Facet Joint Injections

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Facet joints are small joints at the back of your spine that provide your vertebral column with stability. They can be found in three areas of your vertebral column – Cervical (in your neck), Thoracic (upper back); and Lumbar (lower back).

Facet Joint Injections are also known as cortisone (steroid) injections and are used in pain management therapy most commonly in your neck or back.

To help alleviate this pain, a small local anaesthetic with a steroid is injected into and around the facet joint that is causing your discomfort. This steroid will help reduce the inflammation and any associated swelling.

How do I prepare?

Please arrive early for your exam as you will be asked to complete a questionnaire.

It’s a good idea to dress in a separate top and bottoms, as this makes accessing the area we need access to easier.

We suggest you bring a friend along to drive you home after the appointment, or arrange to get a taxi home.

Technology and Team

Facet Joint Injections are performed using either a CT scanner or Ultrasound.

The injection is performed by one of our specially trained Radiologists.

What happens during my examination

Your Radiographer will explain exactly what will happen during your procedure. It may vary slightly from what we describe below, so don’t worry if this is the case, you’ll always be in very good hands.

On entering the CT room you will be introduced to the Radiologist and nurse who will be administering the injections. You will be asked to lie on the bed face down. We’ll clean the site with antiseptic before administering a local anaesthetic to numb the area.

Our Radiologist will then insert a needle using the guidance of CT imaging technology. This is to ensure the needle is directed into the spinal area correctly.

Throughout the procedure, the Radiologist will talk to you about what they’re doing. They will leave the room and come back several times as they review the images on the screen outside the scanning room. The bed will move slowly into the gantry and then slowly out again. This may happen several times.

The procedure will last around 30 minutes. You may feel some minor pressure or discomfort. We’ll do our very best to keep this to a minimum and keep you comfortable.

Following the procedure, you may sense slight relief almost immediately due to the local anaesthetic, however, this will wear off after a short period. The steroid injection itself should take effect after approximately 24 hours.

At the end of the examination, you will be able to redress and leave.

After your examination

A report on the procedure and images will be sent directly to your referring Doctor. Please ensure you book a timely follow-up appointment to discuss your results with them.

Cost

The cost of your procedure will depend on various factors. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.

Locations providing this service

189 Lake Street

189 Lake Street,
Cairns, QLD, 4870

Bayside

16 Weippin Street (Opposite Redland Hospital) Cleveland, QLD, 4163

Beenleigh

105 City Road,
Beenleigh, QLD, 4207

Bowen Hills

Bowen Hills Medical Specialist Centre
Suite 3, 16 Thompson Street
Bowen Hills, QLD, 4006

Browns Plains

14 Grand Plaza Drive,
Browns Plains, QLD, 4118

Cairns Private Hospital

144 Lake Street,
Cairns, QLD, 4870

Capalaba

Ground Floor,
Rickey Street,
Capalaba, QLD, 4157

Cleveland

43 Wynyard Street,
Cleveland, QLD, 4163

Coorparoo

342 Old Cleveland Road,
Coorparoo, QLD, 4151

Douglas Discovery Rise

Clinical Practice Building,
James Cook Drive (cnr Mt Stuart Street),
Douglas, QLD, 4814

Gold Coast Airport Central

Airport Central, 1 Eastern Avenue, Bilinga, QLD, 4225

Gold Coast Private Hospital

Ground Floor, 14 Hill Street, Southport, QLD, 4215

Greenslopes Private Hospital

Lower Lobby Level,
Newdegate Street,
Greenslopes, QLD, 4120

Helensvale

GC North Medical Hub
Helensvale Homeworld
Tenancy 78, First Floor
502 Hope Island Road
Helensvale QLD 4212

Highfields

73 Highfields Road
Highfields, QLD, 4352

Loganholme

62 Bryants Road,
Loganholme, QLD, 4129

Market Square

Ground Floor, 309 Mains Road
(Cnr Elva Street)
Sunnybank, Qld, 4109

Mater Hospital Brisbane

4th Floor, 32 Raymond Terrace,
South Brisbane, QLD, 4101

Mater Private Hospital Hyde Park

9-13 Bayswater Road,
Hyde Park, QLD, 4812

Mater Private Hospital Mackay

76 Willetts Road,
North Mackay, QLD, 4740

Mater Private Hospital Pimlico

Mercy Centre
25 Fulham Road (access via Diprose Street)
Pimlico, QLD, 4812

Mater Private Hospital South Brisbane

301 Vulture Street,
South Brisbane, QLD, 4101

Mater Private Hospital Springfield

30 Health Care Drive,
Springfield Central, QLD, 4300

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital

Cnr of Kessels and Troughton Roads,
Coopers Plains, QLD, 4108

Russell Street

127 Russell Street,
Toowoomba, QLD, 4350

Southport

128 Queen Street ,
Southport, QLD 4215

St Andrew’s Hospital Toowoomba

280 North Street,
Toowoomba, QLD, 4350

St Vincent’s Hospital Brisbane

411 Main Street,
Kangaroo Point, QLD, 4169

St Vincent’s Hospital Toowoomba

St Vincent's Hospital,
Entrance 6, Ground floor,
Herries St,
East Toowoomba,
QLD 4350

Sunnybank Private Hospital

Level 1, Sunnybank Private Medical Centre
245 McCullough Street,
Sunnybank, QLD, 4109

Taringa

Ground Floor, 32 Morrow Street, Taringa, QLD, 4068

Upper Mount Gravatt

Ground Floor,
1985 Logan Road,
Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD, 4122

Westcourt

318 Mulgrave Road,
Cairns, QLD, 4870

Wynnum

101 Clara Street,
Wynnum, QLD, 4178

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