Pain from intervertebral joints
Facet joints are small joints enabling the link between the vertebrae of the spine. Pain of these joints is caused by the small nerves, the so-called medial branches.
How does the pain manifest itself?
- Pain comes from the lower part of the spine and can radiate to the hips, the inguinal area and legs, often down to the knee.
- The pain is dull, deep and often difficult to describe
- Bending backwards and to the side often worsen the pain, forward bending is usually not a problem
- THe symptoms are worse with longer periods of sitting or standing, minor activity may improve the pain
- Morning stiffness and pain on the sides of the back are fairly common, and can be accompanied by muscle spasms.
