The facet joints are located between the vertebral bones of the spine and are often associated with back pain. Facet joints can be injected under x-ray or CT guidance with a combination of anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid (such as cortisone) to provide relief from pain. The pain relief can last from weeks to months, however, in some instances no pain relief benefits are perceived.
Preparation
No specific preparation is required for a facet joint injection, although you may be asked to fast before your appointment. Please inform us when booking your appointment if you are taking blood thinning medication (e.g. Warfarin or aspirin). Please continue to take take all your other usual medications and if you are diabetic, please adhere to your normal diet.
Procedure
You will be asked to lie flat on the CT table, on either your stomach or back depending on the region of the spine being injected. The area will be cleaned and injected with local anaesthetic. Using x-ray or CT scanning guidance, a Radiologist (doctor) will carefully place a needle into the facet joint. Usually a combination of local anaesthetic and steroid solution will be injected. This may be uncomfortable for a short time during the injection, until the injection starts to take effect. You may be asked to remain in the clinic for a short period of observation after your injection. It is suggested you minimise physical activity for 24 hours after the injection.
How long will the treatment last?
It may take up to 48 hours for the injection to begin to take effect. The degree and duration of relief is quite variable. Many patients experience complete pain relief for months or even years. Some, unfortunately, may experience little or no benefit.
Are there any side effects?
There may be slight soreness or bruising at the injection site, and some patients may experience temporary numbness around the injected area. It is uncommon for the procedure to cause headache. Other more serious side effects or permanent neurological damage are very rare. If you have any questions or concerns please speak with the Radiologist or your referring doctor. All potential side effects will be discussed with you when obtaining your consent for the procedure.
Please bring any previous x-rays with you on the day of your examination.
Locations where this service is available
-
Armadale Hospital
The Medical Centre Building
3056 Albany Highway
Armadale
Ph: 9391 0100
Fx: 9391 2019
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Service available to Emergency Department patients after hours.
Weekday evening MRI appointments available.
-
Bentley Hospital
Bentley Health Service (B Block)
33-56 Mills Street
Bentley
Ph: 9232 3800
Fx: 9350 5644
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Bethesda Hospital
25 Queenslea Drive
Claremont
Ph: 9286 0400
Fx: 9286 0430
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Booragoon
260 Leach Highway (corner Norma Road)
Booragoon
Ph: 9333 5600
Fx: 9317 8368
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday 8:30am-12pm*
Weekday evening MRI appointments available
*Please note: not all services are performed on Saturdays.
-
Gosnells
122-126 Stalker Road
Gosnells
Ph: 9394 9900
Fx: 9394 9960
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Hollywood Consulting Centre
Hollywood Consulting Centre
Suite 2
91 Monash Avenue
Nedlands WA 6009
Ph: 6373 0000
Fx: 6373 0020
Monday- Friday 08:30am-5:00pm
-
Innaloo
8 Odin Road
Innaloo
Ph: 9329 5400
Fx: 9329 5490
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Joondalup
Level 1 Shenton House
57 Shenton Avenue (cnr Grand Boulevard)
Joondalup
Ph: 9400 0600
Fx: 9400 0690
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday 8:30am-12pm*
Weekday evening MRI appointments available.
*Please note: not all services are performed on Saturdays.
-
Joondalup Health Campus
Shenton Avenue
Joondalup
Ph: 9400 0500
Fx: 9400 9033
All services Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
In addition, weekend and evening MRI appointments available
Inpatient on-call service available 24/7
-
Midland
Victoria Street Radiology
21-23 Victoria Street
Midland
Ph: 9374 2600
Fx: 9374 2691
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday 8:30am-12pm*
Weekday evening MRI appointments available.
*Please note: not all services are performed on Saturdays.
-
Midland Public Hospital
1 Clayton Street
Midland
Ph: 6274 3500
Fx: 6274 3590
All services Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
In addition, weekend and evening MRI appointments available
-
Morley
29 Collier Road
Morley
Ph: 9375 0700
Fx: 9375 0790
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Mount Medical Centre
Level 2
140 Mounts Bay Road
Perth
Ph: 6228 6200
Fx: 6228 6240
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-12pm*
In addition, weekend and evening MRI appointments available
*Please note: not all services are performed on Saturdays.
-
Murdoch
Wexford Medical Centre
3 Barry Marshall Parade
Murdoch
Ph: 9312 7800
Fx: 9312 7878
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Nollamara
217 Wanneroo Road (corner Morley Drive)
Balcatta
Ph: 9440 7400
Fx: 9440 7490
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday 8:30am-12pm*
Weekday evening MRI appointments available.
*Please note: not all services are performed on Saturdays.
-
Palmyra
Cnr Canning Hwy & Antony St
Palmyra
Ph: 9333 7800
Fx: 9333 7888
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Rockingham
215 Willmott Drive
Waikiki
Ph: 9599 3900
Fx: 9592 9893
All services Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
In addition, weekend and evening MRI appointments available
-
South Perth Hospital
1 Burch Street
South Perth
Ph: 9474 7600
Fx: 9474 7630
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
-
Subiaco
Magnetic Resonance Centre
127 Hamersley Road
Subiaco
Ph: 9380 0900
Fx: 9380 4188
All services Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
In addition, weekend and evening MRI appointments available