Neck & Head
Cervical Facet Syndrome
Also called: Neck joint pain
Pain generated by the small paired joints (facets) on the back of the neck vertebrae. A very common driver of neck pain and cervicogenic headache, especially after whiplash or years of forward-head posture. Pain refers in predictable patterns to the head, shoulder, and upper back.
Common signs
- One-sided neck pain, worse with looking up or rotating toward the painful side
- Referred ache to the base of the skull, shoulder, or between the shoulder blades
- Tenderness directly over the joints beside the spine
- Stiffness after holding one position
Seek help now if
- Neurological symptoms in the arms
- Trauma with severe midline pain
- Constitutional symptoms (fever, weight loss)
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- Examination can localize which joint levels are involved by motion testing and palpation
- Restore motion early — facet pain feeds on stiffness
- Heat and gentle mobility typically outperform rest
If it's become chronic
- Chronic facet pain responds well to a program combining joint-specific adjusting, deep neck flexor work, and posture correction
- If pain persists despite quality conservative care, diagnostic blocks can confirm the joint as the source
Natural healing options we use
- Specific chiropractic adjusting of the involved segments
- Manual therapy for the surrounding musculature
- Attended e-stim and PEMF
- Postural retraining and thoracic mobility work (the neck pays for a stiff mid-back)
About imaging
X-rays can show degenerative facet changes; imaging is otherwise mainly used to exclude other causes since facet pain is diagnosed by examination.
Daily self-care
- Chin tucks and upper-back extension breaks during desk work
- Avoid prolonged looking-up tasks early on
- Sleep position that keeps the neck neutral
How we can help
More in Neck & Head
WhiplashCervical Sprain/StrainCervical Disc HerniationCervical RadiculopathyCervical Degenerative Disc Disease & SpondylosisCervical Spinal StenosisCervicogenic HeadacheTension-Type Headache
Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.