Low Back & Pelvis
Lumbar Facet Syndrome
Also called: Facet joint arthropathy
Pain from the small paired joints on the back of the lumbar spine — a leading cause of mechanical low back pain, especially in extension-heavy patterns (arching sports, prolonged standing) and with age-related joint change. Refers into the buttock and thigh but rarely below the knee.
Common signs
- Localized low back pain beside the spine
- Worse with arching back, standing long, or transitioning from sitting to standing
- Referred ache into buttock/back of thigh, not past the knee
- Morning stiffness that eases with movement
Seek help now if
- True nerve symptoms below the knee (think radiculopathy instead)
- Night pain with systemic symptoms
- Trauma or osteoporosis with new pain
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- Exam localizes the involved levels; extension-rotation testing typically reproduces the pain
- Early motion restoration plus temporary reduction of extension-loaded activities
- Heat and short frequent walks
If it's become chronic
- Chronic facet pain responds to joint care combined with hip flexor mobility and core endurance — an anteriorly-tilted, extension-compressed posture feeds it
- Refractory, well-localized cases can be confirmed with diagnostic blocks while conservative care continues
Natural healing options we use
- Specific chiropractic adjusting
- Manual therapy for quadratus lumborum and paraspinals
- Attended e-stim and PEMF
- Hip flexor mobility + anti-extension core work (planks, dead bugs)
About imaging
X-rays show facet arthritis but correlate imperfectly with pain; diagnosis is primarily clinical.
Daily self-care
- Knees-to-chest and child's-pose positions for relief
- Hip flexor stretching daily
- Limit prolonged standing during flares; use a foot rail
How we can help
More in Low Back & Pelvis
Lumbar Sprain/StrainLumbar Disc HerniationSciatica / Lumbar RadiculopathyLumbar Degenerative Disc DiseaseLumbar Spinal StenosisSpondylolysisSpondylolisthesisSacroiliac
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.