Are Facet Joint Injections Sedated?

Are you looking for relief from chronic back or neck pain? Facet joint injections may be the answer. But what about sedation? Do you need to be sedated for a facet joint injection?The short answer is no. Most patients only feel pressure when the doctor inserts a very fine needle into the facet joint. Local anesthesia is used to numb the skin and underlying tissues, so you won't feel any pain.

However, if you're feeling anxious or uncomfortable, you can opt for intravenous sedation to make the procedure more tolerable.If you choose to receive sedation, it can range from a little sleepiness until you remember little or nothing about the procedure. Regardless of the amount of sedation, you should not eat or drink anything for six hours before the injection. You must also have a driver if you choose sedation. It's OK to take your medications with a sip of water in either option.

What are Facet Joint Injections?

Facet joint injections are a treatment for chronic back or neck pain.

The injection is given into facet joints, which are the joints that connect the vertebrae of the spinal column. Facet joint injections can be done with or without steroids. Steroids are anti-inflammatory medications that can help reduce pain and swelling.Facet joint injections can also be done with local anesthesia, which numbs the area around the injection site, or with light sedation that helps you feel more relaxed during the procedure. You're more likely to notice faster relief if the joints where the injection was given were the main source of pain.If the injection into the facet joint is successful, you should expect to experience pain relief for several months.

Injecting into the facet joint reduces pain in the small joints at the back of the spine, between the vertebrae. If the injection does not relieve pain, it may be because the injection did not reach the source of the pain or because the pain is not caused by facet joints.Facet joint injections are usually done on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home the same day. It involves injecting medications close to the branches of the medial nerves, which supply sensory information to facet joints. A facet joint injection is an injection given to reduce pain and inflammation and to confirm a specific diagnosis.Very small needles are placed inside the joint capsule and a small volume (usually about 1 ml) is placed in each joint.

If successful, you should expect to experience pain relief for several months.So if you're considering a facet joint injection for chronic back or neck pain, there's no need to worry about being sedated. Local anesthesia is used to numb your skin and underlying tissues so that you won't feel any pain during the procedure. However, if you're feeling anxious or uncomfortable, you can opt for intravenous sedation to make it more tolerable.