Treatment for Lumbar Facet Sprain/Strain
If you suddenly feel a stiffness of sharp burning pain anywhere from the middle of your back, down to your buttocks, especially after a particularly excessive activity or sudden movement, chances are you just sprained or strained your lumbar facet.
There are bones inside your lower back called vertebrae. These bones are connected to each other through strong discs called facet joints. These facet joints protect your spine and also control and allow movement of your back. These joints are however, susceptible to injury – injury that can result in lumbar facet sprain or strain.
Lumbar facet sprain or strain is usually characterised by sharp burning pain that begins somewhere in the middle of your back, and can proceed down to your buttocks. Moving the affected back can aggravate the pain, as well as staying slouched in one position for a long time.
Causes of facet joint sprain/ strain
The most common cause of this condition is usually ascribed to overuse and injury. If your occupation requires that you do excessive lifting, bending, and twisting, you are likely to develop lumbar facet sprain. Facet sprain can also occur as a result of injury or accident, especially when it involves impact or pressure to the spine.
This condition is also common in people who have bad posture or spend too much time in position, such as people who sit all day improperly on an office chair. Lumbar facet sprain or strain is quite similar to lumbar facet dysfunction, and is one of the primary causes of lower back pain (LBP) in 60 to 80 percent of adults.
Diagnosing lumbar facet sprain/ strain
It is important that you seek medical help immediately if you notice a problem with your body. When it comes to pain in the back, a doctor or physiotherapist will examine the area to determine the exact cause of your condition. This will likely include an X-ray or an MRI scan that will help confirm the diagnosis.
