Facet Joint Syndrome

This condition involves the deterioration of the facet joints, which help stabilize the spine and limit excessive motion. Facet Joint Syndrome occurs when the joints become stressed and damaged, which can happen for a variety of reasons, such as everyday wear on the body, injury to the back or neck, or due to the degeneration of an intervertebral disc. Depending on the location of the of the affected facet joints, pain may be felt in the neck, shoulders and upper/middle back and may also cause headaches. If the affected joints are in the low back, you may experience pain in the buttocks, back of the thighs and low back.