Cervical Facet Syndrome

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Your neck is made up of seven bones stacked on top of each other by a tripod, consisting of a shock-absorbing disc plus two smaller bony pillars capped with smooth “facet” joints. Facet syndrome means these joints have become irritated and inflamed from sprains, strains, or lack of movement. Symptoms include intermittent neck pain that may radiate into your neck, shoulders, or upper back and worsen when you look up or rotate your head. Sometimes, patients also report headaches or mild light-headedness. Be sure to seek immediate medical attention if your symptoms include significant spinning dizziness, numbness, or tingling in your face or arms, changes in vision, or difficulty speaking, swallowing, or walking.


Long-standing irritation to the facet joint is thought to cause arthritis. Fortunately, chiropractic care is an excellent way to treat cervical facet pain and stiffness. To speed your recovery, try to avoid heavy shoulder bags, take breaks from prolonged sitting, assess your workstation setup, use a supportive sleep pillow, and stay active but avoid activities that worsen pain or trigger radiating symptoms.