Johnson Chiropractic Cares for Neck Pain and Painful Cervical Spine Facet Joints

Zygapophyseal joints are also named facet joints. Facet is a bit easier to pronounce than zygapophyseal, and Johnson Chiropractic knows ‘facet’ is a whole lot easier to type than 'zygaopophyseal’! These joints are documented to be the source of neck-related pain for many adults of all ages. Johnson Chiropractic uses gentle chiropractic spinal manipulation to alleviate neck pain like that produced by facet joint innervation.

FOUNDATIONAL STUDY

Mapping of normal volunteers’ responses to stimulation of cervical facet joints in the 1990s was foundational. Five volunteers came forward to have their cervical spine facet joints stimulated to see where neck pain and arm pain were observed. Wow! These volunteers’ pain responses allowed for the making of easy-to-read pain charts. (1) A follow up study of 10 patients with cervical spine pain compared their pain to that described in the normal volunteers’ pain drawings to validate the initial charts from normal volunteers. (2) Johnson Chiropractic sees confirmation of these normal volunteers’ pain reports in our Richmond neck pain patients! Decompression of spinal nerves with chiropractic helps. 

NEW INFORMATION ON CERVICAL FACET JOINTS

New information from a current-day dissection project added new facts to the role cervical facet joints (aka zygapophyseal joints) exhibit in neck pain and arm pain. At some levels, more than one medial branch was seen. Direct facet joint branches were found that came from the dorsal root of the spinal nerve. These were independent from the medial branches in their direct route to the facet joint. Current day researchers suggest that there is a more diverse pattern of innervation than has already been noted. (3) Johnson Chiropractic appreciates the nuances of spine pain and the research that found them.

EXAM AND TREATMENT

Clinical observation, examination, and imaging findings guide the diagnosis of neck pain given the complexity of cervical facet joints. (4) The cervical spine facet joint is innervated by mechanoreceptive (mechanical pressure-inducing) and nociceptive (nervous system related pain-inducing) nerve fibers engaging the dorsal root ganglia and end processes of the spinal cord. The central nervous system is complex and quick to respond to these painful stimuli, both pressure and nerve related. (5) That is why your Richmond chiropractor takes time in examining, diagnosing and treating Richmond neck pain. There are many factors to consider! Our Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management is soothing, non-thrust manipulative treatment of the cervical spine for Richmond neck pain relief.

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains the effective, gentle treatment with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his male patient with neck pain and tingling in his arm and hand.     

Make your next Richmond chiropractic appointment with Johnson Chiropractic. Pick your word: zygapophyseal or facet! We are here to discuss, diagnose, and treat them for relief of neck and arm pain.