Facet arthropathy is wear and irritation affecting the small joints at the back of the spine.
Symptoms often include local neck or back pain, stiffness, pain that is worse after standing or twisting, and discomfort that may improve a little with rest.
Imaging helps when doctors want to confirm degenerative change in the facet joints, check for associated narrowing, or rule out another cause of persistent spine pain.
X-rays, CT, and MRI can show joint enlargement, degeneration, and related narrowing in the spine.
Treatment may include physiotherapy, pain relief, injections, and spine-focused rehabilitation.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
