Discuss Your Medication Timing
The timing of when you take your medication could play a role in how you experience back pain at night. If you take corticosteroids too close to bedtime, for example, they could cause insomnia. You may be better off taking these medications in the morning with food to avoid affecting your sleep pattern, according to pharmacist Renee Baiano, PharmD, CSP, clinical program manager on the clinical services team at AllianceRx Walgreens Prime.
Other Conditions That Cause Back Pain
Sometimes pain felt in the back actually originates elsewhere in the body. Such problems may include: prostate trouble in men problems with reproductive organs in women kidney diseases, such as an infection or kidney stone diseases of the intestines or pancreas, such as cancer or a blockage cancer that has spread to the spine multiple myeloma, a form of cancer of the bone and bone marrow curvature of the spine rarely, a tumor on the spinal cord
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Goals
The vast majority of people with degenerative disc disease experience low back pain symptoms that flare up periodically, but do not get worse over time. For those people, the main goals for managing lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease are usually:
- Achieving enough pain relief to be able to engage in lower back pain exercises and a rehabilitation program
- Trying to manage the low back pain and maintaining an ability to function at home and at work.
Once a disc has degenerated, the degenerative process cannot be reversed. Instead of trying to rehabilitate the disc itself, treatment focuses on improving the health of surrounding structures, such as the spinal nerves, vertebral bones and joints, and supporting muscles and ligaments.
The main goals of the rehabilitation program include a therapist-guided and individual approach, which aim to2:
- Increase, restore, and/or maintain the range of motion in the affected spinal segment
- Build physical strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and endurance in the lower back and legs
- Guide patients to make ergonomic changes in their workspace and home to support the spine and prevent recurrence of pain
- Teach the correct use of posture while sitting, walking, sleeping, and lifting to promote maximum function with lesser pain
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Should I See A Health Professional
Most people with low back pain do not need to see a doctor or other health professional as the pain will get better within a week or two. In most cases tests such as x-rays, scans and blood tests are not helpful in finding out the cause of back pain. They are best avoided as they may lead to further unnecessary or harmful medical interventions.
Talk to your doctor if your pain does not settle down after a few weeks, or starts getting worse, or you become very worried by it. A physiotherapist can also be helpful in providing reassurance and helpful information.
You should see your doctor immediately if:
- you have new symptoms such as losing weight, sweats and chills, problems controlling your bladder or bowel, tingling or numbness in your legs or saddle region
- you have osteoporosis or a history of cancer
- you are prone to infection, or you are an intravenous drug user.
What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that causes chronic spine inflammation. Ankylosing spondylitis inflames the sacroiliac joints located between the base of the spine and pelvis. This inflammation, called sacroiliitis, is one of the first signs of AS. Inflammation often spreads to joints between the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spinal column. This condition is known as spondylitis.
Some people with AS experience severe, persistent back and hip pain and stiffness. Others have milder symptoms that come and go. Over time, new bone formations may fuse vertebrae sections together, making the spine rigid. This condition is called ankylosis.
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How Does Ra Cause Back Pain
RA is an autoimmune condition that causes swelling and pain in joints with synovial tissue throughout the body.
In most cases, spine pain occurs as a result of instability between the C1 and C2 vertebrae. This instability can cause pressure on the spinal cord or a vertebra to slip out of place, which usually means that the upper vertebra slides over the lower one. Doctors call this spondylolisthesis.
If slipped vertebrae put pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back, it can cause sciatica.
Sciatica can lead to difficulty walking and loss of coordination. However, vertebrae that are unstable or have severe damage can also press on other vital parts of the body. If a person does not get treatment, cervical spine RA can have severe consequences, including stroke.
Although less common, RA may also affect the facet joints in the spine. The paired facet joints run all along the spine. They connect with the bony bumps that a person can feel when they run their hands down their back. Facet joints support movement and flexibility in the spine.
RA-related inflammation in the facet joints can cause back pain. In some cases, extended inflammation the facet joints. As a result, the vertebrae become less stable.
Anyone with RA must seek treatment for their back pain to prevent further damage from occurring.
Treatments for back pain due to RA focus on relieving pain and preventing further damage:
Medications To Help Relieve Spinal Arthritis Pain And/or Inflammation
There are many types of medications available to help patients control the pain level and to reduce the swelling around the painful joints that leads to pain. Some medications, such as Tylenol, focus just on reduction of pain.
Others, such as NSAIDs , focus on reduction of joint inflammation as well as pain relief.
There are also creams for pain relief and nutritional supplements that are believed to provide pain reducing benefits to patients.
See Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate for Osteoarthritis
Many patients will need to regularly employ a combination of all three of the above techniques, as well as others discussed later in this article, in order to be able to focus on rehabilitation, exercise and maintaining a healthy level of daily activities.
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Spinal Arthritis Causes And Risk Factors
The causes of arthritis in the back or neck vary depending on the type of arthritis you have. Besides normal wear and tear and autoimmune triggers, in many cases the exact cause remains unknown. Genetic components have been identified in connection with some forms of spinal arthritis, meaning that it may be hereditary.
Other spinal arthritis risk factors include:
-
Excess weight/obesity
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed
If you experience arthritis symptoms, whether its OA or RA, please schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic physicians in Palm Springs or the Coachella Valley area. Aside from reviewing your symptoms, your doctor may also conduct a physical exam and/or request an X-ray and some laboratory tests to understand the cause of your arthritis pain and to provide the best treatment options possible.
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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.
Can Ra Affect The Thoracic Spine
RA usually affects the cervical spine, which is at the top of the spinal cord. However, it can also cause inflammation in the facet joints of the thoracic spine, which may worsen back pain.
Although uncommon, a noted there have been reports of spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the spaces in the spine, occurring in the thoracic spine in people with RA.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Back Pain: Symptoms And Treatments
There are many potential causes for back pain, including injuries, strain, or even physical exercise. But when aches last for weeks or months, it may be time to rule out temporary injury and start looking for an underlying condition.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis a chronic autoimmune disease best known for causing inflammation and damage in the hands, wrists, and knees you may think your condition is also having a negative effect on your spinal health. In some cases, this may be true, but for the most part, spinal changes in people with RA are not due to inflammatory arthritis.
Heres what to know, including other potential causes of your back pain, and ways to find relief.
Early Signs Of Arthritis In The Back
Arthritis in the back arises due to the inflammation of facet joints in the spine or sacroiliac joints between the spine and the pelvis. The main reasons for arthritis in the back include
- Professions involving lifting heavy machines or loads
Some of the early signs of arthritis in the back include
Some of the late signs of arthritis in the back include
- Pain that radiates to the arms and legs
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of bowel or bladder function
- Loss of coordination or changes in the ability to walk
- Severe back spasm
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Diagnosis Of Back Pain
Regardless of what type of doctor you see, there are some things you can expect your doctor to do during your visit. Your doctor first will ask you a number of questions, the most common of which are listed as follows:
- What are your symptoms–that is, what aches or pains do you have?
- Exactly where is the pain?
- Where is the pain the most severe?
- When did the pain begin?
- How long have you had it?
- Did something specific cause your back pain, such as an accident or injury?
- What home treatments have you used?
- Were you under any additional stress when the pain began?
- Do you have any other health problems?
- What kind of work do you do?
- In what types of recreational activities do you participate?
Think about these ahead of time so you can answer them easily. You also may have questions you’d like to ask the doctor. As you think of questions at home, jot them down and take them to the appointment.
Next, your doctor will give you a physical exam. During the exam, the doctor may perform any of the following: observe your muscles and joints ask you to sit and lie down ask you to move your back in different positions observe and feel the area of most pain and/or check to see if other areas of your body are tender or painful If the doctor can identify the likely cause of your back pain at this point, no further tests will be needed.
Why Might I Need Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion
You might need spinal fusion for a variety of medical conditions, including:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Break of your spinal column
- Infection of your spinal column
- Tumor in your spinal column
These conditions might be causing you significant back pain. Your healthcare provider may want to try other more conservative treatments first, such as pain medicines and physical therapy. If these dont work for you, minimally invasive spinal fusion may make sense. But spinal fusion cant help all types of back pain. Your healthcare provider will recommend it, only if the procedure might work for you.
Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of a minimally invasive spinal fusion, instead of a traditional one.
Spine Surgery Q& A with Hamid Hassanzadeh, M.D.
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Mattress Warranty And Other Policies
A companys policies may play a role in your purchasing decision. The shipping, trial period, and warranty may be particularly important to consider.
Customers with joint pain may find it more challenging to set up their mattresses. If you need assistance, you may want to consider whether the company offers White Glove delivery. Most online mattress companies offer trial periods that give customers a chance to try the mattress at home. Those with arthritis may use this window to determine whether the mattress provides any relief. Finally, the mattresss warranty can provide customers with additional protection for their purchase.
What Happens After Radiofrequency Ablation
Following radiofrequency ablation:
- You will stay in a recovery room for observation, where a nurse will check your blood pressure and pulse.
- A bandage will be placed over the injection site.
- The nurse will give you a beverage and review your discharge instructions with you.
- Someone must drive you home.
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Types Of Arthritis That Affect The Back
If you have arthritis in your back, its important to understand the type of arthritis that might be causing it. Different types of arthritis have specific medications and treatments. Here are some of the more common types of arthritis that affect the back.
It is common for people with back pain to have more than one cause, which could include arthritis as well as other causes .
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When Natural Treatments Dont Work For Spinal Arthritis
While natural treatments for spinal arthritis can do a lot, sometimes an issue is just too much to be treated naturally. If natural treatments arent working, medications, physical therapy, injections and other spine treatments may be an option.
Oftentimes, natural treatments do help with pain, but long-term relief is best achieved through the help of spinal arthritis experts who can truly help you reclaim your life. Here at Desert Spine & Scoliosis, Dr. Baig and our expert team can help you assess your options. Contact us today for a consultation!
Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Spine
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system turns on itself. It attacks synovium the lining of the joints. Although rheumatoid arthritis is more common in other joints, it can also affect the spine, specifically the cervical region . Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is not caused by wear and tear, so its considered an inflammatory arthritis. It may cause back pain even when these joints are not in use. It tends to affect women more than men.
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Invest In An Adjustable Bed
There are beds that can change positions, like raising the head and knee area, at the touch of a button. It wasnt cheap but buying an adjustable bed was a gamechanger for me after getting diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my back, says Steven S., 50, of Toronto, Canada. He used to be able to sleep in only one-hour stretches before becoming so uncomfortable it woke him up. Now? I can sleep all night because I dont get those pressure spots on my back and it distributes my weight better, he explains.
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The Best Exercises For Arthritis Back Pain
Arthritis can feel like a real pain in the back. In fact, the back is the most common source of pain among all individuals.
Unlike acute, or short-term back pain, arthritis can mean long-term chronic discomfort.
Symptoms that may accompany back pain include:
Your symptoms may be so severe that you dont feel like moving. But with your doctors consent, you may find that exercise can be one of the best ways to relieve arthritis back pain.
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What Is Osteoarthritis Of The Spine
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and the spine is one of the most commonly affected parts of the body. Osteoarthritis of the spine affects the back and neck.
Osteoarthritis of the neck is sometimes called cervical spondylosis. Spondylosis means arthritis in the spine, and cervical is the medical term for the neck.
The joints in your body go through a normal cycle of damage and repair during your lifetime. But sometimes the process your body goes through to repair joints can change their shape or structure. When these changes happen in one or more of your joints, its called osteoarthritis.
Having back or neck pain doesnt mean you have osteoarthritis. Most cases of neck and back pain only last a short while and will improve by themselves, without treatment.
A joint is where two or more bones meet. You have a number of facet joints that sit on either side of your spine and guide the movement of the bones in your back and neck.
There are 33 vertebrae in your spine these start at the top of your neck and run all the way down your back, to your tailbone.
The spine is sometimes called the vertebral column or spinal column. Its purpose is to protect your spinal cord, carry the weight of your body and help you move around. The spine is split into five sections cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.
Strong ligaments surround your spine and support the vertebrae, to help keep them in place.