Spinal Arthritis Treatment Aimed at Eliminating Nerve Irritation and Compression

Spinal arthritis treatment should focus on relieving the pain caused by nerve irritation and/or compression. Nerve irritation is typically the first consequence of spinal osteoarthritis - a condition marked by the gradual loss of the protective cartilage that covers joints. As the protective cartilage coating wears away from the spine's facet joints, the joints are exposed to increased stress and friction, eventually causing the small local nerves within the facet joints become inflamed and painful.

In response to the loss of joint cartilage, the body also may attempt to stabilize degenerating joints through the growth of bone spurs. In addition, cartilage loss in the spine can lead to joint instability, possibly causing a vertebra to slip forward or backward (spondylolisthesis).

Eventually, spondylolisthesis and spinal bone spurs can press on nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord (a condition known as nerve compression), producing local pain and radicular symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the back, neck, and/or extremities.

Is There a Surgical Treatment for Spinal Arthritis?

There are surgical procedures available for the treatment of spinal arthritis, but it should be noted that surgery should be considered only as a last resort after all conservative treatments have been attempted. Spinal surgeries for osteoarthritis are aimed at relieving pain caused be neural irritation compression, either by removing the bone or tissue causing the compression, or by ablating, or deadening, local nerve endings inside a joint with a heat source. While certain surgical approaches will likely involve hospitalization, large incisions, a long recovery, and spinal fusion, there are minimally invasive, outpatient procedures available that will involve significantly less tissue trauma and a much shorter recovery period.

Trying a Variety of Spinal Arthritis Treatment Methods

The majority of people who suffer from spinal osteoarthritis will never even need to consider the option of surgery. Through a process of trial and error, most people will be able to successfully manage their arthritis discomfort with a variety of treatment methods. You may find it beneficial to attempt a combination of pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication, hot/cold compresses, rest, and physical therapy. Additional options include yoga, massage, low-impact exercise, corticosteroid injections, nerve block injections, behavior modification, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).