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Facet Block

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:50 -0800

Definition

An injection of local anesthetic into a painful facet joint in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. A facet block usually has two goals: to help diagnose the cause and location of the pain and also to provide pain relief.

Typically, a mixture of anesthetic (such as lidocaine) and an anti-inflammatory medication (such as cortisone) is injected into the joint.

Related information

Injections
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Facet Joints

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:51 -0800

Definition

Small joints located between and behind adjacent vertebrae. There are two facet joints at each level of the vertebral column, providing stability to the spinal column while allowing movement.

Fibromyalgia

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:51 -0800

Definition

A fairly common chronic syndrome characterized by scattered musculoskeletal pain (involving the muscles and bone structure), tenderness in specific areas, and generalized fatigue.

Most common in relatively young, otherwise healthy-appearing individuals, it occurs much more often in women than in men.

Fibrosis

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:51 -0800

Definition

Replacement of normal tissue with scar tissue. The formation of scar tissue near the nerve root (also called epidural fibrosis) is a common occurrence after back surgery and often occurs for patients with successful surgical outcomes as well as for those with continued or recurrent leg pain and back pain.

Scar tissue formation is part of the normal healing process after a spine surgery. While scar tissue can be a cause of pain, scar tissue itself is rarely painful since it contains no nerve endings.

Fibrositis

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:52 -0800

Definition - This outdated term for “fibromyalgia” was introduced in 1904 by Sir William Gowers to describe the inflammation of fibrous tissue in his description of low back pain. However, subsequent studies of muscle biopsies have failed to reproduce Stockman’s findings of inflammation, and the term “fibrositis” is therefore considered a misnomer.

Related information

Conceptual evolution of fibromyalgia
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Flexion

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:52 -0800

Definition

Forward bending. When treating back pain, many spine specialists encourage exercises to strengthen the muscles that act to bring the spine into flexion.

Foramen

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:53 -0800

Definition

The bony hollow archway created by pedicles (the short, stout processes that extend from the sides of the vertebral body) of adjacent vertebrae, creating a passageway through which all spinal nerve roots run.

As a spinal nerve branches from the spinal cord, it exits through this opening and travels to organs, muscles and sensory structures of the body.

Related information

Herniated Cervical Disc, Cervical Radiculopathy - Spine-Health.com
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Foraminal Stenosis

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:53 -0800

Definition

Narrowing of the cervical disc space caused by enlargement of a joint (the uncinate process) in the spinal canal. The majority of symptoms are usually caused by one nerve root on one side.

Typically, the condition is characterized by non-continuous pain developing slowly over many years and is related to an activity (such as bicycle riding) or position (such as holding the neck in an extended position). Although more common in the neck, it can also occur in the lumbar spine.

Fusion

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:53 -0800

Definition

Spine fusion surgery involves using a bone graft to cause two vertebral bodies to grow together into one long bone, stopping motion at that segment. In general, a lumbar spinal fusion surgery is most effective for those conditions that are associated with instability (spondylolisthesis) and in cases that have only one level involvement.