Spinal Arthritis

 Spondylosis is the medical word for arthritis in the facet joints of the spine. Also known by its more common term, spinal arthritis, this condition is something that virtually everyone develops over the course of their lifetime. It involves calcium build-up and other arthritis-related changes, along with the narrowing of joints in the spine. There are many treatment options available to provide relief to anyone suffering from spinal arthritis.

While this sounds a bit ominous, not everyone who has this arthritis feels any pain. It is a part of the aging process. It is possible for a patient to have no pain symptoms even when a doctor has spotted signs of arthritis of the spine on an x-ray or an MRI reading. If a patient does feel pain, it may relate to certain movements. When facet joints are involved, an affected person may have pain when looking over their shoulder or trying to get up from a chair. Bending or rolling over in bed may also cause pain. To the sufferer of facet joint pain, any movement has the potential to cause agony. This type of pain can be debilitating if left untreated.

Fortunately, there is effective spinal arthritis treatment available. The most common treatment involves simple exercises. These promote flexibility and improve the spine's the ability to stretch and move. For pain to subside and further damage to be prevented, a certain level of mobility achievement is ideal.

For those who do not find relief from exercises, there are other options available, including physical therapy modalities such as traction and ultrasounds. Traction is a method of aligning the back and promoting the body's natural ability to heal itself. During traction, a patient lies on mechanical table which gently positions their back into proper alignment. The muscles relax while rollers on the table soothe the affected area and promote the flow of blood and other healing fluids to the region. When muscles relax and the units of the spine are brought into proper alignment, the patient has a better chance of finding relief from pain and a renewed ability to heal. Other options include localized injections to stop pain and radio-frequency ablation. These are usually reserved for situations where exercise and mechanical traction have not worked.

By exercising the body, a patient can achieve greater flexibility and range of motion. This increased mobility can prevent further damage and ease pain caused by spinal tension. Mechanical traction can provide relief by bringing the body into alignment and protecting against further damage. Injections can stop nerve pain at the site. Methods such as radio-frequency ablation are also available when other methods of treatment prove ineffective. Relief for the chronic spinal arthritis pain sufferer is possible through these minimally invasive, healthy healing procedures. Pain caused by spondylosis does not have to become a way of life when so many treatments are available.