CERVICAL FACET SYNDROME

A common complaint after whiplash

The Cervical Facet Syndrome is a condition that faces the chiropractic physician on a daily basis. Neck pain, headache and, less commonly, pain and/ or tingling radiating down the arm, but more freqently to the region between the shoulders.

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The cause?

In another study reported in Spine, a prominent medical journal, fully 60% of whiplash patients were found to be suffering from a Cervical Facet Syndrome.

Read more … SOFT TISSUE INJURIES OF THE NECK ...

Whiplash Research

Read more about WHIPLASH RESEARCH …

SYMPTOMS

The facet joints in the neck have quite different shapes and orientations depending on their location, so the presentation varies quite dramatically according to which facet is involved. Very broadly, and frankly this is an over-simplification, we can divide the cervical facet syndrome into four different types:

• The Atlanto Occipital joint (C0-C1)

Subluxation of these joints causes a deep ache at the very top of the neck, often causing severe headaches. A large artery supplying the base of the brain winds it's way around this joint.

Chiropractic help uses a variety of techniques including manipulation (the Chiropractic "adjustment"). Read more about the ATLANTO OCCIPITAL JOINT …

Subluxations of this joint can cause widely differing symptoms such as VERTIGO DIZZINESS and loss of balance. Medically these may be called Vertigo, and sometimes Meniere's disease, if it has associated deafness. However, in my experience, Meniere's is often wrongly diagnosed, the cause being either at this joint, or a condition in the inner ear, called BPPV, that is very treatable with new techniques called the Epley Maneuver ... this is a short course for chiropractors wanting to learn the Epleys.

Atlanto Axial joint anatomy (C1-C2)

These joints are quite different to C0-C1. It is here that most of the rotation of the neck occurs. Subluxations of the atlas are one of the causes of a severe stiff neck, often associated with headache too.

For more about the anatomy of the atlas, and the cervical facet syndrome, Click here. ATLANTO AXIAL JOINT ANATOMY >>

C2-C3

See those 'facet joints'? They are lined with glistening white hyaline cartilage. When healthy it's very hard but, because it has no blood supply, it's very dependent on certain physiological factors for health and restoration after injury. The alternative is arthritis, stiffness and pain. Read more ... HYALINE CARTILAGE ...

TMJ anatomy

Read more about TMJ anatomy …

Between them, the cervical facets and the TMJs are the major cause of blinding Migraine headaches, though it must be recognised there are many causes of migraine. For more about headache in general, and the association between the TMJ and migraine, click here.

Read more about HEADACHE CHIROPRACTIC …

Chiropractic help for Lower neck and arm pain

Thus headache is less of a feature in this region. Rather, the fixations cause stiffness of the neck, and associated tightness and pain in the shoulder muscles.

Just adjacent to the facets, small joints often injured in whiplash are found. Known as the CHIROPRACTIC HELP Whiplash and the JOINTS of LUSCHKA they also contribute to radiating pain down the arm.

ARM PAIN - the whole arm becomes vulnerable.

The nerves emerging from this region supply the shoulder and arm. Should there be nerve involvement then the pain, tingling and numbness may spread into the arm, causing obscure ARM PAIN and making you will be vulnerable to shoulder pain, conditions such as Rotator Cuff Syndrome and frozen shoulder

tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome ...

Take note of the First Rib in the diagram above. A fixated rib is the most common cause of the so-called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome which can affect the artery supplying the arm, and the nerves. Working with your hands above your head (hanging the washing, using a drill above shoulder level etc) makes your arm tired very quickly.

Read more about the THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME …

To understand the low cervical facet syndrome properly you need to have some grasp of the low cervical facet anatomy.

Read more about LOWER CERVICAL FACET ANATOMY …

ARM PAIN Case Histories ...

CHIROPRACTIC NECK PAIN TREATMENT

Mostly, though not always, the cervical facet syndrome is bread and butter for the chiropractor. Only rarely are there complications, such as after recent trauma or in very degenerate joints. On any average day, s/he will be treating numerous people with this condition.

The treatment will involve soft-tissue work of any associated muscle spasm, perhaps manual traction, and then manipulation. This manipulation is not ordinarily particularly painful, but may be a little unnerving at the first couple Chiropractic help treatments.

The cartilage lining these facet joints is very dependent on normal movement of the joint for their nutrition. Jamming of the joints that is not attended to leads to what is called Immobilisation Arthritis ...