Page 4 - facet pain

body is supposed to carry the majority of the

weight load and the facets are only supposed to

provide additional support and stability.

Now lets take a common scenario where the

facets are forced to be used in a way for which they

were not designed. Imagine you are in your car at a

stoplight. You are sitting there quietly when

someone hits your car from behind. Because of the

violence of the movement of the crash and because

your neck is capable of moving, when the car and

your body are moved forward, your head will be

violently thrown backward. This action slams

together the facets in your neck.

This action can damage many parts of the facets.

Your facets are covered by two types of tissue,

cartilage and periosteum. Both forms of tissues

have nerves inside of them. If the cartilage or

periosteum are damaged, they become inflamed.

The inflammation sends signals to the local nerves

creating a pain response.

If a person was in a violent shock to the body

like a motor vehicle accident, it is possible that the

cartilage and periosteum at the site of the facets

were not the only tissue damaged. Think once