Spinal arthritis is a medical condition that impacts the joints located in the spine. This condition can result in stiffness, inflammation, and neck, back, and shoulder pain. While no cure exists for spinal arthritis, there are available treatment options that can help alleviate symptoms and enhance function.
Types of spinal arthritis
Spinal arthritis is a general term for any arthritis that affects the spine. There are many different types of spinal arthritis, but the most common are:
- Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is caused by the breakdown of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation.
- Ankylosing spondylitis is arthritis that affects the spine and other joints.
- Psoriatic arthritis: Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that is associated with psoriasis, a skin condition.
- Spondylodiscitis: Spondylodiscitis is an infection of the spine.
Causes of Spinal Arthritis
Spinal arthritis can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Pain in the neck, back, or shoulders
- Stiffness in the neck, back, or shoulders
- A reduction in the ability to move the neck, back, or shoulders.
- Pain that is worse with activity or at night
- Pain that is relieved with rest
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Weakness in the arms or legs
The symptoms of spinal arthritis can vary depending on the type of arthritis and the severity of the condition.
Spinal Arthritis Treatments for Pain Management
If you suffer from pain in your back or neck, try a new spinal arthritis treatment to relieve chronic pain and stiffness. Spinal arthritis is when one or more vertebrae in your back are damaged by injury or progressive wear and tear over time. Chronic pain can also impact other aspects of life, making daily tasks challenging.
Many people find relief after trying different treatments like medication, surgery, exercise, and lifestyle changes that can help manage their condition. Find out about different treatments for spinal arthritis and how they can help you lead a fuller, more pain-free life!
Ways to Manage Painful Symptoms
Spine osteoarthritis is the most common form of spinal arthritis and causes pain in the lower back region. You can try certain home remedies to manage the pain and stiffness associated with this condition.
Heat and cold therapy
Heat and cold are incredibly efficient in combating back pain from arthritis. Both therapy methods provide patients with support for a healthier back and faster recovery. A blend of both is often recommended over using just one or the other, as it offers a sense of balance to the body. Patients are encouraged to use the cold treatment method more frequently than heat. For example, taking 20 minutes to apply the cold therapy pack can help alleviate pain by numbing nerves and yield relief overall. On the contrary, heat soothes muscles after they have been worked physically and helps prevent stiffness in the long run while reducing soreness.
SACKSY THYME Cold Therapy Pack for Spinal Arthritis Pain:
The SACKSY THYME Cold Therapy Pack is made from high-quality materials that are designed to provide maximum comfort and support. The pack is designed to fit comfortably on the affected area of the spine, providing targeted relief to the affected area. The design of the pack ensures that it stays in place, allowing for maximum coverage and effectiveness.
Try implementing heat using a hot therapy relief Microwavable herbal heating pad at different points across your day (morning versus nighttime) depending on how much you're working out, moving around, or when you feel most tense!
SACKSY THYME Hot Therapy Relief heating Pad for Spinal Arthritis Pain:
The SACKSY THYME Hot Therapy Relief heating Pad is designed to provide a natural and effective way to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain caused by spinal arthritis. The heating pad uses natural ingredients such as rice, flaxseed, and herbs to provide a gentle and comforting heat that penetrates deep into the affected area. The heat helps to increase blood flow to the area, which helps to bring in healing nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissue.
Compression
When your spinal condition is acute, the goal is to be as comfortable as possible. One way to achieve this goal is by using a back brace. Braces provide compression while supporting your lower back while offloading pressure off your painful discs. Wearing a brace can help you relieve symptoms and avoid immobility, as this will merely make things worse.
Pain Creams
Pain creams use various ingredients to provide relief for the recipient. It's a widely used treatment, especially when combined with other therapies such as exercises and over-the-counter medications. Many different pain cream options are on the market today; however, we have found that not all pain creams are created equal. Aside from efficacy being one of the most important aspects of topical analgesics, it is also essential to not leave a greasy residue that isn't stained on clothing after application.
Strengthening Exercises
To alleviate the pain and suffering caused by spinal arthritis, many people benefit from engaging in physical therapy. Physical therapy sessions are personalized to each person's unique situation and focus on improving mobility and strength by performing certain exercises. Additional benefits include working closely with a therapist who can help you develop a routine that can be replicated at home. If you have spinal arthritis, physical therapy enables you to maintain a high quality of life without experiencing more back pain!
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Symptoms
One of the best ways to prevent spinal arthritis pain is to change your lifestyle or your lifestyle. It's so important for people who have spinal arthritis because it does not only affect your spine and bones, but it could also impact you as a person in general. Here are the changes you can make:
- Consume an anti-inflammatory diet
- This includes eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, beans, and omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and flax.
- Stop smoking
- Avoid alcohol
- Lose excess weight
Medications for Arthritis in the Back
When it comes to taking care of your spine health, we can make plenty of lifestyle changes in and around the home that can go a long way toward easing lower back pain. However, sometimes medication is necessary as well. While medication may not be all that you'll need to treat spinal arthritis effectively, it can help by reducing inflammation and swelling while reducing your pain levels overall.
Steroid Injections
Steroid injections are a powerful medication injected directly into a specific site experiencing inflammation and muscle pain. These meds provide relief and decrease inflammation. They are administered in the doctor's office, and due to the side effects of these medications, you may only be able to receive an injection a limited number of times.
Oral Medications
Multiple oral medications can be put to use when it comes to treating spinal arthritis. The treatments will differ based on the type of spinal arthritis: osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Over-the-Counter
Over-the-counter medicines are drugs sold at drugstores and don't require a prescription to make them. Some of these medications have anti-inflammatory properties while others reduce the pain, but they don't necessarily affect swelling directly as some NSAIDs do. Examples of OTC medications that contain anti-inflammatories are Aleve and Advil or Motrin. In contrast, Tylenol is an example of a medication that doesn't offer these benefits for reducing swelling as it only lowers the pain. Please be advised to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using these products to determine which will work best for you, depending on your symptoms and diagnosis.
Prescription
If your pain from spinal arthritis is severe, your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of staying on a mild, frequent painkiller if you begin to rely heavily on it. While these types of analgesics are effective in reducing pain in both the short term and long term, due to their highly addictive nature, your doctor will want to make sure that you take appropriate steps to avoid becoming dependent on them over time.
Surgery for Spinal Arthritis
When non-surgical treatments are not enough to treat spinal arthritis, it's important to consider surgery. Your spine surgeon will discuss the symptoms you've been experiencing, review your medical history, and order imaging tests if necessary. The surgeon will determine what type of surgery is best for your situation. There are two types of spine surgeries they may perform spinal decompression or a spinal implant.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompressions often involve the removal of bone spurs or other foreign matter that might be poking at the outside of the spinal cord, which could result in injury or pain when an individual walks.
Spinal Implants
Many things can cause joint pain, and a spinal implant may be the solution you need. A spinal implant involves attaching a metal implant to the spine to keep space between the vertebrae. This alleviates pressure off the joint and reduces pain in surrounding body areas!
Preventing Spinal Arthritis
There are a number of things you can do to help prevent spinal arthritis, including:
- Stay active: Exercise can help to keep your joints strong and flexible. This can help reduce your joints' stress and prevent them from wearing down.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity puts extra stress on your joints. Maintaining a healthy weight can help to reduce the risk of spinal arthritis.
- Quit smoking: Smoking can damage cartilage and joints. Quitting smoking can help to reduce your risk of spinal arthritis.
- Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a common factor in many types of arthritis.
- Get regular checkups: See your doctor regularly for checkups and early diagnosis of any medical conditions that may increase your risk of spinal arthritis.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about preventing spinal arthritis:
- There is no sure way to prevent spinal arthritis, but following these tips can help to reduce your risk.
- If you have any concerns about your risk of spinal arthritis, talk to your doctor.
Here are some specific exercises that can help to prevent spinal arthritis:
- Stretching: Stretching can help to keep your joints flexible and reduce pain. Stretches should be held for 30 seconds each.
- Strength training: Strength training can help to strengthen your muscles and support your joints. Strength training exercises should be done 2-3 times per week.
- Yoga: Yoga is a great way to improve flexibility and strength. There are many different types of yoga, so find one that is right for you.
- Tai chi: Tai chi is a gentle exercise that can help to improve balance and flexibility.
If you are new to exercising, it's important to start slowly and gradually increasing your workouts' intensity and duration. Remember to listen to your body and rest when necessary.
Living with Spinal Arthritis
Spinal arthritis can be a very difficult thing to live with. It's important to remember that you aren't alone in your journey. With the help of medications and other therapies, you can find ways to manage pain symptoms while altering daily routines so no matter where you are or what you are doing, life doesn't have to stop. Since there is no cure for spinal arthritis, working closely with your physician(s) throughout the treatment and following any prescribed regimens consistently over time is important. With dedication and determination to reach your goals, your courage will pay off!