How Do You Treat Arthritis In Your Back

What Is The Prognosis For People Who Have Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms may gradually worsen as you age. The condition is rarely disabling or life-threatening. Still, symptoms like joint pain may interfere with your ability to do the things you love. Early interventions can ease inflammation and pain. A combination of physical activity and medications can help.

Spinal Arthritis May Contribute To Other Issues In The Spine

Spinal arthritis may cause bone spurs â overgrowths on the edges of the bones. In the spine, bone spurs particularly affect facet joints, making them grow larger. This condition is called facet joint hypertrophy. Although bone spurs on their own are not harmful, they may narrow the passages for the spinal cord and the nerves exiting the spine. This may lead to two painful conditions:

• Spinal stenosisâ compression of the spinal cord inside the spinal canal

• Radiculopathyâ pinching of the peripheral nerves as they exit the spine

Ankylosing spondylitis may also cause additional problems such as:

• Stress fractures in places where new bone has formed

• Collapsed vertebrae

• A spinal deformity called kyphosis

Overview Of Medications Used To Treat Spinal Arthritis A Common Cause Of Back Pain Also Called Osteoarthritis Or Spondylosis

The type of arthritis that more commonly affects the spine is osteoarthritis, also called spondylosis. Other types of arthritis that are inflammatory in nature include rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Here, youll learn about medications for osteoarthritis that affects your neck , mid back , and/or low back .It is not uncommon for arthritic neck or back pain to be accompanied by other symptoms, such as tingling sensations, numbness, or muscle spasms. Photo Source: 123RF.com.

Recommended Reading: Do You Get Arthritis In Your Feet

Dealing With Knee Arthritis At Home

Disk Degeneration And Bone Spurs

As the disks in the spine age, they lose height and begin to bulge. They also lose water content, begin to dry out and weaken. This problem causes settling, or collapse, of the disk spaces and loss of disk space height. Eventually, the cushioning qualities of the disks begins to decrease.

As the facet joints experience increased pressure, they also begin to degenerate and develop arthritis, similar to what may occur in the hip or knee joint. The smooth, slippery articular cartilage that covers and protects the joints wears away.

If the cartilage wears away completely, it can result in bone rubbing on bone. To make up for the lost cartilage, your body may respond by growing new bone in your facet joints to help support the vertebrae. Over time, this bone overgrowth called bone spurs may narrow the space for the nerves and spinal cord to pass through . Bone spurs may also lead to decreased range of motion in the spine.

Side view of a healthy cervical vertebra and disk. A disk that has degenerated and collapsed.

Read Also: How To Minimize Arthritis Pain

Signs And Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis

How do you know if you actually have osteoarthritis? There are telltale signs that differ from rheumatoid arthritis that can make it easier to know if you are dealing with osteoarthritis. The following are the most common Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis:

• Joint Pain this tends to be worse when rising in the morning and is usually starts slowly as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis that can start suddenly or just flare up
• Pain in a specific Joint Your knees, hips and hands are most common. In rheumatoid arthritis you can have more than one joint affected at the same time
• Joint Swelling and Inflammation mild swelling occurs during periods of activity
• Grinding and Grating Feeling a Grinding Sensation when a Joint is moved, which can be a sign of bone spurs
• Joint Noises Hearing a joint pop or click when you extend it or bend it
• Reduced Flexibility Loss of Mobility and Flexibility (you will find it harder to bend over, climb stairs or completely straighten the affected joint

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or a combination of them, you may want to refer to your physician or therapist for an actual medical diagnosis and x-rays or an MRI to see the condition your joints are in. Discovering how to treat osteoarthritis the natural way can help you if you have degenerative arthritis like osteoarthritis.

Reactive Or Enteropathic Arthritis

Both reactive and enteropathic arthritis are tied to lumbar arthritis symptoms.

Reactive arthritis is triggered by an infection in your body. It typically results after a bacterial infection, such as chlamydia or salmonella.

Enteropathic arthritis is typically tied to inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Know If You Have Arthritis

Living With Psoriatic Arthritis

Living with psoriatic arthritis is all about maintaining the right treatment plan. With the right treatment plan in place, you can live a life free of pain and inflammation. Most doctors prescribe a combination of therapies to patients with psoriatic arthritis. This can include drug therapies, home remedies, and lifestyle changes to increase mobility, treat psoriasis symptoms, and minimize joint pain.

Even though psoriatic arthritis is a lifelong, chronic, autoimmune disorder, this does not have to impact your quality of life. Get diagnosed early, have your doctor develop a treatment plan, and stick to it. These are the keys to living a healthy life with psoriatic arthritis.

What To Know About Arthritis In Back

Arthritis in back is a common condition of the spine or the lumbar are that may result to various symptoms. Arthritis condition in the back is often seen in elders, but this may affect individuals from different age groups. However, individuals who are at high risk to this condition include the following:

• Older patients
• Obese individuals
• Those who experienced spine injuries

Arthritis in back is a common condition that affects the joint that connects the spinal segments or the vertebrae. The spines vertebrae are connected to each other in three different places. On the front part of the spinal cord, vertebrae are separated the the cushion-like spinal disc. Right behind it, the vertebrae are connected with two small joints known as the facet joints. These joints, together with the spinal disc, permit spinal movements including the arching of the back, twisting sideways and bending forward.

Considered as the most common form of arthritis that usually occur in the back or the spine is osteoarthritis. This is also known as the wear-and-tear arthritis. In case this type of arthritis occurs in the back, experts refer to it as spondylosis. Once the spinal joint starts to become arthritic, the movement of the spine may become stiff and painful. Back or lumbar spine arthritis is often prevalent accompanied by other health conditions that involve the spine, which include:

Read Also: Is Folic Acid Good For Arthritis

How In Motion Oc Can Help With Back Arthritis

Having arthritis in your back can be painful, frustrating, and make you feel alone in your suffering.

You do not have to face back arthritis alone.

You deserve specialized care and the best treatments available.

Let the excellent staff of physical therapists and personal trainers at In Motion O.C. help you like they have thousands of others.

We offer personalized treatment options, state of the art facilities, and a caring staff that will make you feel like the high-priority patient you are.

You dont have to take our word for it, you can trust us as the number one rated physical therapist in the nation according to users on Yelp.

today to make an appointment and take back your life.

*This information about physical therapy for back arthritis was reviewed by Dr Natalie Thomas, PT, DPT. If you have any questions, please dont hesitate to contact us here.

Osteoarthritis In The Neck

Osteoarthritis in the neck is the degeneration of joints, vertebrae, and discs in the cervical portion of the spine. With less padding between them, vertebrae may rub against each other. That can cause tiny bone fragments to break off and float in the synovial fluid .

Sometimes this process stimulates the growth of bony projections along the edges called bone spurs, or osteophytes. Since the padding is now thinner, the vertebrae become closer to each other. That leaves less room for the spine nerves that stick out from the spinal cord.

Symptoms of neck osteoarthritis range from none to pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Osteoarthritis in the neck pain tends to worsen after activity. Complications such as loss of coordination can happen if the spinal cord becomes pinched.

You May Like: Does Collagen Help With Arthritis

What Is Arthritis Back Pain

Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints and it affects every single joint in the human body. Once diagnosed with arthritis, a person can only slow down the effect and reduce the symptoms. This situation cant be cured.

Almost 28% of the US adults are affected by this condition. Arthritis causes immobilization and reduces flexibility.

Depending upon the body part affected, there are over 100 different types of arthritis. Some of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, Polymyalgia rheumatic, fibromyalgia, Enteropathic arthritis, Cervical spondylosis that affect various parts of the body.

One of the common arthritis is spinal arthritis that specifically affects the spine. One of the common symptoms is an intense back pain.

Other types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, neck arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause back pain. So, it is important to properly diagnose your symptoms before taking treatment.

How To Treat Arthritis In The Knees

This article was medically reviewed by Troy A. Miles, MD. Dr. Miles is an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Adult Joint Reconstruction in California. He received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2010, followed by a residency at the Oregon Health & Science University and fellowship at the University of California, Davis. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the North Pacific Orthopaedic Society.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 58,611 times.

Research suggests that treatment may slow down arthritis and relieve your symptoms, though there’s no cure for it.XTrustworthy SourceNational Health Service Public healthcare system of the UKGo to source Arthritis occurs when your joint becomes inflamed, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage in your joint wears away, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where your body attacks your joints. Experts say arthritis in the knee is very common because it’s a weight-bearing joint, but you can get arthritis in any joint.XResearch source Although arthritis may interfere with your life, you may be able to manage your condition.

Also Check: Which Fruit Is Good For Arthritis

Alternative Medical Treatments In Treating Back Pain

Despite the common belief that arthritis affects just adults, the statistics says otherwise. Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis whichever age you are. Over 15 percent of adults in America suffer spondylosis or, osteoarthritis of spine. This kind of arthritis is most common with persons over the age of 45 but the cases affecting younger people are also known. The reason why women experience more pain in the back than men is still not clear enough or revealed.

How to treat arthritis of the back?

Alternative Medical Treatments

When back pain becomes makes a jump from acute to a chronic pain some people give it a try with complementary or alternative treatments. We will expose some of the most common alternative medical treatments.

manipulation performed with hands or massage the part of the spine where you feel the painTENS, or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It includes sending electrical pulses to nerves to the painful area.

Make Sure Your Doctor Knows About All Medications Vitamins And Supplements

Talk to your doctor about which pain medications are best for you. Be sure to let your doctor know what other medications you are taking, even for other health problems. Besides other drugs you take, tell your doctor about any vitamins, supplements or herbal products you use. This can help you to avoid drug interactions. Here are other tips for safely using medication.

Don’t Miss: Is Salmon Good For Arthritis

What Other Steps Can I Take To Manage Or Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis

In addition to standard AS treatments, these steps may also help ease inflammation and pain:

• Eat a nutritious diet: Fried foods, processed meats and foods high in fat and sugar can have an inflammatory effect. Anti-inflammatory diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, may help fight inflammation.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity and excess weight puts pressure on joints and bones.
• Limit alcohol consumption: Drinking too much alcohol can weaken bones and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
• Stop smoking: Tobacco use accelerates spinal damage and intensifies pain. Your provider can help you quit smoking.

Physical Therapy For Back Arthritis Information Exercises And More

You cant move like you used to. The pain in your back went from uncomfortable to debilitating.

Or maybe you are frustrated by tingling and numbness in your arms or legs. You wish there was something you could do about it.

And getting up every morning shouldnt be this hard. You are tired of having a stiff back keep you from doing the things you love.

Physical therapy and fitness coaching can help you regain motion and manage symptoms of back arthritis.

We will show you how physical therapy for back arthritis can help you get back to enjoying life.

Also Check: Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Make You Feel Tired

What Causes Ankylosing Spondylitis

About 95% of people who have AS have a variation of the human leukocyte antigen-B gene . This changed, or mutated, gene produces a protein called HLA-B27 that increases disease risk. However, most people with a mutated HLA-B gene dont get AS. In fact, 80% of children who inherit the mutated gene from a parent with AS dont develop the disease. More than 60 genes have been linked to the condition.

Having one of these conditions may also increase your risk:

Foods You Should Take In When You Have Arthritis In The Back

In regulating arthritis in the back, you can try to check the foods that you are eating. Vegetables are very good to eat if you have arthritis. Foods which are rich in sulfur can bring you healing. They can repair the bones, cartilage and tissues. They can also help you absorb the calcium better.

You can also try eating some brown rice. Pineapple is also a fruit which can be good for your aches and pains due to arthritis. You can also eat fruits like cherries, apples, or bananas. Bromelain can lessen the inflammation in the back. Some vegetables which are also good for arthritis are celery, wheat grass, alfalfa, garlic and parsley.

If you can, try some juice fast for 4-6 weeks. It will dissolve the deposits in the joints and the tissues. Potato juice is also a must try if you want to have some relief from arthritis. You can make this using some electric juicer. Just cut the potatoes in small slices, mix with cold water and leave it overnight. You can drink it the following morning.

In order to prevent anemia which often accompanies arthritis, remember to drink iron supplements or foods rich in iron too. To prevent liver damage, eat fruits and vegetables which contain beta carotene. Have some carrot juice on hand as a refreshing drink.

Recommended Reading: What Doctor Do You See For Psoriatic Arthritis

What Are The Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis Of The Spine

Osteoarthritis of the spine may cause stiffness or pain in the neck or back. It may also cause weakness or numbness in the legs or arms if it is severe enough to affect spinal nerves or the spinal cord itself. Usually, the back discomfort is relieved when the person is lying down.

Some people experience little interference with the activities of their lives. Others become more severely disabled.

In addition to the physical effects, a person with osteoarthritis might also experience social and emotional problems. For instance, a person with osteoarthritis that hinders daily activities and job performance might feel depressed or helpless.