Cervical Facet Injections

Relief From Neck Pain Near You in New Jersey

Neck pain that stiffens in the morning, worsens when you turn your head, or sends a dull ache into the base of your skull or upper back often comes from the facet joints of your cervical spine. These small but critical joints are one of the most overlooked causes of chronic neck pain, but they are also one of the most treatable.

At Kurdali Spine & Pain, led by Dr. Basil Kurdali, we use precisely guided cervical facet joint injections to reduce inflammation. We have convenient locations near you in New Jersey and can help you move forward with a clearer picture of your pain and a path to lasting relief.

Key Takeaways

What Do Cervical Facet Joint Injections Treat?

Cervical facet joint injections can be used to treat conditions ranging from arthritis to upper back pain. Your cervical spine consists of the seven vertebrae that make up your neck. Instead of being a single solid column, it’s a series of stacked bones connected by discs in the front and small paired joints in the back. Those back joints are called facet joints, and they guide how your neck moves, limit over-rotation, and bear a portion of the load every time you nod, tilt, or turn your head.

Like any joint in the body, facet joints can break down. When they do, it results in a distinctive neck pain that tends to respond well to targeted treatment. Cervical facet joint injections can treat:

Neck Arthritis and Facet Pain

Cervical facet joint pain often develops through normal wear and tear, as the cartilage inside the joint gradually breaks down with age, repetitive motion, or injury. There are a few conditions that can commonly lead to facet-related pain, including:

Cervical osteoarthritis: Sometimes called spondylosis, this is a thinning of the cartilage within the facet joints that causes bone-on-bone friction, inflammation, and joint enlargement.
Whiplash and prior neck injuries: Trauma to the neck, even from injuries that happened years ago, can accelerate facet joint degeneration and trigger chronic inflammation.
Repetitive strain: Prolonged forward head posture, heavy physical work, or sports that repeatedly stress the cervical spine can wear down facet joints faster than normal aging.

Compared to the sharp, shooting pain consistent with nerve compression, facet-related pain tends to be localized to one side of the neck, worsens when rotating or tilting the head, and is described as a deep, achy pressure.

Headache and Upper Back Referral Patterns

One feature of facet joint pain that surprises many of our patients is how far it can travel. Cervical facet joints don’t cause pain that follows nerve pathways the way disc problems do, but they do produce referred pain. You’ll feel pain or discomfort in a different area than where the actual problem is.

The upper cervical facet joints, particularly those at C2-C3, are a common source of cervicogenic headaches. These headaches originate in the neck and radiate into the back of the head, behind the eyes, or along the temple. Likewise, mid-cervical facet joints can cause pain in the shoulder blade and upper back. If you’ve been treated for headaches with no luck, a problem with these joints may be your problem.

How Do Cervical Facet Joint Injections Work?

A cervical facet joint injection delivers medication directly into the affected joint, not into the surrounding muscles or the spinal canal. Getting that medication to the right place is what makes this treatment effective, and imaging guidance is what makes this precision possible.

The injection contains both a corticosteroid and a local anesthetic:

Cervical facet joints are small, closely spaced, and are in a delicate part of the spine. Dr. Kurdali performs this procedure under fluoroscopy, which is a continuous, real-time X-ray that displays your cervical anatomy on a screen as he advances the needle. Additionally, before he injects the medication, he uses a small amount of contrast dye to confirm that the needle is in the right place.

What Should I Expect Before, During, and After Treatment?

At your pre-procedure visit, Dr. Kurdali will walk you through the entire process to help you feel confident about the procedure. He will review your magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray findings and your symptom history to identify which facet joints are involved. Then, he will ask you about your current medications, blood thinners, and anti-inflammatory drugs. You may need to pause certain medications in the days leading up to your procedure.

During the Procedure

During your injection, you’ll lie face down on a padded fluoroscopy table. The back of your neck is cleaned with antiseptic, and a local anesthetic is used to numb the skin and tissue along the needle’s path.

Dr. Kurdali will use continuous fluoroscopic guidance to advance a thin needle to the target facet joint. You may feel mild pressure as the needle approaches the joint. Then, contrast dye is injected to confirm the needle is in the right place before Dr. Kurdali injects the corticosteroid and anesthetic solution. Most patients are surprised at how quickly it is over. The injection typically takes only a few minutes per joint, and your full appointment should only last 20 to 40 minutes.

After the Procedure

You’ll spend 20 to 30 minutes in a recovery area, during which time our staff will monitor how you feel and ask about any immediate changes in your pain. Your neck may feel tender at the injection site for a day or two, and you may also notice a temporary increase in pain before the steroid takes full effect. These are both normal responses.

Before you leave, Dr. Kurdali will also provide you with specific after-care instructions, which often include:

Activity: Rest on the day of the procedure. You can resume normal light activities the following day.
Ice and heat: Apply ice to the injection site for the first 24 hours. Avoid soaking in baths, hot tubs, or swimming pools for 24 hours.
Pain diary: Dr. Kurdali may ask you to track your pain levels in the days following the injection. This information helps him determine whether you need further treatment.
Follow-up: We’ll schedule a follow-up visit for two to four weeks after your injection to review your response and discuss next steps.

Results and Recovery after a Cervical Facet Joint Injection

The local anesthetic begins working within minutes. If your pain drops noticeably in the first one to three hours, that means the targeted joint was most likely the source of your pain. While you may start to feel less pain almost immediately, it may take three to seven days for you to notice significant improvement.

For many patients, the injection is the beginning of a more active rehabilitation phase, not the end of treatment. Once your pain is better under control, physical therapy is the next step. A physical therapist can work on:

They will also help you work on your posture. Every time your head shifts forward, you place more weight on your cervical joints, which can cause pain and stiffness. This problem is exacerbated when you spend extended periods staring at screens or phones or sitting at desks. Addressing your posture is one of the most important things you can do to protect your neck long term.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Cervical Facet Joint Injections?

Cervical facet joint injections are relatively safe, especially when performed by experts like Dr. Kurdali. However, like any medical procedure, there are risks you need to understand before you decide whether you want treatment.

Common side effects include:

These effects are minor and should resolve on their own in a few days.

While uncommon, there is a risk of serious complications occurring. Contact our office immediately or seek medical attention if you develop any of the following:

Before your procedure, Dr. Kurdali will review your specific risk factors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout your consultation; no question about potential risks is too small to ask.

Are There Alternative Treatments?

Cervical facet injections aren’t always the first step in treating neck pain, and they aren’t the only option. At Kurdali Spine & Pain, we build treatment plans from the ground up. We start with the most conservative approaches and add others only when we need. Alternative treatments include:

Conservative Options

Before we consider any injection, we recommend conservative management. Most patients benefit initially from:

For many patients, this approach provides enough relief to avoid procedures, which is an outcome we support wholeheartedly.

Medial Branch Block

Medial branch blocks are a closely related procedure that targets a different structure. Rather than injecting into the joint itself, a medial branch block anesthetizes the small medial branch nerve that carries pain signals from the facet joint to the brain. Because the medial nerve doesn’t control any motor function, blocking it carries minimal risk.

This is a primarily diagnostic step. If two sets of medial branch blocks confirm that those nerves are responsible for your pain, you become a strong candidate for radiofrequency ablation.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

When facet joint injections or medial branch block provide meaningful but temporary relief, RFA offers a longer-lasting solution. RFA uses heat generated by radiofrequency energy to interrupt the medial branch nerves that carry facet pain signals. Essentially, RFA switches off the pain pathway at its source, without affecting surrounding structures.

Get Neck Pain Relief Near You in New Jersey

Neck pain that limits your range of motion, disrupts your sleep, or follows you through every part of your day isn’t something you need to accept. Whether you’re dealing with early-stage arthritis, post-injury stiffness, or headaches, Kurdali Spine & Pain can help. We specialize in non-surgical relief for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain near you in New Jersey. Contact us today to learn more about cervical facet joint injections or to make an appointment at one of our locations near you in New Jersey so you can start feeling better.

Cervical Facet Joint Injections FAQ

How long does relief typically last after a cervical facet joint injection?

It varies. Some patients experience relief for six months to over one year.

Can I have cervical facet joint injections at multiple levels?

Yes. Dr. Kurdali may treat multiple joints in a single session or stagger treatment across appointments, depending on his findings.

Is a cervical facet joint injection right for me if my neck pain is mild?

Possibly. Cervical facet joint injections are often recommended if you haven’t experienced relief with conservative treatments or if your pain is affecting your function and quality of life. However, you should schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options.