Understanding and Managing Spinal Arthritis

 

If every day twisting, bending, or stooping motions have become excruciatingly painful, you may have spinal arthritis. There are numerous types of spinal arthritis, all of which can cause chronic pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

The better you understand how arthritis affects the spine, what type of arthritis you have, and how various treatment options can bring symptoms under control, the easier and more completely you can resume your employment, hobbies, and home duties.      

 Spinal arthritis types

Arthritis simply refers to joint pain and inflammation, therefore the phrase encompasses an extremely broad spectrum of illnesses, including at least 100 different medical conditions. Arthritis affects an estimated 50 million adults, but it may and does affect children as well.

Facet joint syndrome occurs when the most prevalent type of spine arthritis, osteoarthritis, develops in the facet joints that link and articulate your vertebrae. Facet joint condition, like other types of osteoarthritis, can develop naturally as the protecting cartilage within the joints breaks down.

Facet joint syndrome can be caused or accelerated by changes in your spinal discs. For example, age-related water loss within the discs may allow the discs to flatten rather than maintain a consistent distance between the vertebrae. This modification puts the facet joints under unnatural stress, causing irritation and degeneration.

Other types of arthritis can cause spinal pain and stiffness. Autoimmune reactions can inflame and destroy joints in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that targets the joints of the lower spinal column, causing bones to fuse together.

Back Pain Symptoms

The symptoms of spinal arthritis might vary depending on the type of arthritis. Because spinal osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical dysfunction, it usually causes pain when you flex the afflicted facet joints, which becomes less obvious when you stand or sit still.

Rheumatoid spinal arthritis may not trouble you in a consistent fashion, generating discomfort whether or not you flex your spine. Ankylosing spondylitis typically worsens after a period of inactivity, with pain localised in the lower back and hips.

Spinal arthritis conservative care

Many cases of spine arthritis respond well to conservative treatment options. Depending on the kind and severity of your arthritis, your doctor may recommend a different treatment plan. Chiropractic adjustments, for example, often alleviate osteoarthritis symptoms by alleviating joint strain, but they represent certain hazards for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

Even if just for a few hours, over-the-counter medications help alleviate the inflammatory pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen are common examples. Before using any medications, consult your doctor about any potential hazards or interactions.

Injections are the next step in the treatment of facet joint arthritis. Your doctor can inject cortisone, coupled with a local anaesthetic, into an inflammatory facet joint to reduce inflammation for an extended length of time.

Exercise can help you manage spinal osteoarthritis. Stretching and strengthening activities will help you enhance your pain-free spinal mobility while also giving your spine more muscular support. Exercise and dietary adjustments can also assist you in losing weight and relieving stress on your spinal joints.

Treatments

There is no cure for spinal osteoarthritis. Treatment, on the other hand, tries to alleviate symptoms while restoring mobility and preventing additional injury to the spinal joints. Self-care, medicines, physical therapy, and, in certain circumstances, surgery are among the treatment possibilities.