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Spinal Arthritis Pain Relief

Spinal arthritis pain relief can take many forms, but one thing is certain—if you are one of the millions of people who are forced to live with the pain of spinal arthritis, you need an end to your discomfort so you can return to a functioning lifestyle. Luckily, spinal arthritis pain relief can be tailored to every individual, so no matter the severity of your spinal arthritis symptoms, there’s a good chance that there’s a treatment out there to help you.

Before you decide the treatment that will best diminish your pain, it is important to have a full understanding of what spinal arthritis is, what forms it comes in, and what may cause the condition. Spinal arthritis affects the facet joints of the spine, which are the places where the bones of the spine – called vertebrae – meet. A long line of many facet joints begins in the neck, travels through the middle back, and ends in the lower back. Spinal arthritis is categorized by either the degeneration of cartilage around the facet joints (osteoarthritis of the spine), or the severe inflammation of the joints themselves (spinal rheumatoid arthritis). With either form of the condition, the result is painful stiffness, and possibly, constriction of nerves in the spinal column. In addition, as your facet joints become less functional and stable, your body may produce extra bone tissue called bone spurs, and these bits of bone can press upon nerve roots or the spinal cord as well. Spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal canal and other nerve passageways – also may arise as the joints and vertebrae are damaged by arthritis.

Spinal arthritis pain relief treatments might include mild chiropractic work that focuses on the joints of the spine so that tension is released and circulation is increased. Strength-building exercises can help bolster the spine so that arthritic joints don’t have to support so much weight. Low-impact exercises like walking, gentle stretching, or swimming can help build endurance. Steroid injections may temporarily help pain that results from joint swelling and can also help your doctor to pinpoint the exact location of the afflicted joint.

If these conventional forms of pain relief do not prove effective, your physician may suggest that you consider a major open-back surgery. These surgeries may include the following:

• Laminectomy – removal of the lamina on one or more vertebrae, which involves a significant extraction of bone from the spinal column
• Spinal fusion – using screws and bone grafts to reinforce areas where bone was taken away, as well as immobilize sections of the spine, thereby reducing friction and pain from joint movement

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These surgeries will most likely involve general anesthesia, long recovery periods, an in-patient hospital stay that could last several days, and a long recovery of up to a year or more. There are, however,?alternatives to these traditional surgeries. The experts at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) are waiting to talk to you about minimally-invasive, endoscopic procedures that could help you rediscover a life without pain. Our outpatient procedures have helped tens of thousands of people find relief from spinal conditions. Contact us today for a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.