Facet Rhizotomy

What is Facet Rhizotomy

Facet Rhizotomy is a surgical procedure intended to relieve the symptoms of facet joint syndrome. The goal of the procedure is to stop the pain signals from the nerves to the brain. The nerves that go into the facet joint are severed or destroyed. A hollow needle is inserted into the lower back tissues and a probe is inserted through the needle. The probe is guided by a fluoroscope to the area and is heated until the nerve is severed.

Facet Rhizotomy Procedure

First the problematic area and nerve is identified with a diagnostic injection. Next a hollow needle is inserted into the lower back tissue. A probe with a fluoroscope, is inserted through the needle to find the affected area. Once the nerve is found, the needle is slowly heated using radio waves. The heat will then kill or stun the nerve endings. The radiofrequency waves are either pulse or steady depending on the area. In more sensitive areas, a pulse is more appropriate and limits the damage of surrounding nerves. The goal is to deaden the nerve to the facet joint and subsequently prevent pain signals from traveling to the brain.

Rhizotomy takes approximately 30- 60 minutes and the patient is typically released to go home following the procedure.

Surgery Alternative

Before going in for surgery, patients should consider IDD Therapy® as a clinically proven solution to back and neck pain. IDD Therapy® was designed by a team of orthopedists, physiatrists, physical therapists and chiropractors to treat all of these conditions. Serious conditions, like facet joint syndrome require serious consideration of all the the available treatment options. IDD Therapy® is accessible to patients for whom surgery is not an option. And it's a better option than surgery for patients who feel they have no other alternative.

This process uses a computer calibrated to a patients physical status, along with a table that the patient is secured on. In twenty treatments over the course of a month, each disc level where there may be nerve root compression from facet syndrome, is decompressed to the point where it has enough height and motion to relieve the pressure on the spinal column and nerves. Facet joint syndrome may have multiple levels of involvement, and each one would be targeted accordingly.

Click for more information about IDD Therapy® or to schedule your free consultation call 770-460-1911.