Combination of Lifestyle Changes Might Improve One’s Condition

While at present there is no proven Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment to either slow or stop the progression of this disease, there are treatment options available for alleviating the pain and discomfort along with other related symptoms, and for most patients suffering from it, the condition will not become debilitating. While some people suffering from osteoarthritis of the spine might experience no or minimal pain, others might experience severe pain and need immediate treatment. It varies from patient to patient.

Most people who need treatment for this condition might benefit from a combination of changes in lifestyle such as smoking cessation, weight reduction and exercise. Also, in some cases, orthopedic surgeons recommend therapies and medication and steroids.

Most treatment options for this condition focus on improving the ability of the patient to function and controlling the pain and discomfort. Medication is prescribed for reducing the inflammation that in turn helps in reducing the stiffness, discomfort and pain. It is only in severe cases that the need for surgery might arise to treat the disability and pain consequential to osteoarthritis.

Spinal Osteoarthritis and Disc Degeneration

Medical practitioners and healthcare professionals often refer to spinal osteoarthritis arthritis of the facet joints or degenerative joint disease. It is a common condition that mostly strikes the people over fifty years of age. It represents an ongoing process of degeneration in the spine and might be related to the number of several other degenerative spinal conditions. Particularly, osteoarthritis is related with degenerative discs in the spine.

Osteoarthritis and degenerative discs often occur simultaneously because the facet joints and disc are both part of the same three-joint complex. It is thought the disc degeneration can put unnecessary stress on facet joints thus leading to degeneration and formation of osteoarthritis in the facet joints. Thus Tilley Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment Atlanta can improve the condition of a patient to a great extent.

Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment – What are the Causes?

Most people know that arthritis is the most common cause of pain in lower back, especially people who are above 50 years of age. The lower back comprises of five sets of facet joints, one on the right and one on the left side of each spinal bone. Like joint in other parts of the body, the lower back facet joints can be either inflamed or injured. In either situation, you should seek the advice of the orthopedic surgeon for Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment. It is a form of degenerative arthritis in the lower back that leads to inflammation, pain and stiffness.

Understanding Spinal Osteoarthritis

Arthritis refers to a general term that means swelling of a joint. The word arthritis is derived from a Greek word “arthros” meaning a joint and “itis” which means inflammation. The only joints in the spine are the facets. Thus, Osteoarthritis in the Spine means inflammation of the spinal facet joints.

What are the causes of arthritis in the lower back?

The condition occurs because of the internal damage to the facet joints. The surfaces of the facet joints are lined with smooth cartilage for easy movement as the two sides of the joints rub against each another. However, it is important to note that the joints can become painful through the following procedure:

1. When the cartilage located on the one side of the joint get damaged, chipped or torn then as the spine moves, the injured cartilage gouges its neighbor causing further pain and injury.
2. This damage or injury to the joints results in friction which ultimately causes inflammation
3. The swollen and injured facet joints transmit this pain signal through a single nerve originating from the facet joint
4. It is this signal that causes the back muscles to experience spasm
5. It is the combination of the inflammation and muscle spasms that triggers pain in the lower back

Osteoarthritis of the Spine can be treated in an effective way if the right cause is diagnosed.

Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment Depends on Symptoms!

Have you heard of the Osteoarthritis of the Spine? Given that a large number of people are suffering from this condition, it is important to understand what it is and what its symptoms are before initiating with the Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment.

Spinal Osteoarthritis – What it is?

Osteoarthritis refers to degenerative joint disease that affects a large number of people in their forties and fifties. The disease is consequential to the deterioration of cartilage. It is a smooth, elastic tissue that acts as a shield for joints providing lubrication necessary for normal functioning of the joints.

This condition can affect different body parts such as knees, hands, spine and hips. As far as osteoarthritis of the spine is considered, it especially affects the facet joints, the ligaments in the spine and the cartilage between the bones that make up the spine.

With the natural process of ageing, the cartilage coating of the facet joints slowly starts wearing away. Invertebral discs are made of water. The disc starts dehydrating as you start growing older. This, in turn, can cause the spinal discs to narrow and place more pressure on facet joints.

Symptoms of OA of the Spine

There are different symptoms of this condition. The most commonly prevalent condition is the pain in back. In early stages of the spinal osteoarthritis, you might only experience pain in morning because of hours of inactivity. It is a progressive disease thus symptoms become worsen over the period of time. Tenderness and stiffness in joints, limited range of movement and numbness or weakness in the arms of legs or tingling in the legs are some other symptoms.

The treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Spine is initiated on the basis of the symptoms that a patient is experiencing. Make sure you share all that you feel with the orthopedic surgeon to get the right treatment.