Are there options other than revision surgery?
Revision surgery is typically a last resort. As a neurologist and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Taghva evaluates the condition of the spine during the initial consultation to determine the best treatment options for the patient’s needs, which may include physical therapy and medication before surgery is recommended. Non-surgical options for treating degenerative facet pain typically include joint injections or a nerve block. An injection of numbing medication and corticosteroid provides temporary relief of some back pain and may be repeated three to four times a year. Nerve blocks are often used without general anesthesia and utilize radiofrequency ablation to stop pain signals from the nerve fibers reaching the brain.