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Severe Degenerative Joint Disease

Severe degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, can accompany the natural aging process and may lead to significant back or neck pain. As we grow older, the spinal anatomy naturally begins to deteriorate – particularly in the mobile cervical and lumbar spine segments in the neck and lower back, respectively. One of the most common forms of spinal degeneration is the deterioration of the vertebral joints that normally stabilize the spinal column. These joints, known as facet joints, are coated in cartilage and encapsulated with synovial fluid, which allows adjacent vertebrae to articulate. Severe degenerative joint disease occurs when the cartilage wears away, causing bone-on-bone contact.

The Various Treatment Options

Severe degenerative joint disease can be frustrating to treat because there is no cure for arthritis. Instead, treatment options for arthritis are usually more focused on managing the patient’s pain and improving joint movement. Some of the most common treatments first recommended to patients with spinal arthritis include:

• Over-the-counter or prescription pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs
• Low-impact exercises to strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint
• Healthy diet
• Rest
• Behavior modification
• Physical therapy to improve joint mobility
• Corticosteroid injections

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Minimally Invasive Alternatives

In the event that your arthritic pain persists through conservative methods, further treatment may be required. If you are considering spinal surgery to treat your pain from severe degenerative joint disease, contact Laser Spine Institute to learn about our minimally invasive, outpatient alternative procedure, which is known as a facet thermal ablation. During this state-of-the-art procedure, our orthopedic surgeons carefully access the deteriorated facet joint, remove any debris, and deaden the nerve in the joint in a procedure that is similar to a root canal. Rather than removing the joint entirely and fusing the affected vertebrae together, we simply address the source of your pain. Recovery is minimal and you can look forward to rediscovering your life without back and neck pain.

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