Is your back pain is caused by spinal arthritis? Read on to learn about Spinal Arthritis symptoms and prevention.
Osteoarthritis of the spine is a breakdown of the cartilage of the joints and discs in the neck and lower back. On top of that, there are other kinds of spinal arthritis: spondyloarthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and more.
It’s important to know the specific causes of your back and/or hip pain so that you can take the right steps to get relief. Not all back pain is created equal.
Spinal arthritis is handled differently than a bulged disc or muscle and ligament strains. It’s important to know what causes your back pain before you start any intervention or preventative regimen.
Let’s take a look at the symptoms associated with spinal arthritis to help more clearly identify what it looks and feels like. Then, we’ll look at the steps you can take to get relief and prevent it in the first place.
Symptoms of Spinal Arthritis
Spinal arthritis causes stiffness and low back pain and/or hip pain that can be similar to other back injuries.
But arthritic pain usually unfolds in a particular pattern. What separates spinal arthritis from other kinds of back pain is how your pain ebbs and flows during the day.
Most people who suffer from spinal arthritis feel extra stiff in the morning when they wake up. This is known as “first movement pain.”
Then, their pain gets more tolerable as they move around and flex the joints in their spine. The least amount of pain comes after moving around some.
Then, toward the end of the day, the pain and stiffness usually return at full force.
Osteoarthritis also often causes pain that disrupts your sleep. This is different from back pain caused by trauma or overextension of your spinal joints.
Spinal arthritis can feel like it hurts to simply exist (like when you’re asleep), whereas other kinds of back pain will be related to specific movements or activities. With spinal arthritis, there isn’t always a clear correlation between movement and pain.
Another symptom to be aware of is a sensation of pinching, tingling, or numbness in any part of your body. This can happen when arthritis causes bone spurs to form at the edge of the joints of the spine and irritate nerves.
Ultimately, you’ll need to consult a qualified neurosurgeon or doctor to find out what exactly is causing your pain and what you can do about it.
A good neurosurgeon can definitively say if your pain is due to arthritis or if it’s being caused by something else. Then, they can provide the best treatment and prevention options for your particular case.
How To Prevent Spinal Arthritis Pain
The best thing you can do is to never develop spinal arthritis in the first place. But it’s not always under your control. Your age, family history, and gender can all contribute to arthritis development.
If you’re dealing with spinal arthritis or have a family history of spinal arthritis, you would be wise to:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Being overweight puts undue stress on your joints
- Opt for low-impact exercise.
- Stretching
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Move with care
- Bend carefully
- When moving heavy objects, be sure to lift with your knees and not with your back
Preventing pain from spinal arthritis requires keeping pressure off of your spine. You can set yourself up for reduced back pain by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and learning to pay close attention to your movements throughout the day.
There are also several medical interventions beyond losing weight and reducing the impact on your joints that can help your back pain. The doctor/surgeon you choose will have a big impact on the outcome. Make sure you choose wisely.
Quality of care and depth of experience matter when it comes to spinal arthritis interventions. Reach out today to find out more about how you can live a life without back, hip, and neck pain.
