Spinal Care Clinic Cares for Neck Pain and Painful Cervical Spine Facet Joints

Zygapophyseal joints are also called facet joints. Facet is a bit simpler to pronounce than zygapophyseal, and Spinal Care Clinic knows ‘facet’ is much easier to type than 'zygaopophyseal’! These joints are well-documented as sources of cervical spine pain for countless adults of all ages. Spinal Care Clinic uses gentle chiropractic spinal manipulation to ease neck pain like that created by facet joint innervation.

FOUNDATIONAL STUDY

The plotting of normal volunteers’ responses to stimulation of cervical facet joints in the 1990s was foundational. Five volunteers stepped up to have their cervical spine facet joints irritated to see where neck pain and arm pain were observed. Amazing! These volunteers’ pain responses allowed for the making of easy-to-read pain charts. (1) A follow up study of 10 patients with cervical spine pain compared their pain to that noted in the pain drawings of the normal volunteers to confirm the original charts from normal volunteers. (2) Spinal Care Clinic sees confirmation of these normal volunteers’ pain reports in our Burlington and Hamilton neck pain patients! Decompression of spinal nerves with chiropractic helps. 

NEW INPUT ON CERVICAL FACET JOINTS

New details from a current-day dissection project added new knowledge to the role cervical facet joints (aka zygapophyseal joints) exhibit in neck pain and arm pain. At some levels, more than one medial branch was found. Direct facet joint branches were seen that came from the dorsal root of the spinal nerve. These were independent from the medial branches in their direct route to the facet joint. Current day researchers wonder whether there is a more varied pattern of innervation than has previously been noted. (3) Spinal Care Clinic appreciates the nuances of spine pain and the research that discovered them.

EXAM AND TREATMENT

Clinical observation, examination, and imaging results guide the diagnosis of neck pain given the complexity of cervical facet joints. (4) The cervical spine facet joint is innervated by mechanoreceptive (mechanical pressure-inducing) and nociceptive (nervous system related pain-inducing) nerve fibers involving the dorsal root ganglia and end processes of the spinal cord. The central nervous system is complex and responsive to these painful stimuli, both pressure and nerve related. (5) That’s why your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor takes such care in examining, diagnosing and treating Burlington and Hamilton neck pain. There are a multitude of factors to consider! Our Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management is gentle, non-thrust spinal manipulation of the cervical spine for Burlington and Hamilton neck pain relief.

CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the effectiveness and gentleness of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his gentleman patient with neck pain and tingling in his arm and hand.     

Schedule your next Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment with Spinal Care Clinic. Pick your term: zygapophyseal or facet! We’re here to talk, diagnose, and treat them for neck and arm pain relief.