1. The Source of Facet Joint Pain
The skeletal makeup of the spine includes vertebra that interlock with facets above and below. These interlocking points help you move at each vertebral level; those points are your facet joints. These joints easily sustain injury because of the strenuous, repetitive movement required by rowers. Moving your oars forward and backward repeatedly provides a great deal of stress on your back, whether you row indoors or outdoors. Overuse, improper technique and trauma all contribute to facet joint pain in a rower.
2. Examine Your Pain
Facet joint pain is different from disc pain, and there are ways that you and your doctor can tell the difference. Facet joint pain comes and goes. Early on, you might feel it a few times a year. As the pain intensifies, expect to feel it several times a month. Facet joint pain doesn't radiate across the back; the pain remains localized to the area around the facet joint and you will feel pain when you apply pressure to that area. Facet joint pain diminishes in the morning, but it comes back at the end of the day; it also gets worse when you row or engage in other types of training. If you suspect it's facet joint pain, take a break. This type of pain usually goes away with rest.
3. A Look Inside
Doctors can diagnose facet joint pain in rowers with x-ray. A radiology technician will perform a front/back view, a side view and an off angle view to determine if your pain is, in fact, facet joint pain. If x-ray results are unclear, a CT scan is a good option. These scans provide detailed views of facet joints and the other structures of the spine. This is a different option from a potential disc problem, because doctors prefer MRI scans for that type of injury. Your doctor may also inject a facet joint injection into the facet joints where you experience pain. This is sometimes the best way for the doctor to see clearly if your pain is facet joint pain.
4. Eliminate Other Potential Problems
Facet joint pain at its peak can look and feel similar to other conditions. Expect your doctor to investigate a deep infection, a herniated disc, an acute intra-abdominal problem and a fracture or torn muscle in your spine or low back. These conditions, like facet joint pain, can cause severe pain and your doctor will want to check for everything.
