weeks to months, with many patients experiencing 6–8 weeks to 3–6 months depending on individual response, spinal level, and rehab support. If you’re wondering “how long does a facet injection last,” expect the steroid to start helping within 2–7 days and relief to vary from short-term (diagnostic) benefit to several months, with repeat injections or radiofrequency ablation considered if relief is brief but positive.

Key Takeaways

• Facet joint injections target the small stabilizing joints between the vertebrae in the spine.
• These injections can provide significant pain relief for neck and back pain.
• Results from facet injections can last several months.
• Liv Hospital offers patient-centered care for complete support.
• Facet injections are a minimally invasive treatment option.

Understanding Facet Joints and Their Role in Spinal Pain

It’s important to know about facet joints to understand spinal pain. These small joints help us bend and twist. They support the vertebrae and help us move.

Anatomy of Facet Joints in the Spine

Facet joints are found between vertebrae. They have cartilage and synovial fluid to reduce friction. The lumbar facet joints carry a lot of weight, making them prone to injury.

Each facet joint allows for some movement between vertebrae. This movement is key to the spine’s flexibility.

Common Causes of Facet Joint Dysfunction

Facet joint problems can come from many sources. These include osteoarthritis, spine injuries, and strain. When these joints get inflamed or worn out, they can hurt a lot and limit movement.

Common causes include:

• Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
• Trauma or injury to the spine
• Repetitive strain or overuse
• Poor posture or biomechanics

Signs and Symptoms of Facet Joint Problems

Facet joint issues can cause pain, stiffness, and less mobility. Sometimes, the pain can spread to other areas like the shoulders or thighs.

Facet joint injections, like lumbar facet joint injections, are a common treatment. They help by reducing inflammation and numbing the pain.

What Is a Facet Joint Injection?

A facet joint injection is a small procedure that puts medicine right into or around the facet joint. It aims to cut down inflammation and ease back pain. These injections target the facet joints to help those with spinal issues.

Definition and Purpose of Facet Blocks

Facet blocks, or facet joint injections, have two main uses. They figure out if the facet joints are causing pain and also help ease it. The doctor injects a mix of medicines into the joint or around it. This can greatly lessen pain and swelling.

“Facet joint injections are a key part of managing spinal pain,” says a top pain management expert. This shows how important facet injections are in today’s pain treatment.

Components of Injection Medication

The medicine in facet joint injections usually has a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid. The local anesthetic quickly numbs the area, giving immediate pain relief. The corticosteroid then fights inflammation, helping to keep pain away for longer.

• Local anesthetics (e.g., lidocaine or bupivacaine) for immediate pain relief
• Corticosteroids (e.g., triamcinolone or betamethasone) to reduce inflammation

Diagnostic vs. Therapeutic Applications

Facet joint injections are used for both finding out where pain comes from and for treating it. They help figure out if the facet joint is the pain source. They also help by cutting down inflammation in the joint.

Diagnostic injections use a local anesthetic to temporarily numb the joint. If the pain goes away, it shows the facet joint is likely the pain source. Therapeutic injections, which include corticosteroids, help manage pain for a longer time.

“The dual purpose of facet joint injections makes them an invaluable resource in pain management, allowing clinicians to both diagnose and treat spinal pain effectively.”

Knowing what facet joint injections are and what they do helps both patients and doctors make better choices for managing spinal pain.

How Long Does a Facet Injection Last?

Knowing how long facet injections last is key to managing spinal pain well. These injections help many people with neck and back pain. But how long they work can differ a lot.

Average Duration of Pain Relief

Facet joint injections can give pain relief for weeks to months. Most people see benefits for 6 to 12 months. But this time can change a lot for each person.

Several things can affect how long the relief lasts:

• The severity of the facet joint condition
• The patient’s overall health and how they react to treatment
• The injection technique used
• The type and amount of medication used

Short-term vs. Long-term Effects

Facet injections can help with pain in the short and long term. Right after the shot, some people feel relief. Over time, as the joint heals, the pain can lessen more.

It’s important to remember that facet injections might not solve pain forever for everyone. Some might need more shots to keep feeling better.

Variations in Individual Response

How people react to facet injections can really vary. Some might feel pain relief for a long time, while others might not. Things like age, other health issues, and where the injection is done can affect how well it works.

For example, a c5C5-6acet joint injection might work differently than others. Knowing this helps us plan better treatments for each patient.

We know every patient is different. The success of facet injections depends on many things. By understanding how long relief usually lasts and what affects it, we can help our patients more.

Cervical Spine Facet Injections for Neck Pain

Cervical spine facet injections are a key treatment for chronic neck pain. They target the facet joints in the neck. This helps with conditions like cervical facet joint syndrome or arthritis.

Specific Conditions Treated with Neck Facet Joint Injections

Neck facet joint injections help with several neck pain. They treat cervical facet joint syndrome and cervical arthritis. These are when the facet joints get inflamed or wear out.

Conditions like whiplash injuries and degenerative disc disease also benefit. These can cause a lot of neck pain because of the strain on the facet joints.

C5-6 Facet Joint Injection and Other Common Sites

The cervical spine has seven vertebrae, from C1 to C7. Injections often focus on the lower levels, like C5-6 and C6-7. These areas are common for facet joint problems.

The C5-6 level is often chosen for injections. It’s a transition zone that gets a lot of stress. This makes it prone to degeneration and pain.

Expected Duration of Relief for Cervical Pain

The time pain relief lasts after facet joint injections varies. Some people feel better for months, while others have shorter relief.

On average, relief can last from weeks to months. The exact time depends on the condition’s severity, the patient’s health, and the injection technique.

Lumbar Facet Joint Injections for Lower Back Pain

Lumbar facet joint injections are a key treatment for chronic lower back pain. They target the facet joints in the lower back. This helps with conditions like lumbar facet joint syndrome.

Common Lumbar Facet Joint Problems

The lumbar facet joints can face issues like arthritis and degeneration. These problems cause chronic pain and stiffness in the lower back. Lumbar facet joint injections help by delivering anti-inflammatory medication to the joints.

Technique for Lower Back Facet Injections

The facet joint injections in the lower back use imaging like fluoroscopy. This helps place the needle accurately in the facet joint. Then, a mix of local anesthetic and corticosteroid is injected. This reduces inflammation and eases pain.

Typical Results and Duration for Lumbar Region

The pain relief from lumbar facet joint injections varies. Some feel relief for weeks or months, while others benefit for longer. The relief’s length depends on the condition’s severity, the patient’s health, and the injection technique.

Facet joint injections for lower back pain can greatly improve life quality. Understanding the causes and injection techniques helps healthcare providers treat chronic lower back pain effectively.

The Facet Injection Procedure: What to Expect

Thinking about facet joint shots? Knowing what happens during the procedure can make you feel better. We’re here to help you understand every step of the facet injection process.

Before the Procedure: Preparation Steps

Before your facet block injection, there are steps to take. Tell your doctor about any medicines you’re taking. This is important because some might need to be changed or stopped before the procedure. Also, consider:

• Getting someone to drive you home because you might feel numb or weak from the local anesthetic.
• Talking about any allergies or sensitivities, like to contrast dyes or medicines used in the injection.
• Learning about the risks and benefits of facet joint shots.

During the Injection: Step-by-Step Process

The facet injection procedure is quick, usually taking just a few minutes. Here’s what happens:

1. You’ll lie on an X-ray table, either on your stomach or side, depending on where the facet joints are.
2. The area where you’ll get the injection is cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic to reduce pain.
3. The doctor uses X-ray guidance to put a thin needle into the facet joint.
4. A contrast dye might be used to make sure the needle is in the right place.
5. Then, a mix of local anesthetic and corticosteroid is injected into the joint.

After the Procedure: Recovery and Monitoring

After the injection, you’ll be watched for a bit to see if you have any reactions to the medicine. You might feel some soreness at the injection site, but it should go away soon. Here’s what to do:

• Take it easy for the rest of the day and avoid hard activities.
• Use ice on the injection site if you feel any pain.
• Keep a pain diary to track how well the treatment works and any side effects.

Understanding the recovery and pain relief can help. Here are some general guidelines:

By knowing what to expect from the facet injection procedure, you can feel more ready for your treatment. If you have any more questions or concerns, we’re here to support you.

Factors Affecting Facet Injections Spine Treatment Duration

Many things can change how long facet injections last for pain relief. Knowing these factors helps manage expectations and get the best results.

Patient-Specific Factors

Age and health status are key to how well facet injections work. Older or sicker patients might not get the same results as younger, healthier ones.

For example, people with diabetes or smokers might heal more slowly. This can affect how long the pain relief lasts. We look at these factors when deciding if facet injections are right for our patients.

Condition Severity and Chronicity

The severity and how long you’ve had the condition matter a lot. Those with more severe or long-term facet joint issues might need more treatments.

A study showed that those with worse symptoms at the start got better results. They had pain relief that lasted longer.

Technique and Medication Variables

The way the injection is done and the medicine used can greatly affect results. How accurate the injection is, the type of corticosteroid, and if a local anesthetic is used all play a part.

For instance, a higher dose of corticosteroid can make the anti-inflammatory effect last longer. Adding a local anesthetic can give quick pain relief.

Complementary Treatments and Their Impact

Other treatments, like physical therapy or chiropractic care, can make facet injections work better. They can help keep the benefits going longer.

We often suggest using a mix of treatments. This includes facet injections and other therapies that fit the patient’s needs.

Facet Joint Injections Success Rate and Efficacy

Knowing how well facet joint injections work is key for those thinking about trying them for neck or back pain. These injections, or facet blocks, help find and treat pain from the facet joints in the spine.

We’ll look at how well these injections work. We’ll use studies and research to give you a clear view of their success.

Clinical Studies on Effectiveness

Many studies have checked how well facet joint injections work. They show these injections can really help with pain from facet joint syndrome. For example, a study in the Journal of Pain Research found that patients got a lot less pain after the injections.

How well facet joint injections work can depend on a few things. These include the patient’s health, how bad their condition is, and the injection method used.

Predictors of Successful Outcomes

There are a few things that can tell us if facet joint injections will work well. These include:

• Accurate Diagnosis: It’s important to make sure the pain really comes from the facet joints.
• Patient Selection: Some patients, like those with pain for a shorter time, might do better with these injections.
• Technique and Medication: The skill of the person doing the injection and the medicine used can affect how well it works.

Healthcare providers can use these factors to guess who will likely get the most benefit from facet joint injections.

When to Consider Repeat Facet Joint Shots

For some, the relief from facet joint injections might not last long. This might mean needing to have the injections again. When deciding to have more injections should consider how long the pain relief lasted and how well the patient responded to the treatment.

Talking to your healthcare provider about needing more injections is a good idea. They can help figure out the best treatment plan for you.

Potential Side Effects and Risks of Facet Shots in the Spine

Facet injections are a common treatment for spinal pain. But they come with risks and side effects. It’s important for patients to know about these to make informed decisions.

Common Side Effects

Most people feel some side effects after facet injections. These are usually mild and short-lived. Common side effects include:

• Temporary soreness at the injection site
• Mild swelling or redness
• Transient increase in pain
• Headaches
• Facial flushing

These side effects usually go away in a few days. We advise patients to watch their symptoms. If they get worse or last too long, they should reach out to us.

Rare but Serious Complications

Though rare, serious complications can happen. These include:

• Infection at the injection site
• Nerve damage
• Allergic reactions to the injected medication
• Bleeding or hematoma

It’s important for patients to know about these risks. If they have severe pain, trouble walking, or signs of infection, they should seek medical help right away.

Contraindications for Facet Joint Injections

Facet joint injections aren’t for everyone. They’re not recommended for:

• Active infection
• Bleeding disorders
• Allergy to the medications used
• Pregnancy (depending on the specific circumstances)

We check each patient’s medical history. This helps us decide if facet joint injections are safe and right for them.

Conclusion: Is a Facet Injection Right for Your Pain Management?

Facet joint injections can be a key part of managing pain. The choice to get this treatment depends on a detailed look at your condition and goals. We’ve talked about how long facet injections last, what they are, and where they’re used.

Knowing how long facet injections help with pain is important. They can offer relief for weeks to months, based on your health and pain level. For example, a cervical facet joint injection can help a lot with neck pain.

Deciding if a facet joint injection is for you involves looking at your past treatments and pain cause. Think about the good and bad sides to make a smart choice for your pain plan. We’re here to help you understand your options and find relief from pain.

FAQ

Reference:

Won, H. S., Lee, J. H., & Kim, Y. H. (2020). Facet joint injections for management of low back pain. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7713865/