What can you do for degenerative arthritis in the spine?

Degenerative arthritis can be successfully treated using one or a combination of non-surgical treatments, such as water therapy, exercise, pain medications, and chiropractic manipulation in order to maintain motion in the back. Rarely surgery will be required to alleviate the pain.

How serious is arthritis in the spine?

Osteoarthritis of the spine may cause stiffness or pain in the neck or back. It may also cause weakness or numbness in the legs or arms if it is severe enough to affect spinal nerves or the spinal cord itself.

How would you describe the pain of degenerative arthritis?

Joint aching and soreness, especially with movement. Pain after overuse or after long periods of inactivity. Bony enlargements in the middle and end joints of the fingers.

Is walking good for arthritis in back?

Despite all the workouts available, walking remains a tried-and-true form of exercise. Not only is it low-impact for achy joints, it also provides cardiovascular benefits. When considering back pain from arthritis, follow some simple rules to get the most out of your walk: Wear comfortable walking shoes.

What is the best medicine for degenerative arthritis?

NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.

What is the best medication for spinal arthritis?

Acetaminophen (ie, Tylenol) is the drug of choice for mild to moderate spinal arthritis pain because it has few side effects and is relatively inexpensive.

What does spinal arthritis feel like?

Stiffness and loss of flexibility in the spine, such as being unable to straighten your back or turn your neck. Swelling and tenderness over the affected vertebrae. Feeling of grinding when moving the spine. Pain, swelling and stiffness in other areas of the body (especially in inflammatory arthritis)

What is the best treatment for degenerative arthritis?

Medications. The medications used to treat arthritis vary depending on the type of arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

What are symptoms of degenerative spine?

Symptoms of Degenerative Spine Conditions. The general symptoms of most degenerative spine conditions include: Pain (chronic or sharp) experienced with either with movement or at rest (or both). Limited motion. Spinal deformity. Nerve injuries which leads to feeling of weakness on legs and arms. Sensory loss or tingling sensation.

Is arthritis and DDD the same thing?

What is degenerative disc disease? Once the extent of the damage is assessed, in most cases the treatment is the same as for arthritis of the spine. The initial treatment is rest, heat or ice, pain medication, NSAIDs and sometimes oral steroids. The symptoms usually take several weeks to several months to decrease.

What does arthritis in the spine feel like?

What are the symptoms of spinal arthritis? Symptoms of spinal arthritis may differ from person to person. In general, they may include: Back and neck pain, especially in the lower back. Stiffness and loss of flexibility in the spine, such as being unable to straighten your back or turn your neck. Swelling and tenderness over the affected vertebrae