Facet Joint Hypertrophy ?
 

I have read and gathered various opinions and facts regarding this subject and it is a condition I am dealing with and being called severe. My original understanding of it has somewhat changed and I was wondering if you fine folks might have a firmer take on it than what I do.

So from what I was told is that the cartilage in between the facet joints (lumbar) is eroded or gone, and that the joint itself has basically been opened up to a point that it is unstable and moves freely often causing my back to be "out" which would be a chiropractic subluxation not a medical subluxation. You can audibly hear my back and hips grind with and flexion of the torso. It causes pain no matter what the category and the discs in those particular areas are torn, herniated and dehydrated so they want to fuse it. I have bilateral stenosis and central stenosis both moderate to severe. I am not a believer in low back surgery at this point in time.

From what I had gathered here was hypertrophic referred to spurring and bone overgrowth. I am finding different understandings for that term dependent on which part of the body. I am also going to post in the arthritis forum because I am SURE, not yet medically diagnosed, that I am battling one form or the other. I am leaning towards the RA side giving my findings and symptoms.

Thanks for any info or light you might be able to shed on the subject :)

[QUOTE=mg neck prob;933220]Gator one ? for you I been having extreme muscle twitching....did u have that after your acdf??

My understanding is facet hypertrophy is overgrowth of bone, and spurring. I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong cause I hate to give out incorrect information! :eek:

But you sound like you've got a mighty painful condition! YIKES. I don't blame you for not wanting surgery, but what other options are there? If things are "moving freely" and you have bone on bone??? I mean that's not GOOD!
Please tell me you're NOT going to a Chiro!!! :eek:

Whatever you decide, please keep us informed, will you? God bless & please take good care of yourself gatorhead! WE need you around here! ;) Hugs, Lee :)

[QUOTE=mg neck prob;933258]YES and still do!

OH NO CHIRO for me lol.

No chiropractic
 

At this point in time if you are bone on bone, with grinding etc. It isn't a good time for chiropractic at all. You should be cleared to do that from a neuro surgeon. I wasn't hep on surgery myself, but the alternative was worse. ginnie:hug:

I just reread what I typed earlier and to clarify a medical subluxation can be visibly seen on any imaging study, where as a chiropractic subluxation is easily maneuvered back into place and is no where near the degree of a medical subluxation. A spondy would be a type of medical subluxation. I see where I caused the confusion :)

Also a little outside of topic but not so much. Not all Chiro's are the same. There are varying studies and manipulations, practices and theories used. Kinda like having a public defender vs. Shapiro you have you good and your bad and the good really do have their place in medicine. The good ones are hard to find, and they know their limits and will abide by those. They know they aren't a cure for everything and they know when they can no longer help. I have had both experiences, with the better (one of the best) really helping me along the way. I couldn't breathe or walk after my accident and the doctors wanted to throw pills at me and little by little the DC was able to help me get back to my feet, kept the pain levels tolerable and was instrumental in providing physical therapy as well as massage therapy. He coordinated everything and then also reviewed and advised as to my other treatment. I could go on for hours about how doctors are and what they are motivated by, but you all have been where I am and you know what the good and the bad are like. I appreciate you all :) One last time tho, I am not being treated by a chiropractor good or bad, those days are beyond me:winky: