Page 5 - facet pain

again about the mechanics of being hit from behind

by another car. After your head is violently thrown

backward, recoil forces then move the head upward

and then violently forward.

These actions stretch and possibly damage the

joint capsule, a piece of tough fibrous tissue which

surrounds and supports the facet joint. Like the

cartilage and periosteum, the joint capsule has

many nerves. Violent stretching damages the joint

capsule's tissues causing inflammation and pain.

The important point here is that in facet pain,

damage to a number of different tissues may

contribute to your pain. As such, each of these

tissues must also be treated to resolve your pain

How do I know if the facets are the cause of my

pain?

Using the logic above, there is usually a very

easy way to check and see if the facets may be the

cause of your pain. If you tip your head upward

like you are looking at the ceiling and either your

neck, upper back and/or shoulders become more

painful by this movement, it is highly likely that the