Reducing Arthritis-related Joint Degeneration
back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, spinal column, facet joints, Houston
Arthritis encompasses a wide variety of diseases causing swelling, pain, stiffness, and tenderness in the joints. One of arthritis’s most common forms, degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis), wears down the cartilage that covers the ends of our joints, eventually causing bone-on-bone contact. As one might expect, bones rubbing together creates extreme pain and inflammation in the body, leading to restricted mobility. Within the context of the spine, osteoarthritis attacks the cartilage at the ends of our facet joints (the joints that link our vertebrae) causing inflammation and back pain all along the spinal column. Nearby spinal nerves are also at risk, as the inflammation may compress them and further restrict mobility while producing sharp back pain.
back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, spinal column, facet joints, Houston
Normally, osteoarthritis occurs as a result of age, though young people may get it from genetic defects within their cartilage, trauma to a joint, or other conditions that deform joints. Obesity also puts people at a higher risk, as well as those who, through their recreational or professional activity, place heavy repetitive stress on their joints.
Though osteoarthritis may have serious cumulative degenerative effects on the spinal column, there are several measures people can take to reduce the damage. Proper weight management and healthy dieting with proper nutrition will lower stresses placed on joints during routine movement. Avoiding foods that produce high amounts of uric acid as the body breaks them down will prevent the resulting crystal deposits from making their way to the joints and worsening back pain. These foods include mushrooms, asparagus, sardines, and dried beans. While dietary changes will not cure osteoarthritis, they can reduce flare-ups.
back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, spinal column, facet joints, Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Katy, Memorial City, Kingwood, Pearland, Spring, Texas Medical Center, Conroe, Beaumont, Port Arthur
Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help to relieve extreme back pain and reduce inflammation around the facet joints, allowing patients more mobility and an opportunity to pursue other avenues of treatment. Aerobics, stretching, and light strength training can all be helpful in restoring mobility. These exercises develop muscles around the spinal column, allowing them to assist the facet joints and spinal disks in routine movement.
If your course of treatment for osteoarthritis includes regular physical therapy, your doctor may insist on several additional check-ups to re-evaluate your progress. Imaging tests (magnetic resonance imaging, x-rays) are also used to supplement the doctor’s evaluation of possible damage done to your facet joints. Depending on your lifestyle and occupation, you may need to take measures to ensure that your spine is not placed under continual stress, since even sitting for long periods of time can raise pain levels significantly in patients with osteoarthritis.
back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, spinal column, facet joints, Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Katy, Memorial City, Kingwood, Pearland, Spring, Texas Medical Center, Conroe, Beaumont, Port Arthur
Physician experts at the Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston, TX have great experience in treating patients with arthritis and osteoarthritis resulting in low back pain, neck pain, and pain to other portions of the spine.
Patients suffering from neck pain or lower back pain, or who have been told they may require a spine surgery, can contact the Kraus Back and Neck Institute at
……. 281-713-6296
……. Or visit www.SpineHealth.com to SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE
……. KBNI VIDEO on Back and Neck Pain Treatment : Don’t Live in Fear and Pain
Keywords: back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, spinal column, facet joints, Houston, Woodlands, Sugarland, Katy, Memorial City, Kingwood, Pearland, Spring, Texas Medical Center, Conroe, Beaumont, Port Arthur
