Spinal arthritis symptoms differ from patient to patient, but first let us focus on understanding the condition and what causes it. Spinal arthritis is globally defined as degenerative joint disorder because it involves degeneration of the cartilage that cushions the top layer of the joint bones and discs in the lower back and neck. Sometimes the condition produces pressure that causes spasms in the spinal column which result to pain and weakness in the limbs.
This condition is associated mainly with the elderly aged above 50 years although the younger generation may also get it due to different causes such as;

• Suffering from a condition that makes the joint deform
• Trauma or previous injury to a joint
• A genetic disorder that affects the joint cartilage.

Common symptoms among all Spinal arthritis symptoms:

Spinal arthritis is more common in women than in men and especially among people who are overweight. It may also occur among those people whose hobbies or jobs involve exerting too much stress on the backbone. Spinal arthritis symptoms are not similar among patients, with some patients experiencing very few or even no symptoms at all. In most general cases, spinal arthritis symptoms include stiffness, inflammation and pain in joints found in the spinal cord.

The symptoms may include some or all of the following:

• Pain, tenderness or stiffness/numbness in the neck.
• Reoccurring back pain.
• A crunching feeling which is an indication of bones rubbing against bones
• Spinal numbness especially in the morning after getting out of bed or a strenuous activity such as lifting heavy objects. The however, gradually reduces with rest or exercise
• Limited movement especially in bending or even walking.
• Weakness or slight numbness in the limbs(legs and arms)
• Lower back pain that flows down the pelvic area, around the buttocks and hips
• Cramps in the lower back accompanied by weakness in legs
• Deformity of the spinal cord

Diagnosis of Spinal arthritis symptoms:

If you are experiencing such symptoms or others not mentioned above, it is advisable that you visit your doctor as soon as possible. The doctor should be able to run some tests on you so as to determine what exactly is ailing you. When you make the trip to the doctor, in order to get the correct diagnosis, ensure that you inform him/her on every single detail involving your symptoms. This include explaining where exactly the pain is and for how long you experience it. It is also advisable that you relay all your medical history especially past incidences in the larger extended family.

 
Your doctor may ask you to do some few exercises so as to determine the range of motion that has been affected by the condition. Since spinal arthritis symptoms are somehow similar to other spinal related disorders, it is necessary that the doctor run some thorough medical tests. This will help reduce the chances of misdiagnosis. This may tests may include blood tests, x-rays, bone scans and any other test that the doctor may deem necessary. Once these tests have been conducted and the results established, then it is very important that you undergo the right treatment for the spinal arthritis symptoms and in general the condition.

Yes! There are a number of treatments that can help you recover from the condition. The treatments available are of different types depending on the intensity of the condition. The illness can involve a lot of pain as the spine is a sensitive part of your body. There are measures that you can take which are simple and comprehensive that can make you feel relieved from the pain. In serious cases a surgery may be suggested by the medical specialist.

Surgical spinal arthritis treatment

This is sort after all the other methods have failed. It is important to seek advice from the doctor before resorting to this method. Spinal arthritis has no permanent cure but using surgery the intensity of pain felt can be reduced to a lower level that you can sustain. The process involves the following:-
Laminectomy- This is a surgical procedure where the surgeon removes the lamina, which is the bone covering the vertebral arch. Osteophytes can also be performed during the process if necessary depending on the judgment of the specialist. This is done to lessen nerve compression that lead to the situation.
Spinal fusion- This joining of the bone in the spinal with the aim of limiting pain felt during the bones mobility.
Osteotomy- The cause of the illness may be due to misalignment of the spine. This will ensure the alignment of the vertebra which can be a remedy to your pain. The alignment is done during the surgery that involves cutting the vertebra.
Foraminotomy- This is a surgery that aims at enlarging the neural foramen. The enlargement is made possible through surgical removal of some amount of bone mass.

Non surgical spinal arthritis treatment

There are a number of them in the list of Spinal Arthritis Treatment. They should be your first consideration before thinking of others .This is because they are less expensive and offer fewer side effects.

They include the following:-
Physical therapy-It can be carried at your home which is more convenient; you can decide to consult a therapist if possible. It improves mobility and flexibility of your spine besides increasing the body’s general strength. It can comprise of; massage exercises, heat therapy, electrical simulation, and hydrotherapy.
Chiropractic care-This is mainly concerned with adjustments of the spine to a position where there is less pain felt. In adjusting the spine the following techniques are applied; massage manual manipulation of the joints around the vertebrae and pressure.
Pain management-There is usually large pain felt which can be managed as a means of Spinal Arthritis Treatment. It can be managed using drugs and medications that suppress pain, injections, and spinal bracing.
Using alternative medicine-Some people employ alternative medicines which work well for them. The trusted alternative medicine include yoga ,acupuncture ,biofeedback and acupressure.

Measures to lessen pain felt from spinal arthritis treatment:

• Maintaining proper posture while walking or sitting
• Try as much as possible to have the correct body weight
• Trying to be more active in most time of your day
• If you are a smoker quit as it will tend to interfere with blood in the spinal tissue.
• Try as much as possible to wear shoes that are comfortable, low heels are recommended.
• When sleeping use a mattress that will offer less curvature to your spine. A medium and firm mattress is recommended.

By observing all this you can easily achieve spinal arthritis treatment making you stay a happy life once more.

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Spinal Arthritis – Causes

• Growing age can cause spinal arthritis due to the wear down of cartilage between joints.
  Some inherited conditions like cartilage disorder and bone deformities may cause arthritis in the spine.
• Immune disorder can also trigger arthritis of spine. In immune system disorder body attacks itself.
• Spine injury or trauma may cause the development of arthritis in the spinal joints.
• Overweight can also cause the arthritis of spine. Overweight puts more pressure on the joints and sitting on the same position or lack of movement can worsen the situation.
• Psoriasis can also cause arthritis in spine. Psoriasis is an auto-immune disorder and a long term skin condition.
• Muscle imbalances and wrong posture can also lead to arthritis in long run.

Spinal Arthritis – Symptoms

• Back pain that comes and goes.
• Spinal stiffness in the morning, generally after getting up in morning, after activity or exercise.
• Pain, numbness and tenderness in the neck
• Lower back pain that runs down into the buttocks, pelvic area, thighs and sciatica.
• Pain and tenderness in the heels, knees, hips or shoulders.
• A crunching sound of bone rubbing on bone.
• Weakness and numbness in arms and legs.
• Difficulty in bending, walking or limited range of motion.
• Spinal deformity.

Diagnosis

Blood tests:

Blood test will help to determine the type and severity of arthritis.

X-rays:

X-rays will show the structure of vertebrae, outline of joints and any deformed bone. It helps to determine any deterioration of cartilage in the spine.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):

MRI gives three dimensional views of spinal cord, nerve roots and surrounding spaces.

Computerized tomography (CT scan):

CT scan shows the surrounding of spinal canal, its shape and size and its content.

Bone Scan:

Bone scan is done by injecting radioactive material. It attaches itself to bone and detect the arthritis. Bone scan is usually performed with other test.

Myelogram:

Myelogram can show the pressure on the spinal nerve from tumors, bone spurs or herniated discs. This test is performed be injecting a liquid dye into the spinal column.

Treatment
Spinal arthritis treatments are available to reduce symptoms effectively however it cannot be cured. The aim of the treatment is to slow the progression of the arthritis, increase joint function and range of motion, decrease the symptoms and preserve mobility. Treatment plan depends on the severity of the condition, age and other health issue. Most of the treatment includes exercise, massage, weight loss, rest, and ice and heat application. Some medicine is also prescribed. Some advance cases requires chiropractic treatment, physical therapy or spinal injections. If non surgical treatment fails to treat spinal arthritis, doctor can recommend surgery to restore mobility and alleviate pain.

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