Neck pain can quietly take over your life – making it harder to turn your head, sleep comfortably, work at a desk, or enjoy everyday moments. Advanced Pain Medical Group provides cervical facet injections in Los Angeles, Kern, and Ventura counties using advanced image-guided techniques designed to treat neck joint inflammation and deliver meaningful pain relief without surgery.
If your pain feels deep, stiff, or worse with movement, cervical facet injections are a minimally invasive neck pain treatment designed to calm inflammation at the source, reduce pain, and restore comfortable motion.
Understanding Facet Joint-Related Neck Pain
Your neck contains small joints called cervical facet joints, which allow your head to rotate, bend, and move smoothly. When these joints become irritated or inflamed, even simple movements can trigger sharp or aching pain. This condition is often referred to as cervical facet joint pain.
Common Causes Of Facet Joint Inflammation In The Neck
- Neck Arthritis & Cervical Spondylosis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Whiplash Or Injury From A Car Accident
- Repetitive Strain Or Poor Posture
- Inflammatory Conditions Such As Rheumatoid Arthritis
Facet Joint Pain Can Occur Throughout The Spine
Facet joint neck pain frequently occurs between the C5-C6 vertebrae. It may radiate into your shoulders or upper back and worsen when you turn or tilt your head. Cervical facet injections are designed to directly address this joint-based inflammation, rather than masking symptoms.
Facet joints exist throughout the spine. Similar joint-related pain can also develop in the mid-back or lower back, where thoracic facet injections or lumbar facet injections may be recommended instead.
Did You Know? According to Pain Physician Journal, clinical research shows that nearly 1 in 6 adults experience chronic or recurring neck pain.
What Cervical Facet Injections Are & How They Work
Cervical facet injections, also called cervical facet blocks or facet joint injections, deliver anti-inflammatory medication and local anesthetic directly to the irritated neck joints. This targeted approach reduces inflammation, calms nerve irritation, and helps interrupt pain signals coming from the cervical spine.
How Facet Joint Injections Relieve Neck Pain
- Neck pain injections provide immediate pain relief by reducing neck joint inflammation.
- Diagnostic clarity through cervical facet block injections also confirm whether facet joints are causing your pain.
If you’re searching for the best injection for neck pain related to arthritis, disc degeneration, or whiplash, cervical facet injections are frequently one of the most effective options.
How The Cervical Facet Injection Procedure Is Performed
Your comfort and safety are always the priority. We perform cervical facet injections using image-guided spine injection techniques, typically fluoroscopy, to ensure precise placement and optimal results.
You’ll be positioned comfortably while the treatment area is gently cleaned and numbed. We carefully guide the needle to the targeted cervical facet joint. A small amount of medication – typically a combination of anti-inflammatory steroid and local anesthetic – is then injected to reduce inflammation and calm pain signals.
What To Expect On The Day Of Your Injection
- A Comfortable, Outpatient Setting
- Local Numbing To Minimize Discomfort
- Careful Needle Placement Guided By Real-Time Imaging
- Injection Of Medication Directly Into The Affected Facet Joint
Most procedures take only a short time to complete, and you’ll be monitored briefly afterward before returning home the same day. Many people resume normal activities within 24 hours, making cervical facet injections a minimally invasive option for effective neck pain relief.
Treating Pain On Both Sides Of The Neck
If pain affects both sides of your neck, bilateral cervical facet injections may be recommended by your pain specialist. This approach treats joint inflammation on both sides during the same visit and is especially helpful for neck arthritis or multilevel cervical spine pain.
Neck Pain After Whiplash Or Injury
After a car accident or sudden injury, lingering neck pain may be caused by inflamed facet joints rather than muscles alone. Cervical facet injections for whiplash help reduce deep joint inflammation, improve mobility, and prevent acute injuries from becoming chronic pain conditions.
Conditions That Respond Well To Facet Joint Injections
Cervical facet injections are commonly used as part of a comprehensive neck pain treatment plan.
- Chronic Neck Pain That Hasn’t Improved With Conservative Care
- Neck Arthritis & Cervical Spondylosis Pain Relief
- Degenerative Disc Disease Affecting The Cervical Spine
- Facet Joint Pain In The Neck
- Joint-Related Irritation Contributing To A Pinched Nerve In The Neck
This chronic neck pain treatment may also be combined with other types of neck injections, such as an epidural injection in the neck, depending on your diagnosis.
Safety, Accuracy & Possible Side Effects
Cervical facet injections are considered very safe when performed by experienced interventional pain specialists. Temporary side effects may include mild soreness, bruising, or stiffness at the injection site. Serious complications are rare, particularly with image-guided techniques.
According to findings in The Spine Journal, guided cervical facet joint injections can reach accuracy levels as high as 98%, underscoring the importance of image-guided techniques.
How Facet Joint Injections Fit Into Your Overall Pain Care Plan
Cervical facet injections are often part of a broader interventional pain management approach. Depending on your response, your treatment plan may include physical therapy, additional diagnostic facet blocks, or advanced options for longer-lasting relief. The goal is not just temporary comfort – but sustainable improvement in your quality of life.
Cervical Facet Injection FAQs
Yes. They are commonly used as a targeted shot for arthritis-related inflammation in the neck joints.
Relief can range from weeks to several months, depending on your condition and individual response.
Facet injections are ideal when pain originates from the joints rather than discs or nerves. Your provider will determine the best option based on imaging and clinical findings.
Yes. Diagnostic facet blocks help identify whether facet joints are the primary pain source.
Cervical facet injections typically contain a local anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory steroid. Some injections use anesthetic alone as a diagnostic facet block.
You may be a good candidate if your neck pain comes from facet joint inflammation, arthritis, cervical spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, or whiplash-related injury.
Injections are typically spaced several months apart. Your physician will determine how often they’re appropriate based on medical guidelines and your response to treatment.
Costs vary based on insurance coverage, the number of joints treated, and whether the injection is diagnostic or therapeutic. Many insurance plans cover medically necessary injections.
Most people experience only mild pressure or brief discomfort. The area is numbed beforehand, and post-procedure soreness is usually temporary.
Facet injections treat joint-related neck pain, while epidural injections treat nerve-related pain such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
You may need to avoid food, certain medications, and arrange a ride home. Your care team will provide specific instructions beforehand.
Not exactly. A facet joint block is usually diagnostic and uses anesthetic only. A facet joint injection includes steroid for longer-term relief.
No. A facet joint block may not include steroid. Steroid injections are used when longer-lasting inflammation relief is needed.
Target The Source Of Your Neck Pain With Cervical Facet Injections
If chronic neck pain, stiffness, or arthritis is limiting your daily life, cervical facet injections in Los Angeles may offer the targeted relief you need. At Advanced Pain Medical Group, you receive compassionate, physician-led care using advanced image-guided techniques.
Schedule a consultation today to find out if cervical facet injections are the right solution for your neck pain and take the next step toward lasting relief.