Facet joint arthrosis support

NayNay_

Hello All I am just doing a post again a follow up relating to my previous one I had a assessment with my physiotherapist and we discussed about the facet joint arthrosis that I have got and I was told that it isn’t arthritis and that I am at a high risk of getting arthritis in my spine and lower back but I am feeling very confused which is making me feeling really anxious and helpless especially as I do not feel like I have been told the correct information and I cannot process my condition along with the other ones I have due to this but I need help from anyone that has this condition as I have a few  questions to ask .

1. Is this condition arthritis of the facet joints 
2. Is this curable or a life long condition 
3. Is this condition progressive and will progress over time as I was told it should not 
4. What am I at risk off due to this as I told arthritis 

In the mean time I will be pushing with my gp or even the physiotherapist to help me get referred to a specialist to discuss things further and no what’s what because at the end of the day  I’m the one that has this condition and I also have mild scoliosis that all affects me physically and I am the one that has to live and deal with these not them and I should be feeling reassured not helpless and hopeless , confused and anxious by everything especially as I have been told different things from my GP and now the physio and it’s like instead off going forward I’m just going backwards .

helpline_team

Hi @NayNay_

Thanks for posting in the Helpline Online Community. I'm sorry to hear you are feeling confused and anxious about what your diagnosis means for you.

Facet joint arthrosis is another term for osteoarthritis of the spine. There are multiple facet joints placed either side of your spinal column that support the movement of your back and neck. The ends of your facet joints are covered in cartilage which is a tough, slippery covering that aids smooth movements with as little friction as possible. However, as our joints experience strain, this can wear cartilage which your body will attempt to repair. Cartilage can thin and roughen so movement in your spine may not be as smooth as it used to be and may feel stiff. As the body instigates the repair mechanisms, sometimes extra little bits of bone can form in the repair process which are called osteophytes - these tiny bony spurs may cause some irritation and hinder movement, but for some people they may have changes like this that they don't become aware of because they don't cause them any issues. X-rays are not always helpful for this reason.

There are various risk factors for developing osteoarthritis, it can affect anyone at any age, but it’s more common with advancing age (late forties onwards), in women, in people who aren’t very active, that don’t have a healthy diet, or are overweight, plus there can be a genetic elements increasing the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Your condition won't necessarily get worse over time, although you may experience flare ups occasionally, and there are things you can do to improve symptoms and reduce strain going through the joints, such as doing the exercise therapy and losing weight if you need to. I would advise you to follow the exercise programme provided by your physiotherapist. We also have exercise resources on our website. Strengthening the muscles surrounding your joints and working on your posture can have significant benefits over time. However, if you are still concerned, you should speak to your doctor again.

I hope you will find the following webpages helpful.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-spine/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/back-pain/

Best wishes,
Helen, Helpline Advisor

NayNay_

Hello Helen thank you so much for all this information I will definitely go through everything and is it worth me getting an appointment with a specialist as I’m having no luck with the GP & also the physio as I feel so helpless with them and feel I am being told different things .

helpline_team

Hello @NayNay_

I am glad to hear you found Helen's response to your post helpful.

You mention that you are wondering about seeing a specialist. This may be worth considering.

It may help to consult a different GP in the practice to talk things through further. I am sorry to hear that your current GP and physiotherapist have not been as supportive as you hoped.

You are welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520, 9am-6pm weekdays, if you would like to talk things through about your arthritis informally and in confidence. We are not medically trained.

You are also welcome to post on our https://community.versusarthritis.org/categories/living-with-arthritis-forum forum if you haven't done so already. This is a positive and supportive space where you may receive more responses to your post.

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.

Best wishes,

Fiona, Helpline Advisor

NayNay_

hello Fiona thank you so much for the response and thank you to Helen as well as I feel like me doing a post and getting a response from both off you have helped me so much thank you