Does facet joint syndrome cause lower back pain?

Facet joints sit behind the spinal column and help control bending and rotation. Irritation can cause pain on one or both sides of the lower back, with stiffness after rest or discomfort during arching, twisting, or prolonged standing. Pain may spread into the buttock or upper thigh without following a clear nerve path. These features can overlap with muscle, disc, hip, or sacroiliac problems. Lower back pain by itself does not establish a diagnosis; the pattern and examination matter.

Note which positions and activities change the pain, then seek an assessment if it limits walking, work, sleep, or exercise. A clinician may check spinal movement, hip movement, strength, reflexes, and sensation. Care can include staying active within tolerance, physiotherapy, gradual strengthening, and practical changes to repeated bending or lifting. Imaging is considered according to the examination and the course of symptoms, not simply because pain is present.

Get urgent medical help for new bladder or bowel problems, numbness around the groin, progressive leg weakness, fever with severe pain, or lower back pain after major trauma. Seek prompt review for unexplained weight loss, a history of serious disease, or pain that is rapidly worsening. Ongoing pain that does not improve should be reassessed because a different structure may be responsible.

Ask which examination findings suggest facet pain, whether your symptoms need imaging, and which movements or exercises are appropriate while the back is settling.