Understanding and Managing Spinal Arthritis
Are your facing problems stooping, bending, or twisting, then it can lead to great amounts of pain. You may have developed spinal arthritis. If the problem gets severe, then you can improve your spine health by undergoing spine surgery. Different spinal arthritis exists and there are many of them due to which you suffer inflammation, stiffness, and chronic pain.
A better understanding of how arthritis affects the spine, the type of arthritis, and how different treatments can lead to symptoms, will make it easier for you to go through the treatment.
Types of Spinal Arthritis
Arthritis refers to inflammation and joint pain, which means that it covers different medical conditions. Research has shown that around 50 million adults suffer from this issue and even children can have this condition.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of spinal arthritis that occurs in the facet joints and it is also known as facet joint syndrome.
If the problem is linked to age, then the disc may get flat and it won’t maintain the space between the vertebrae. This condition can lead to deterioration and irritation.
Other arthritis types can lead to stiffness and pain. Moreover, inflammation may occur, and the joint gets damaged. In some cases, the bones may fuse.
What are the symptoms of spinal arthritis?
The symptoms of spinal arthritis will depend on the type of arthritis you have. This condition results in mechanical dysfunction, and the pain increases. The problem might not be noticed easily if you try to stand still or sitting.
The problem of rheumatoid spinal arthritis is not going to affect your condition constantly, and the pain can be there whether you reflex the spine or not.
If someone has ankylosing spondylitis and the pain is more after a long time, then the pain can reach the hips and back.
How to take care during spinal arthritis
- In many cases, the patient’s condition is improved with conservative care methods. Depending on the type and severity of arthritis, the doctor may recommend different treatment options.
- In most cases, simple adjustments may help you get relief from osteoarthritis symptoms. Your doctor can prescribe you take medications that reduce pain and stiffness linked with arthritis. Make sure that you take it accordingly as your doctor has suggested. Your doctor is also going to tell you about the possible side effects, so make sure you take them in moderation and as per the doctor’s guidelines.
- Your doctor can suggest injections that work well with severe cases. The doctor will suggest a steroid known as cortisone and you will be administered local anesthesia. With this, inflammation will come down for an extended time.
Make sure that you follow the exercise regime. In this, strengthening and stretching exercises should include which improves spinal mobility and gives you increased muscular support. Lose your weight and reduce the stress levels to manage the problem on time.
