Facet Joint Injections in Opelousas, LA
Targeted relief for arthritis-related neck and back pain.
If stiffness, aching, or sharp pain along your spine is making it hard to work, sleep, or simply move through your day, the source may be your facet joints. Our Opelousas pain management team uses image-guided facet joint injections to calm inflammation, pinpoint the true source of your pain, and help you get back to living without constant discomfort.
What Is a Facet Joint Injection?
A facet joint injection is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure in which a small dose of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid medication is placed directly into one of the small paired joints that connect the vertebrae along your spine. These joints allow your back and neck to bend, twist, and rotate, but when they become inflamed, worn down, or arthritic, they can generate pain that radiates into the neck, shoulders, mid-back, or lower back.
Because the medication is delivered precisely under fluoroscopic (live X-ray) guidance, a facet joint injection often serves two purposes at once: confirming that a specific joint is responsible for your symptoms, and reducing the inflammation causing them.
Conditions We Treat With Facet Joint Injections
Our pain specialists may recommend facet joint injections in Opelousas, LA, for patients experiencing:
- Chronic neck pain
- Chronic lower back pain
- Mid-back pain
- Facet joint arthritis
- Degenerative spine conditions
- Pain after a spinal injury
- Pain that worsens when twisting or extending the spine
- Limited spinal mobility
Many patients who have not found lasting relief through medication, rest, or physical therapy may benefit from a facet injection as part of a personalized treatment plan.
Signs You May Benefit From a Facet Joint Injection
Many Opelousas patients searching for a “facet joint injection near me” are dealing with symptoms such as:
Neck-Related Symptoms
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion when turning the head
- Pain concentrated between the shoulder blades
- Headaches that seem to start at the base of the skull or neck
Back-Related Symptoms
- Lower back pain that worsens with standing or arching backward
- Morning stiffness that improves slightly as the day goes on
- Discomfort after long periods of sitting or driving
- Pain that stays localized rather than shooting down the arms or legs
If these symptoms sound familiar and conservative treatments like rest, physical therapy, or over-the-counter medication haven’t provided lasting relief, a facet joint injection may be worth discussing with our team.
How a Facet Injection Works
During a facet block injection, your physician carefully guides a thin needle into the affected facet joint using fluoroscopic imaging for precise placement.
The injection typically contains:
- A local anesthetic to temporarily block pain signals
- A corticosteroid medication to reduce inflammation
If your pain improves shortly after the procedure, it helps confirm that the treated facet joint is contributing to your symptoms. The steroid medication may continue reducing inflammation over the following days or weeks, providing longer-lasting relief.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Benefits
One of the biggest advantages of a facet injection is that it serves two important purposes.
Diagnostic Benefit
If your pain improves immediately after the injection, it helps confirm that the facet joint is causing your symptoms.
Therapeutic Benefit
The corticosteroid reduces inflammation inside the joint, helping relieve pain and improve mobility for weeks or even months.
This information also helps determine whether future treatments, such as medial branch blocks or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), may be appropriate.
What to Expect During Your Visit to Our Opelousas Clinic
Every facet joint injection at our Opelousas clinic is performed under image guidance to ensure accuracy and safety. Here’s what patients can expect.
Before Your Appointment
- A physician reviews your imaging, medical history, and current symptoms
- The exact facet joint levels causing your pain are identified
- You'll receive simple pre-procedure instructions, such as arranging a driver
During the Procedure
- You lie comfortably on your stomach while the skin is cleaned and numbed
- Using live fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, a thin needle is guided to the facet joint
- A mix of anesthetic and steroid medication is injected into the joint space
- The entire facet joint injection procedure typically takes 15–30 minutes
After Your Facet Joint Injection
- You'll rest briefly in our recovery area before heading home
- Most patients resume light daily activities within 24 hours
- Pain relief may begin within a few days as inflammation subsides
- Our team follows up to track your progress and plan any next steps
How Long Does Relief from Facet Joint Injections Last?
Pain relief varies based on the severity of arthritis, inflammation, and individual response to treatment.
Many patients experience relief lasting:
- Several weeks
- Several months
- Longer when combined with other therapies and lifestyle modifications
If pain returns, repeat facet joint injections or additional interventional pain treatments may be recommended.
Facet Joint Injections vs. Medial Branch Blocks
These two procedures are often confused, but they serve different purposes.
| Facet Joint Injection | Medial Branch Block |
| Medication is placed inside the joint capsule itself, treating inflammation directly within the joint. This is often the first step in both diagnosing and easing facet-related pain. | Medication is placed near the small nerves that carry pain signals from the joint, rather than inside the joint. It’s commonly used to confirm a diagnosis before a longer-lasting treatment like radiofrequency ablation. |
Is a Facet Joint Injection Safe?
When performed by an experienced pain specialist using imaging guidance, facet joint injections are considered a safe, well-established treatment. As with any injection, mild and temporary side effects are possible, including:
- Soreness or bruising at the injection site
- Temporary numbness
- Brief flare-up of pain lasting a day or two
- Rare risk of infection or allergic reaction
Serious complications are uncommon, and our team screens every patient carefully before treatment.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
You may be a candidate for treatment if you experience:
- Have chronic neck or back pain lasting several weeks or months
- Experience localized spinal pain
- Have imaging showing facet joint degeneration
- Have not achieved relief through conservative treatment
- Want a minimally invasive alternative before considering surgery
A thorough evaluation by our pain management specialists will determine whether a facet block injection is appropriate for your condition.
Why Choose Interventional Pain Specialists in Opelousas?
At Interventional Pain Specialists, we focus on treating the source of pain, not just the symptoms.
Patients choose our team because we provide:
- Board-certified pain management specialists
- Advanced fluoroscopic imaging guidance
- Personalized treatment plans
- Comprehensive diagnostic evaluations
- Minimally invasive procedures
- Compassionate, patient-centered care
We proudly serve patients throughout Opelousas, LA, and surrounding communities, helping individuals find relief from chronic neck and back pain with advanced interventional treatments.
Insurance We Accept
We accept most insurance providers. If you have specific questions regarding your coverage, please contact us for additional information.
Meet the Team Behind Your Care in Opelousas
ALBERT GROS, JR., MD
Anesthesiology & Pain Management Specialist
Double board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, Dr. Gros has spent more than 20 years helping Louisiana patients find relief through precise, minimally invasive treatment.
BRANDI MENIER, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
With over 25 years in nursing and advanced practice care, including 13 years focused specifically on interventional pain, Brandi brings a steady, experienced hand to every patient visit..
ASHLEY WHITMORE, PA-C
Physician Assistant
A decade of hands-on experience in spine and pain management, with particular skill in diagnostic imaging review and injection-based therapies.
What Our Patients Say
Professional Associations And Memberships
Communities We Serve Near Opelousas
We’re proud to serve Opelousas and the surrounding St. Landry Parish community with local, image-guided facet injection care, so you don’t have to drive across the state for a specialist.
- Eunice
- Sunset
- Church Point
- Grand Coteau
- Washington
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Living with ongoing neck or back pain doesn’t have to be your norm. If conservative treatments haven’t provided the relief you need, a facet joint injection in Opelousas, LA, may help reduce pain, improve mobility, and get you back to enjoying everyday life.
Contact us today to schedule an evaluation and learn whether a facet injection is the right treatment for your condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a facet joint injection?
A facet joint injection is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication directly into a painful spinal facet joint to reduce pain and inflammation while helping diagnose the source of symptoms.
Is a facet block injection painful?
Most patients experience only mild discomfort because the treatment area is numbed before the injection. Fluoroscopic guidance also helps improve accuracy and comfort.
Can facet joint injections help me avoid surgery?
For many patients, facet joint injections reduce pain enough to improve function and delay or eliminate the need for more invasive treatments. Results vary based on the cause and severity of the condition.
Do I need imaging before receiving a facet joint injection?
Your physician will review your symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and any available imaging studies to determine whether a facet joint injection is the right treatment for you.
How long does a facet injection take?
The procedure is typically completed within 15 to 30 minutes, followed by a short recovery period before you return home.
Can I go home after the procedure?
Most side effects are mild and temporary, such as soreness at the injection site. Less common risks include allergic reaction, temporary numbness, or infection. Your provider will review your full history beforehand to minimize these risks.
Who is a good candidate for a facet injection?
Patients with chronic neck or back pain caused by inflamed or arthritic facet joints may benefit from a facet injection after evaluation by a pain management specialist.