Arthritis in the Spine

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Spinal Arthritis in the Back

Spinal arthritis in the back involves inflammation of the joints in the spine. While most times this is a condition that comes with age, it is not unheard of in younger individuals. This is especially true for those who have sustained an injury, are genetically predisposed, or carry extra body weight, all of which are risk factors for development of the disease. Spinal arthritis is also linked to a number of other conditions, including bone spurs, herniated discs, bulging discs, pinched nerves, and more.

Spinal arthritis and these related conditions can cause symptoms including:

Spinal Arthritis in the Neck

Spinal arthritis in the neck, otherwise known as cervical spinal arthritis, is a condition in which the joints in this region, which includes vertebrae C1–C7, become inflamed. This inflammation is usually due to degeneration, which has a number of causes, and most times there is more than one culprit.

Some of these causes include:

Arthritic Spine Surgery

A last resort treatment for symptoms, spinal arthritis surgery is reserved for only the most severe cases of the disease. Only those patients who have tried conservative treatment options without success are eligible for this procedure, and of those people, many choose to simply manage symptoms and learn to live with them rather than take the risks associated with the procedure. However, a minority find that they simply cannot live a fulfilling life due to debilitating symptoms that are not reduced to a bearable level by all other treatments.

These conservative treatments may include:

Treating Spinal Arthritis

Spinal arthritis is a condition in which the joints in the spine degenerate and become stiffer due to inflammation and the wearing down of the cartilage that usually provides cushion and allows vertebrae to glide smoothly as we twist and bend. While there is technically no proven spinal arthritis treatment that can rid you of the condition, there are many reliable treatments for minimizing the related symptoms. The best treatment for you depends on the specifics of your individual situation, and only your doctor can tell you which will be the most effective.

Conservative treatments for spinal arthritis symptoms include:

Spinal Arthritis Diagnosis

Oftentimes, a spinal arthritis diagnosis comes many months or even years after the disease first began, and this is because sometimes in its earliest stages, it does not cause symptoms. In fact, some people living with spinal arthritis are unaware they even have the condition; it is only when the afflicted person begins to feel the effects of it that they go to the doctor to receive professional help.

Some of the symptoms that may drive someone to seek a spinal arthritis diagnosis include:

Signs of Spinal Arthritis

Spinal arthritis symptoms can make even normal daily activities extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible. Just getting out of bed can be a challenge, let alone going to work and performing leisure activities like gardening. Although both the type of symptoms experienced and the intensity can vary from person to person, spinal arthritis symptoms can include:

Spinal Arthritis Causes

Spinal arthritis is an inflammation of spinal joints that causes, to some degree, painful symptoms for many people in the United States over the age of 55. It is a condition in which the cartilage between bones wears out, forcing the bones to rub against one another, which leads to general inflammation as well as problems like bone spurs and pinched nerves in many cases.

When the degeneration occurs to an extent that nerve roots or the spinal cord itself become impinged upon, spinal arthritis causes symptoms including:

Spinal Arthritis What Is It?

Spinal arthritis is a term that actually refers to a number of issues that can result in pain, inflammation, stiffness, and more in the joints of the back and neck. Spinal arthritis generally is found in the facet or vertebral joints of the spine which allow us to bend backwards, forwards, and side to side.

Spinal Arthritis Causes

The causes of it can vary, but often it can be attributed to a variety of factors that may include:

Arthritis Lumbar Spine

The lumbar portion of the back includes vertebrae L1-L5 and is more commonly known as simply the lower back. Arthritis in the lumbar spine refers to the degeneration of this area, specifically the cartilage and joints that allow for movement in the spine.

Spine Arthritis Treatment

Spinal arthritis is a degenerative disease that is usually associated with the normal aging process. It involves the slow breaking down of cartilage in the spine, primarily in facet joints of the vertebrae. Although osteoarthritis cannot be “cured,” there are many spine arthritis treatment options available that can lessen the severity of symptoms caused by the condition.

Osteoarthritis of the Spine - What Is It?

Although usually associated with aging, osteoarthritis of the spine is a condition that can affect people of all demographics and involves the breakdown of cartilage that allows joints in the spine to move easily. Without cartilage to protect the bones that make up a joint, they rub against one another. This can cause the body to form protective structures known as bone spurs. These raised “bumps” on the bone can press upon nearby nerve roots or even the spinal cord itself, resulting in pain, numbness, weakness, tingling, and more symptoms.

Slipped Disc

A slipped disc, also known as a ruptured or herniated disc, occurs when the thick outer layer of a spinal disc, known as the annulus fibrosus, splits or tears, allowing the soft inner layer known as the nucleus pulposus to ooze out. Most people with this condition don't realize they have it because this inner layer doesn't protrude enough to come in contact with nerve tissue. However, if it leaks out far enough it can put pressure on the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root, resulting in a variety of symptoms.

Spinal Arthritis Causes Vary from Case to Case

There are a wide range of spinal arthritis causes that lead to the deterioration of cartilage that characterizes osteoarthritis. These causes include several uncontrollable factors, such as heredity, gender, and age. Women and people over 45 are more likely to develop arthritis, as are those with certain types of inherited joint problems.

Spinal Arthritis Symptoms and Treatments

Spinal arthritis symptoms are much the same as those of other forms of arthritis. Sufferers generally experience a reduced range of motion, soreness, swelling, inflammation, and stiffness. These symptoms can be worse in the morning and, in some cases, they can cause pain in other parts of the body. For instance, if spinal arthritis in your lower back results in a pinched nerve, and that nerve travels to the leg, you may feel numbness, weakness, or tingling there. In severe cases, arthritis can be so painful that it drastically limits movement.

Spinal Arthritis Surgery from Laser Spine Institute

Spinal arthritis surgery can be extremely effective at reducing osteoarthritis symptoms, but it is generally not recommended for the majority of sufferers. Most of the time, non-invasive treatment techniques, such as taking over-the-counter medicines and practicing special stretches and exercises, are sufficient for managing symptoms. In more advanced cases, prescription medicines may be needed.

Osteoarthritis of the Spine Sufferers May Find Relief at Laser Spine Institute

Osteoarthritis of the spine can be simply defined as a deterioration of vertebral joint cartilage that leads to pain. The pain occurs because as the cartilage wears away, the exposed bone of the joints rubs together. Instead of the smooth movement allowed by the cartilage, there is friction, irritation and swelling. It’s very similar to arthritis that occurs in other body parts, but because it occurs in the back, which is used in nearly every movement we make, it may be felt more often. Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoarthritis of the spine, but there are a number of ways to lessen the pain associated with symptoms.

Neck Arthritis Symptoms May Be Lessened at Laser Spine Institute

All forms of arthritis can be bothersome and painful, but neck arthritis can be one of the worst, simply because the neck is used so often. In fact, a bad case of this condition can be terribly debilitating because it causes the neck to be very stiff and limits the range of motion. Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis, but there are a variety of treatments that can lessen the symptoms. Many arthritis patients are able to manage their symptoms with exercises suggested by their doctor or physical therapist. Others use over-the-counter or prescription medications to lessen the pain along with hot and cold compresses and other non-invasive techniques. However, as neck arthritis progresses, some of these treatments can lose their effectiveness.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Spine Can Cause Other Back Conditions—Most Treatable at LSI

If you suffer with rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, you may have more to worry about than the degeneration of cartilage and bone. That’s because the deterioration of those tissues can lead other common back ailments including spondylolisthesis, bone spurs, sciatica, stenosis, and more. These conditions can compound your back pain, making even the simplest tasks, such as retrieving the mail or sitting at your desk, truly uncomfortable. And while you may be able to reduce the symptoms of your back or neck condition, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis of the spine. Fortunately, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be managed with a variety of treatments ranging from medications to physical therapy. In severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery to relieve your symptoms. Surgery typically involves removing tissue that is causing nerve compression, or pinched nerves.

Osteoarthritis of the Spine Relief at Laser Spine Institute

Like all forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis of the spine is an incurable condition that can be painful to the point of being debilitating. Fortunately, there are treatments available that can make life more bearable, even for people suffering with advanced cases of osteoarthritis. We offer several treatments at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) that are ideal for many patients who have tried more conservative treatments like physical therapy and medication with no success. Each of LSI’s procedures removes swollen tissue created by the arthritis, which leads to nerve decompression, and ultimately, less pain. All of our procedures are also performed using endoscopic techniques as well, which are much gentler on the body than traditional open-back surgeries.

Osteoarthritis of the Spine Symptoms May be Treatable at Laser Spine Institute

In the spine, osteoarthritis often manifests as stiffness, pain, swelling and a reduced range of motion. If you are living with these symptoms, you’ll want to visit your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and care plan. To reduce your pain, your doctor may suggest a wide variety of treatments including physical therapy, over-the-counter medications, chiropractic care, hot and cold compresses or exercises designed to support the affected joints and surrounding tissue. If your spine osteoarthritis is very severe, your doctor may recommend steroid injections to reduce inflammation, or even a surgical procedure. If surgery is broached, you may want to get a second opinion about treatments offered at Laser Spine Institute (LSI).

Neck Arthritis Exercises

When you live with the stiffness and pain of neck arthritis, exercises may be able to offer you some relief. Exercises can help build up muscles around the site of the arthritis, which can ease pressure on the affected joints, add flexibility to relieve stiffness, and help prevent future injuries that can compound arthritis pain. Of course, before attempting any exercises for neck arthritis, you should consult your doctor or physical therapist to ensure that the exercises you are considering are safe and appropriate for your condition.

Neck Arthritis Treatment at Laser Spine Institute

While there is no cure for any type of arthritis, symptoms can be reduced in most cases. At Laser Spine Institute (LSI), we offer both back and neck arthritis treatment that often can minimize symptoms related to nerve compression caused by arthritis. In cases of spinal arthritis, nerve compression generally occurs when cartilage between joints deteriorates, resulting in bone-on-bone rubbing that causes swelling and the development of bone spurs. The swollen bones and bone spurs can press against nearby nerves, and those nerves can become irritated. Symptoms of this irritation include pain, stiffness, swelling, tingling and weakness or numbness that is localized at the arthritis site and often spreads to the shoulders, arms or hands. Neck arthritis treatment at LSI can help relieve these symptoms by removing the tissue that’s compressing the nerves.

Neck Arthritis Symptoms

Neck arthritis symptoms are caused by a degeneration of cartilage. On normal bones, cartilage allows easy movement at the joints. When arthritis begins to break down the cartilage between bones in the neck, eventually bones will rub on bones and the resulting friction causes irritation. Swelling often results, as well, and the initial pain is sometimes compounded if nearby nerves in the neck are pinched.

Spinal Arthritis Help from Laser Spine Institute

For many people, living with spinal arthritis means forever giving up activities they once cherished. If you are one of these individuals—if you’ve said goodbye to golf, a physically demanding job that you loved, or any other activity because of arthritis—you’ve come to the right place. At Laser Spine Institute (LSI) we may be able to offer you help with your spinal arthritis. While there’s no cure for arthritis, we can often treat the symptoms that cause you the most pain using our innovative endoscopic techniques. We approach back and neck pain with endoscopy, meaning that we access your surgery site through a narrow tube and then use small tools to operate. This makes the entire procedure gentler and less invasive than traditional, open-back surgery, which requires cutting and pulling skin and muscle from the surgery site.

Spinal Arthritis Diagnosis & Treatment

A spinal arthritis diagnosis is not always a simple task, as this type of back ailment can mimic others. The tenderness, numbness and/or limited range of motion you may experience could also be caused by degenerative disc disease, bulging or herniated discs, or another back condition. Because of this, doctors use a variety of methods to confirm that spinal arthritis is the true cause of pain. A physician may first start with an interview about your symptoms, including questions about when they’re worst, whether or not certain activities cause flair ups, and exactly where you feel pain. From there, the doctor will likely observe your movements and may ask you to demonstrate your range of motion. The doctor may order blood tests or other lab work to ensure that your back pain isn’t stemming from a serious condition with a nearby organ. For visual confirmation during spinal arthritis diagnosis, doctors often use MRIs and CT scans.

Lumbar Spine Arthritis Symptoms May Be Treatable with Laser Spine Surgery

The lower back, also known as the lumbar region, is commonly affected by spinal conditions because it’s subject to a lot of wear and tear. Lumbar spine arthritis is one of these ailments. It occurs when the cartilage on the end of lumbar vertebrae wears away, either from age or injury. The lack of cartilage exposes the bone, and when the vertebrae rub against each other, the friction causes pain on its own. It can also cause swelling which can crowd spinal nerve tissue, causing even more discomfort. While there is no cure for any kind of arthritis, there are treatments to minimize the symptoms. If you suffer with lumbar spine arthritis, your doctor may direct you to take anti-inflammatory medications or pain killers, and special exercises or stretches may be suggested along with other conservative treatments. In more severe cases, epidural steroid injections may be administered. When none of those approaches work and your quality of life is heavily impacted by lumbar arthritis, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the swollen portion of bone that’s cramping your spinal tissue.

Cervical Spine Arthritis Sufferers May Find Relief with Treatment from LSI

Cervical spine arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis that affects the neck, can cause stiffness and pain that makes it difficult to rotate your head or do certain activities that stress the neck. This pain is caused by the disintegration of cartilage in the cervical vertebrae. As it wears away—generally because of age, wear and tear, or an injury—the bony ends of the vertebrae begin to rub against each other, which causes irritation and swelling. It can also lead to extra bone growth and bone spurs that can press on nerves and cause even more pain. The spongy discs separating the vertebrae can also be affected by this process, and sometimes this condition can force a portion of one into the spinal canal, leading to pressure and discomfort. Doctors will generally try a host of conservative therapies to provide their patients with relief, but if those don’t work, surgery is sometimes suggested.

Arthritis of the Spine Sufferers May be Candidates for Surgery at Laser Spine Institute

When the protective cartilage between your vertebrae begins to chip away and break down, you’re likely to experience arthritis of the spine, or osteoarthritis. The condition is marked by limited range of motion, stiffness, pain, and swelling. All of these symptoms result from the disintegration of cartilage which leads to vertebrae bones grinding against each other. Many doctors treat this condition by prescribing certain exercises, pain relievers, heat and ice therapy, anti-inflammatory medicines, or spinal steroid injections, all of which can help manage painful symptoms. But unfortunately, there is not cure or permanent fix for osteoarthritis. However, in advanced stages of the disease, Laser Spine Institute can perform procedures to provide relief from other conditions that can result from osteoarthritis.

Arthritis of the Spine Pain Might Be Better Managed with Laser Spine Surgery

Pain from arthritis of the spine can often be quelled with over-the-counter medications in its early stages, and if you’re lucky, it’ll never get worse. But for some, spinal arthritis pain gradually increases until range of motion is reduced and physical activities like tennis, golf, or even light walking become unbearable. If you’ve experienced a debilitating increase in spinal arthritis pain, your doctor may have told you about surgeries that can help. The most common is spinal fusion, which permanently binds the vertebrae where pain is occurring.

Arthritis of the Spine Symptoms Can Be Reduced After Just Five Days with LSI

Arthritis of any kind can be unbelievably painful, but when it’s in your back you may suffer even more. That’s because pain from arthritis of the spine irritates nerves that stretch into every limb, and these can carry the throbbing aches with them. Unfortunately, traditional medicine has little to offer you aside from over-the-counter pain relievers and hot compresses that only dull the pain temporarily. With only these options to pursue, you could suffer with arthritis pain for the rest of your life - and the discomfort might even increase. Luckily, Laser Spine Institute has something more effective to offer you: a five-day process that improves the quality of life for more than 80% of our patients through the reduction of back pain. Many of our patients even feel relief before they are off the operating table.

Long Term Relief from Arthritis of the Spine from Laser Spine Institute

When you suffer from arthritis of the spine, visits to the doctor can be as discouraging as the dull, hot pain radiating from your back. Your doctor may tell you to lose weight and exercise to take pressure off the inflamed joints and strengthen the surrounding muscles, but oftentimes arthritis sufferers are in too much pain to exercise effectively. And the over-the-counter pain medications and hot compresses often prescribed quell the pain only temporarily. But there’s a better way to deal with arthritis of the spine, and it can provide you with the long term relief you’ve been looking for: laser spine surgery from LSI.

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Arthritis Pain Relief

In order to relieve arthritis pain, it is important to determine the appropriate arthritis pain treatment. Through pain management, coping with a chronic illness can make it easier to deal with arthritis pain and the affect it has on your life.

Spinal Arthritis

To diagnose back arthritis, your doctor will discuss your medical history as well as when you started experiencing any of the above symptoms, the feeling, frequency of symptoms and what has worked to provide relief from these symptoms.

Forms of Arthritis

Arthritis means the inflammation of joints. In fact, the Greek translation is literally joint inflammation. In almost all cases of arthritis, there is no cure. Due to the fact that there is no cure, pain management and therapy is important to find relief and reduce your symptoms.

Arthritis Treatment

While in most cases, there is no cure for arthritis, the following arthritis remedies have been proven to offer arthritis relief. Of course treatment for arthritis varies on the form of arthritis you are suffering from.

Arthritis Symptoms

When bits or pieces of cartilage break off the result is pain and swelling in the joint that is between the bones. Over time, as the cartilage wears down, the bones will grind or rub against each other. This form of arthritis most often affects the weight bearing joints in the spine, hips, knees and hands.