Loading...
Loading...
Back pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek specialist treatment, but effective treatment depends on identifying the true source of the pain. What feels like general back pain may actually arise from the facet joints, spinal discs, muscles, ligaments, sacroiliac joints, or irritated spinal nerves. At Skyline Hospitals, we take a precise and individual approach. Your consultant will assess your symptoms carefully, review any previous imaging, and determine whether your pain is likely to respond to targeted spinal injections or other advanced treatments.
Back pain can present in many different ways. For some, it is a constant dull ache. For others, it is sharp, catching, or severe enough to affect walking, exercise, work, sleep, and everyday movement.
Common causes of back pain include:
Because treatment depends on the source of the pain, specialist assessment is essential. A careful diagnosis can make the difference between temporary symptom control and truly targeted treatment. Our aim is simple: to reduce pain, improve mobility, and help you get back to living fully.
Facet joints are the small joints at the back of the spine that link the vertebrae together. They help the spine bend, twist, and extend while also providing stability and control.
Like other joints in the body, facet joints can become inflamed, worn, or arthritic over time. When this happens, they can cause localised lower back pain, stiffness, and discomfort during movement, particularly with standing, leaning backwards, or twisting.
Facet joint injections are designed to treat pain arising from the small joints of the spine. Using precise X-ray guidance, your specialist places a fine needle into or around the affected facet joint and delivers carefully selected medication, usually a combination of local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid. This can help calm inflammation, ease pain, and improve movement. In many patients, it also helps confirm that the facet joint is the true source of symptoms.
Facet joint injections can offer meaningful pain relief without surgery. By treating inflammation directly at the source, they may help reduce stiffness, improve day-to-day function, and allow patients to move forward with exercise, rehabilitation, and recovery.
When facet joint pain is suspected, a medial branch block may be recommended. This procedure targets the tiny medial branch nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints.
A small amount of local anaesthetic is placed around these nerves under X-ray guidance. If your pain improves significantly afterwards, this strongly suggests that the facet joints are responsible for your symptoms.
If medial branch blocks confirm that the facet joints are causing your pain, radiofrequency denervation may be the next step. This treatment uses controlled heat to interrupt the small nerves transmitting pain from the affected joints.
It does not damage the spine or remove the joints. Instead, it reduces the pain signals coming from them. For suitable patients, radiofrequency denervation can provide longer-lasting relief than injections alone and may significantly improve quality of life.
This treatment is especially valuable for patients whose back pain keeps returning despite previous conservative care.
Patients with persistent lower back pain, stiffness, pain on extension, or discomfort triggered by twisting and standing may benefit from specialist assessment for facet joint treatment.
Your procedure is carried out using X-ray guidance for precision and safety. After the skin is cleaned and local preparation is completed, a fine needle is positioned accurately and the treatment is delivered in a controlled and careful way.
Most patients return home the same day. Some experience early relief from the anaesthetic, followed by further improvement over the following days as the anti-inflammatory medication begins to work.
Successful treatment begins with understanding the true source of pain. We focus on careful clinical assessment and targeted treatment planning rather than generic back pain management.
All injections are performed using X-ray guidance to support accuracy, safety, and optimal placement of treatment.
Every patient is different. We tailor treatment according to your symptoms, examination findings, previous imaging, and response to earlier care.
Final fees may vary depending on the number of levels treated and whether further imaging or additional treatment is required.
At Skyline Hospitals, we combine specialist expertise, accurate diagnosis, and advanced image-guided treatment in a high-quality private healthcare setting.
Patients choose Skyline Hospitals because we offer:
Our focus is not only on relieving pain, but on helping you move better, recover well, and regain confidence in everyday life.
Facet joints are the small joints at the back of the spine that help guide movement and provide stability. When these joints become inflamed, irritated, or affected by wear and tear, they can become an important source of lower back pain.
If back pain is limiting your movement, comfort, or quality of life, we are here to help. Our specialists offer expert assessment and advanced treatment options including facet joint injections, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency denervation.
Take the next step towards relief.