The facets are little joints in the back of the neck that help control movement. There are two at each level and about the same size as the knuckles on your small finger.   These joints can become injured in a whiplash injury.  Recent research shows that the joints can become jammed at time of impact.  Injuries to these joints and the ligaments that hold them together can cause chronic neck pain. 

Facets can swell like other joints.  This pain is usually worse in the morning or with less activity.  It gets better as the day goes on and the tissues get warmed-up.  Many patients say that they feel more pain when a storm front comes through.

The pain usually occurs in one spot, but can be in many areas.  The pain is described as deep, sharp, and often aching.  It can also refer to other areas as seen in this diagram of facet pain referral patterns.  Each facet joint is represented by it's designation.  For instance, note that the C2-C3 facet joint can refer into the back of the head while the C6-C7 joint more commonly sends pain to the shoulder blade area.

This type of pain usually gets worse when the facet joint is compressed.   For instance, if you have right sided neck pain due a facet joint, that pain would get worse if you bent your head and neck to the right and backwards (compressing the joint).

What can help?