Deteriorating spinal joints that cause localized and radiating pain — decompression reduces the compression driving the damage.
Facet syndrome (also called facet joint syndrome or zygapophyseal joint syndrome) occurs when the small joints that connect vertebrae to each other — the facet joints — become inflamed, arthritic, or damaged. These joints are located on the back of the spine, one on each side of every vertebral level, and they guide and limit spinal movement. When spinal discs degenerate and lose height, the facet joints bear significantly more load than they're designed to handle, leading to cartilage breakdown, bone-on-bone friction, inflammation, and the formation of bone spurs. Facet syndrome can develop anywhere in the spine but is most common in the lumbar and cervical regions.
Facet syndrome is fundamentally a condition driven by mechanical overload — and the longer the joints remain overloaded, the more the cartilage erodes. Cartilage does not regenerate well once lost. Every month of delayed treatment means more cartilage degradation, more bone spur formation, and more compensatory muscle tension developing around the affected joint. Early intervention with decompression reduces the compressive forces on the facet joints before irreversible cartilage damage occurs, giving the joints a chance to recover and stabilize rather than continuing down the path of progressive degeneration.
Schedule a consultation with our doctors to see if spinal decompression is the right fit for your condition.