Who Offers Facet Joint Injections in Adrian, MI?

At Michigan Pain Specialists, we offer facet joint injections as a safe and effective option for diagnosing and managing spinal pain. Facet joints are small, stabilising joints located along your spine—helping guide movement in your neck, mid-back, and lower back. When these joints become inflamed due to arthritis, injury, or degenerative conditions, they can cause pain that may radiate to the buttocks, thighs, or shoulders.

● How Facet Joint Injections Work

Our experienced physicians use advanced imaging technology, to ensure precise placement of a thin needle into the targeted facet joint. Once in place, a mixture of local anaesthetic and corticosteroid medication is injected directly into the joint. The anaesthetic offers immediate pain relief by numbing the area, while the steroid reduces inflammation, promoting longer-lasting pain relief.

● Benefits for Our Patients

Facet joint injections at Michigan Pain Specialists serve both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. If you experience significant relief shortly after the procedure, it confirms that the facet joint is a primary source of your pain. For many patients, the injection provides relief lasting from several days to a few months, depending on their condition and response to treatment. In some cases, repeated injections may be recommended as part of a comprehensive pain management plan, though we are mindful to limit steroid exposure to ensure your long-term health.

● What to Expect

Facet joint injections are minimally invasive. Most patients return to their normal activities shortly after the procedure.

Typically, facet joint injections at Michigan Pain Specialists contain a combination of a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid. The local anesthetic is fast-acting and may provide partial or even complete pain relief within minutes to a couple of hours after the procedure. However, this immediate relief is usually temporary and may subside as your body metabolises the anaesthetic.

The longer-lasting relief comes from the corticosteroid, which is designed to reduce inflammation in the joint. This medication takes a bit longer to work—most patients notice significant improvement within two to seven days after their injection. In some cases, it may take up to two weeks to experience the full benefit.

It is not uncommon for our patients to experience a temporary increase in pain once the numbing medicine wears off and before the steroid begins to work. This is usually short-lived and should improve as the anti-inflammatory effects of the corticosteroid develop.

Overall, the timeline for relief after a facet joint injection at Michigan Pain Specialists can range from a few minutes for initial numbing to several days for longer-term pain reduction. If you do not notice any improvement after two weeks, we encourage you to follow up with our team so we can discuss further evaluation or alternative treatment options.

Our experienced team offers facet joint injections as a safe and effective option for diagnosing and managing pain originating from the facet joints in the spine. These small stabilizing joints, located between and behind adjacent vertebrae, can sometimes become a source of chronic back or neck pain.

● What to Expect During Your Visit

Facet joint injections at Michigan Pain Specialists are performed by board-certified pain management physicians who specialize in spinal procedures. During the procedure, a precise combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroid medication is injected directly into the affected facet joint. To ensure maximum accuracy and safety, our providers utilize advanced imaging guidance such as fluoroscopy (X-ray) or ultrasound technology.

● Benefits and Safety

Most patients tolerate facet joint injections very well, and the procedure is generally considered safe when performed by our trained specialists. Common side effects—such as temporary pain at the injection site, mild swelling, or bruising—are usually minor and resolve within a few days. Less commonly, patients may experience facial flushing or a temporary increase in pain, but these symptoms are typically short-lived. Serious complications, such as infection, bleeding, nerve injury, or allergic reactions, are rare, and our team takes every precaution to minimize these risks.

● Your Recovery and Follow-Up

After your facet joint injection at Michigan Pain Specialists, you can usually return to your normal activities the next day, although we recommend taking it easy for the first 24 hours. Our team will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions and schedule any necessary follow-up to monitor your response to treatment.

At Michigan Pain Specialists in Adrian, MI, our board-certified doctors, Dr. Louis Bojrab, MD, FIPP, Dr. John Chatas, MD, FIPP, and Dr. Edward Washabaugh, MD, FIPP, are dedicated to providing expert diagnosis and advanced treatment options for patients suffering from chronic neck or back pain, including pain related to the facet joints. Facet joints are small stabilising joints located between and behind each vertebra in your spine, and when these joints become inflamed or degenerate, they can be a significant source of discomfort.

When you visit Michigan Pain Specialists, our team will perform a comprehensive evaluation—including a physical examination and, if necessary, imaging studies—to accurately identify the cause of your pain. If facet joint involvement is suspected, we may recommend a facet joint injection. This procedure serves both as a diagnostic tool and a therapeutic intervention.

Our specialists perform facet joint injections using state-of-the-art imaging guidance, such as fluoroscopy, to ensure the highest level of precision and safety. The injection contains a local anesthetic for immediate pain relief and a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and provide longer-lasting comfort. As a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, it is typically completed within a short time, allowing you to return home the same day.

Following your injection, our team closely monitors your response to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. If you experience significant relief, this confirms your facet joints as the source of pain, and we will discuss further management options, which may include repeat injections or other interventional therapies.

For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 770 Riverside Ave suite 207, Adrian, MI 49221. We serve patients from Adrian MI, Tecumseh MI, Blissfield MI, Britton MI, and surrounding areas.