Arthritis in the small paired joints at the back of the spine. Near-universal past middle age.
In more detail
- The facet joints are true synovial joints, and like knees and hips they develop wear, cartilage loss, bone spurs and joint enlargement.
- ‘Arthropathy’, ‘facet hypertrophy’, ‘facet degenerative change’ and ‘facet arthrosis’ all describe the same process.
- Because it is so common on imaging, its presence on a report proves very little about the source of your pain.
What it means for you
Facet joints genuinely can generate pain — typically one-sided, worse on leaning backward and rotating, referring to the buttock or shoulder blade but rarely past the knee. Whether yours are the source is established by medial branch block, not by the scan. Where blocks confirm it, radiofrequency ablation can give many months of relief.
Remember the general rule. Findings like this one are common in people with no pain at all, and become steadily more common with age. A finding on a report is not a diagnosis until someone has matched it to your symptoms and your examination. See understanding your MRI report.
Bring your scan and report in and we will go through it with you. Call (314) 310-5577 or request an appointment.
Common questions
Does facet arthropathy mean I will end up disabled?
No. It is an extremely common imaging finding and most people who have it manage well.
Why can’t the MRI tell you if my facets are the problem?
Because degeneration is present in most adults regardless of pain. Only a targeted diagnostic block answers it.
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