Arthritis of the spine is a chronic condition that affects a person’s everyday life, but many treatments exist for managing the pain. The dedicated staff at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics know how debilitating back and neck arthritis can be and aim to provide coordinated care to treat pain and augment their patients’ quality of life. With six locations throughout northern New Jersey, the surgical and non-surgical teams can evaluate each patient’s condition and recommend the best course of treatment for their needs. Learn more about spine arthritis treatment options below.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Many factors can influence spinal arthritis treatment, including age, level of pain, arthritis type, and severity. The award-winning pain management and rehabilitation physicians at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics take a conservative approach toward care for every patient.
Each patient undergoes an evaluation to determine if a medically proven, evidence-based, non-invasive technique ultimately would help the patient. If not, the non-surgical team offers more conservative treatment options that don’t require surgery. These non-surgical treatments include:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy may be prescribed as a spine arthritis treatment for patients with less severe symptoms, or in conjunction with other treatments for more severe cases. With spine arthritis, the main goals of physical therapy are to improve muscle strength and range of motion in the back and neck for less pain. Each patient’s physical therapy plan will differ depending on their type of arthritis, main pain areas, and goals. Plans may include therapy techniques such as strength training, physical exercises, stretching, and electrical stimulation.
Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics has a team of certified physical therapists that specialize in spinal issues like arthritis and are committed to helping their patients feel better and live with less pain.
Pain Management
Pain management is important in back arthritis treatment as it enables patients to live a fulfilling life with less debilitating pain. The main types of pain management for arthritis are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroid injections.
NSAIDs are oral, over-the-counter medications that help with mild to moderate pain from spine arthritis. If the arthritis pain does not subside with the use of NSAIDs, corticosteroids, such as an epidural steroid injection, may be advised. Pain relief can be achieved for weeks, months, or even a year by the corticosteroids’ ability to suppress inflammation. However, it is impossible to anticipate whether an injection will be beneficial or how long pain reduction will last, as results differ in each patient. The award-winning doctors at CNSO will customize a pain management plan for each patient to help them get back to enjoying life.
Lifestyle Changes
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising and eating a balanced diet play a big part in the treatment of spine arthritis. When the stress and inflammation are reduced in the joints due to increased movement or weight loss, it will lead to less pain. Exercise also can aid with building muscle and bone mass, increasing flexibility, and providing pain relief.
As advantageous as these non-surgical treatments may be, they do not repair bone or cartilage loss or stop arthritis from becoming worse. However, they will allow patients to live a more active lifestyle in less pain.
Surgical Treatment
If a patient experiences severe spinal arthritis pain that non-surgical treatments do not alleviate, they may have to undergo surgery for the best results. Surgery is not a primary treatment for arthritis, and it will be performed only on patients who have met the evidence-based indications and failed other non-surgical treatments.
The medical professionals at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics carefully assess each patient’s history, symptoms, and test results and make sure surgery will benefit them before continuing. The types of spine surgery that the team administers for spine arthritis include:
Fusion Surgery
Fusion surgery stabilizes the spine by permanently joining vertebrae together using bone grafts, screws, and rods. This stops movement between the vertebrae and restores the spine to a functional alignment for decreased pain.
Decompression Surgery
Decompression surgery relieves pressure from a nerve or the spinal cord by removing a small piece of bone. By giving the spinal cord and nerve roots more room, decompression surgery lessens pain and discomfort. It’s important to note that facet joint pain is not directly treated with decompression surgery, but if the arthritis is causing further problems with moderate to severe persistent pain, it may ease symptoms.
For severe arthritis cases that may require surgery, trust the award-winning spine surgeons at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics to provide comprehensive care using state-of-the-art technology and methods.
Find Outstanding Spine and Back Arthritis Treatment
Patients with severe and persistent spine arthritis and back pain deserve dependable treatments and compassionate care. The team at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics offers in-depth knowledge on spinal conditions and some of the most effective treatments available at multiple locations across northern New Jersey. Contact the doctors at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics today to learn more about back arthritis and advanced treatments.
