Osteoarthritis Of The Spine
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of spinal arthritis. It usually affects the lower back and develops through wear and tear. As the cartilage between the joints slowly breaks down, it leads to inflammation and pain. Because the pain is from mechanical damage, it is typically more noticeable when you bend or twist your back. Past back injuries may also contribute to the development of degenerative arthritis of the spine.
Osteoarthritis of the spine usually affects the facet joints between the vertebrae. It is also known as facet joint arthritis, facet joint syndrome and facet disease. In some cases, degeneration of the spinal discs may contribute to facet joint arthritis. As discs between the vertebrae become thinner, more pressure is transferred to the facet joints. This leads to more friction and more damage to the cartilage.
When these degenerative changes occur in the neck, this condition is called cervical spondylosis. Arthritis in the neck doesnât always cause pain, and many people have no noticeable symptoms.
Natural Remedies For Arthritis Pain
Living with arthritis can be a rollercoaster both physically and emotionally. Many people with arthritis experience bouts of significant pain and inflammation, followed by periods of disease inactivity. Not knowing when arthritis pain will flare up can reduce your quality of life and take its toll on your mental health.
Being able tomanage arthritis pain effectively is key to preventing debilitating symptoms from affecting your daily life. If youre looking for a toolbox of arthritis management techniques, here are six proven ways to help ease pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.
Back Arthritis Physical Therapy Will Pt Help
In short: YES!
Physical therapy is very effective arthritis back pain treatment.
A licensed physical therapist, like the ones at In Motion OC, can teach you how to perform movements that can relieve your symptoms and get you back on your feet.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek professional help from a physical therapist.
Strengthening the muscles around the vertebrae allows the muscles to do the worknot the joints. Stronger muscles will help you move with less pain and discomfort.
Physical therapy is crucial to reducing the symptoms of back arthritis.
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Can Lower Back Pain Be Related To Weather
If you feel like your lower back pain worsens on days when its cold or the weather is changing, you are not imagining things. Back pain can indeed be related to barometric pressure and outdoor temperature. Changes in pressure can sometimes cause pain in arthritic joints, including the spine. Muscles and joints in general react to the environment, which can make them stiffer and more likely to suffer an injury.
Arthritis Of The Spine Treatment Advanced Short
Although there is no cure for arthritis of the spine, treatments can improve joint function and keep joint pain and inflammation to a minimum. Your symptoms, age and general health will help determine your treatment. Your spine specialist may recommend a combination of the following arthritic spine treatments:
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain medications may be a viable option if your arthritis is mild to moderate. Prescription pain medications may be prescribed for the short-term if your arthritis pain is severe.
- Hot and cold compresses: Applying hot or cold compresses to your back may improve your arthritis back pain and inflammation.
- Physical therapy: Low-impact physical therapy exercises can relieve stiffness and improve your range of motion.
- Steroid injections: An injection of corticosteroid medication into your facet joint may temporarily relieve moderate to severe pain.
If conservative treatments do not provide you with relief from your arthritic spine, a surgical procedure may be recommended. We may suggest , a minimally invasive spine surgery using a tool called an arthroscope. Containing a camera lens and light, an arthroscope makes it easier for our spine surgeons to see inside your joint and make the most efficient surgical repair.
A minimally invasive spinal fusion, which involves joining two or more vertebrae into one single structure, can also be beneficial. It can correct the spinal weakness or instability that severe arthritis in the spine may cause.
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Low Back Pain Caused By Osteoarthritis
The most common symptom of spinal osteoarthritis is pain in the lumbar spine . This pain may also radiate down to the pelvis, buttocks, groin or thighs. It is usually treated through a combination of:
- and that strengthens a person’s core
- , acetaminophen, and/or adjuvant pain medication
When these treatments are not enough to alleviate pain and stiffness, a patient may require procedural pain management, such as or blocking of the medial nerve through radiofrequency neurotomy, where heat generated by radio waves disrupts the nerves ability to transmit pain signals.
Floor Exercises For Your Core Muscles
These first 4 exercises will strengthen your lower back, abdominal, and/or pelvic floor muscles. Targeted exercises are useful for these muscle groups, because they may not get much use during daily activities.
This exercise involves a very slight internal movement that isolates and strengthens your core and pelvic floor muscles:
Do 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions.
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How Does It Feel
Symptoms of OA of the spine vary from person to person and can range from mild to disabling. You may not have symptoms even though the condition is present. Its onset and progression can be quite slow.
With early or mild disease, symptoms may be intermittent. You might feel stiffness or aching after sitting a long time, on waking in the morning, or after vigorous activity. You or your family may notice changes in your posture. Some people will bend forward or shift to the side. With more advanced OA of the spine, symptoms will become more constant and tend to interfere more with your daily activities, especially with walking and standing.
Common symptoms of OA of the spine include:
- Pain in the back or neck.
- Pain that is worse after prolonged inactivity, on getting up in the morning, or after physical activity.
- Pain that worsens with standing and walking, and gets better with sitting or lying down.
- Stiffness after prolonged inactivity, on getting up in the morning, or with movement of the involved area of the spine.
- With a more advanced condition, symptoms that do not improve with rest and that interfere with sleep.
- Pain, burning, or tingling sensations that spread to the shoulder or arm, or to the buttocks or leg.
- Difficulty performing normal daily activities, such as dressing and bathing, as well as walking and standing, as the condition progresses.
Back Pain And Stiffness
While back pain is a common symptom, not everyone with back arthritis experiences it.
Stiffness, which occurs as the joint hardens, is a frequent complaint among those with back arthritis. It can hinder you from doing simple activities, such as gardening or getting dressed.
Both of these symptoms can be helped significantly with exercise and physical therapy.
Increasing your flexibility and range of motion can help lessen the pain. Your physical therapist can achieve this with targeted movements that strengthen the muscles and take pressure off your joints.
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What Kind Of Physical Therapist Do I Need
All physical therapists are prepared through education and clinical experience to treat OA of the spine. However, you may want to consider:
- A physical therapist who has treated people with OA of the spine. Some physical therapists have a practice with an orthopedic or geriatric focus.
- A physical therapist who is a board-certified clinical specialist or who completed a residency or fellowship in orthopedic or geriatric physical therapy. This physical therapist has advanced knowledge, experience, and skills that may apply to your condition.
You can find physical therapists who have these and other credentials by using Find a PT, the online tool built by the American Physical Therapy Association to help you search for physical therapists with specific clinical expertise in your geographic area.
General tips when you’re looking for a physical therapist :
- Get recommendations from family and friends or from other health care providers.
- When you contact a physical therapy clinic for an appointment, ask about the physical therapists’ experience in helping people with OA of the spine.
- Be prepared to describe your symptoms in as much detail as possible, and report activities that make your symptoms worse.
What Are The Causes And Symptoms Of Arthritis In The Lower Back
Arthritis in the lower back or lumbar spine arthritis is a common problem in older people. It can also happen in obese and overweight individuals, heavy laborers and anyone with a previous history of spinal injuries.
The vertebrae in your backbone are separated from each other by cushion-like spinal discs in front of the spinal cord, while behind it they are connected by 2 small joints called facet joints. These facet joints, along with the spinal discs, allow movements such as forward bending, arching your back, or sideways twisting.
Arthritis in the lower back happens when protective cartilage wears out because of wear and tear, aging, injury or misuse. Your vertebrae rub together or start pressing on a nearby spinal nerve, leading to local pain and swelling.
Usually when facet joints in your backbone become arthritic, movement and flexibility in your neck and back are affected and spinal movements become painful and stiff. This is lumbar spine arthritis, often seen together with other conditions such as spinal disc degeneration and spinal stenosis.
Arthritis in the lower back causes stiffness and pain in patients, especially in the early morning right after getting out of bed. Their backs may loosen up over the course of the day with light activity. Another typical feature is that symptoms often become worse with prolonged or strenuous activity.
Lower back arthritis is traditionally treated in several ways:
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Heat And Cold Therapy
Scientists have proven that applying heat or cold continuously or in frequent intervals can considerably reduce even chronic back pain and offer great relief.
Heat can be either moist or dry. Heating lamps, pads, and wearable heat packs are some of the dry heat sources. A warm bath and warm clothes that are soaked in warm water can be the moist sources.
Cold compressor filled with ice, cold therapy are also beneficial. However, it should be noted that ice should never be applied directly to the skin as it can cause sudden sensation in the nerves and joints around the area.
Also, keeping ice for too long can result in joint stiffness and may even increase the pain. A period of 20-25 minutes is considered as ideal and it can be done 2-3 times a day for best results.
Chiropractic Care Provides A Multifaceted Approach
Its probably clear to you now having read the other reasons on this list, but chiropractic care is a multifaceted health care option. This is best exemplified by the different modalities and techniques chiropractors use.
While spinal adjustments are a major component of any chiropractic treatment, they are far from the only tool in a chiropractors toolbox. Since it is a full-body approach, youll often find that the chiropractors office includes a physical therapist, massage therapist, a nutritionist, and perhaps even an acupuncturist.
Some chiropractors are even nutritionists themselves, so they can better help their patients. They understand how all the seemingly separate parts of the body interact with each other. They know that an issue with the foot of the knee can cause problems all the way up to the spine.
When you visit a chiropractor for arthritis, youll likely get an approach that includes:
- Spinal adjustments
- Anti-inflammation techniques including ultrasound, cold laser therapy, electronic stimulation, and heat and ice therapy.
- Posture tips
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Natural Treatments For Arthritis Symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50 million Americans now suffer from arthritis. That equates to one in five people over 18 having some form of arthritis! Arthritis is characterized by stiff, aching, hard to move joints and bones. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects about 33 million American adults.
Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage between bones and joints wears down, allowing bones to rub together rather than giving them the protection and cushion they need. Cartilage is made up of collagen and other substances that make connective tissue both flexible and strong. Cartilage covers the ends of bones where they meet the joints and deterioration over time can affect the shape and functionality of the joints, making it painful and difficult to carry out everyday tasks.
Apart from nagging pain and loss of mobility, arthritis can also cause various complications. And unfortunately, most conventional treatments for arthritis dont address its underlying causes plus they can cause dependency long term and pose many side effects. Natural treatments for arthritis include eating an anti-inflammatory arthritis diet, staying active and mobile, receiving chiropractic adjustments or massage therapy and using healing essential oils to help control pain.
Which Lifestyle Factors Contribute To Lower Back Pain
There are three major lifestyle factors that may affect your chances of developing lower back pain:
- Multiple studies have established a link between smoking and lower back pain. Smoking raises inflammation inside the body and hinders the body from healing itself.
- Obesity is also associated with several types of chronic pain, including lower back pain. In people with high body mass index , the stress on the spine increases, contributing to even more wear and tear.
- Your level of physical activity can also play a role in your lower back health. While a sedentary lifestyle could increase your risk of developing lower back pain, so can excessive or strenuous physical activity. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about your ideal level of physical activity.
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How Is It Diagnosed
Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation and ask you questions in order to form a clear picture of your individual situation. These questions may include:
- Your past and current health and use of medication.
- How you are functioning in your daily life.
- How your symptoms came about.
- How long you have had symptoms.
- Where the symptoms are located.
- How and when pain occurs.
Your physical therapist will then conduct a physical examination and may:
- Evaluate your posture and measure the range of motion of your spine.
- Assess the movement of the spine and extremities in the involved area.
- Check your nerve function with reflex, sensation, and strength testing.
- Observe how you move during commonly performed activities.
- Check your balance to determine your risk of falling.
The information learned in your evaluation will help your physical therapist prescribe a program to ease your discomfort, boost your quality of life, and get you moving your best.
If your physical therapist suspects that your pain might be caused by an underlying condition, they may request imaging testing such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI from your doctor. Your therapist may also refer you to your doctorfor further evaluation. Your physical therapist will work with your doctor to provide the best diagnosis and treatment.
What You Need To Know
- Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to affect the spine.
- Arthritis can occur anywhere along the spine but is more frequent in the lower back and neck.
- Pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms of spinal arthritis.
- Causes of spinal arthritis are still largely unknown except for osteoarthritis, which is typically a result of wear and tear.
- Spinal arthritis treatment may include pain medications, steroid injections, physical therapy and surgery in severe cases.
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Stiffness And Loss Of Flexibility
Inflammation of the spinal joints in the lower back can cause them to become somewhat less flexible. Bending sideways or hyperextending the back in a backwards motion can be difficult and painful as it puts increased pressure on the lower back joints. Bending forward is usually less painful, although people may still experience noticeable loss in flexibility. After resting or sleeping or periods of inactivity, the back joints can become particularly stiff, and stiffness can worsen symptoms of pain and reduced mobility.
Arthritis is a degenerative condition that can lead to a spinal condition called Degenerative Disc Disease , or spondylosis, in which the gel-filled discs between each vertebra in the lumbar region start to dry up, losing their flexibility and ability to cushion the spine. Those with DDD may find the sitting position to be the most painful because it puts the most pressure on the lower back joints. Lying down and even walking or running can sometimes help to improve symptoms of pain and stiffness.
- Inflammation of the spinal joints in the lower back can cause them to become somewhat less flexible.
- After resting or sleeping or periods of inactivity, the back joints can become particularly stiff, and stiffness can worsen symptoms of pain and reduced mobility.
Tai Chi Instead Of Yoga
Alternative exercises like yoga are known to build strength and flexibility. But tai chi may be a better bet for alleviating pain from back arthritis.
Tai chi originated as a fighting technique, but has transformed into gentle, continuously moving stretches. Many poses work from the waist, which enhances spinal stretching.
Unlike yoga, tai chi puts little stress on the joints and helps improve balance. If youre new to tai chi, consider signing up for a class. The exercises can also be modified for severe arthritis back pain.
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