Zygapophyseal joints are also known as
facet joints. Facet is a bit easier to say than zygapophyseal,
and OrthoIllinois Chiropractic knows ‘facet’ is a whole lot easier to write
out than 'zygaopophyseal’! These joints are documented to be the source of cervical spine
pain for countless adults of all ages. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic uses
gentle chiropractic spinal manipulation to relieve
neck pain like that created by facet joint innervation.
ORIGINAL STUDY
The plotting of normal volunteers’
responses to stimulation of cervical facet joints in the 1990s was groundbreaking.
Five volunteers stepped up to have their cervical spine facet
joints irritated to track where neck pain and arm pain were felt.
Amazing! These volunteers’ pain responses produced
some much appreciated easy-to-understand
pain charts. (1) A follow up study of 10 actual
cervical pain patients that compared their pain to that noted
in the normal volunteers’ pain drawings to validate the original
charts from normal volunteers. (2) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic sees verification
of these normal volunteers’ pain reports in our McHenry neck pain
patients! Decompression of spinal nerves with chiropractic helps.
NEW INFORMATION ON CERVICAL FACET JOINTS
New information from a recent
dissection project included new knowledge to the part
cervical facet joints (aka zygapophyseal joints) play in
neck pain and arm pain. At some levels, more than one medial branch was found.
Direct facet joint branches were found that originated
from the dorsal root of the spinal nerve. These were separate
from the medial branches in their direct path to the facet
joint. Current day researchers speculate if there is a more varied pattern
of innervation than has previously been documented. (3)
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic appreciates the nuances of spine pain and the research that found them.
EXAM AND TREATMENT
Clinical observation, examination, and imaging findings
lead the diagnosis of neck pain given the complexity
of cervical facet joints. (4) The cervical spine facet joint is innervated by
mechanoreceptive (mechanical pressure-inducing) and nociceptive (nervous system
related pain-inducing) nerve fibers engaging the dorsal root
ganglia and end processes in the spinal cord. The central nervous
system is complex and quick to respond to these painful stimuli,
both pressure and nerve related. (5) That is why your
McHenry chiropractor takes such care in examining, diagnosing and
treating McHenry neck pain. There are a multitude of
factors to take into account! Our Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management is soothing, non-thrust spinal manipulation of the cervical spine for McHenry neck pain relief.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the effectiveness and gentleness
of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management for his gentleman patient with neck pain and tingling in
his arm and hand.
Schedule your next McHenry
chiropractic appointment with OrthoIllinois Chiropractic. Pick your term: zygapophyseal
or facet! We’re here to discuss, diagnose, and
treat them for relief of neck and arm pain.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."