| Facet joints are a pair of joint at the top and bottom of each spinal vertebra. These joints help stabilize the spine from movements which would cause injury they also support a portion of the compressive load of all the weight above them. These joints can are surrounded by a capsule and are similar to your shoulder, like your shoulder when excess force or trauma is exerted on these joints they can become inflamed and have abnormal motion. This inflamation can cause nerve root pressure which will feel like shooting, burning, radiating pain or it may just be sore to touch. Because the joint supports weight whenever you are not laying on your back it will continue to be inflamed and be a chronic degenerative problem without treatment. Poor posture and fallen arches of the feet may cause or aggravate this problem because of uneven facet loading (a facet carrying more than it fair share of weight). |