Causes

Causes of Facet Joint Pain

Facet joints are common sources of chronic back and neck pain.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]} Each vertebral body in your spine has three main points of movement: the intervertebral disc and the two facet joints. These facet joints are small, stabilizing joints located on either side of each vertebra and consist of bony knobs coated with a slippery cartilage. As a disc thins with aging and from daily wear and tear, the space between two spinal vertebrae shrinks, eroding the cartilage and causing painful friction. Fractures, torn ligaments, and disc problems can all cause abnormal movement and alignment, putting extra stress on the facet joints.