Back pain is a common problem that millions of Americans deal with on a daily basis. Though getting older and injuries from sports, work, and accidents are often to blame, there could be another factor. If the problem is chronic, there is a chance that the cause of back pain is spinal osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition involving the wearing down or degeneration of the cartilage between bones. This causes the bones and joints to rub together, which can be painful and limit mobility. Spinal osteoarthritis is a condition where this degeneration occurs within the spine, leading to pain and stiffness in the back and neck.
The causes of spinal osteoarthritis and back pain are similar. It can be triggered by an injury, especially an injury that causes joints to lose their formation. It can also be genetic, arthritis can be passed genetically and genes can control whether or not there is a defect in cartilage. Osteoarthritis can happen to both men and women at really any age, however it is seen most commonly in women over the age of 50.
At first, spinal osteoarthritis may feel like typical back pain, but there are some symptoms that will indicate that it is likely spinal osteoarthritis.
- Chronic pain that slowly becomes worse over time.
- Stiffness in the back and neck after sleeping or sitting for long periods of time.
- Hearing a grinding or crunching sound in the joints.
- Tingling or a numbing feeling in the arm, legs, hands, feet, and fingers. It may feel like they are “asleep.”
- The pain radiates through the neck to the head and shoulders.
Chiropractic care can work into managing spinal osteoarthritis. Due to the nature of their work, chiropractors are great at detecting osteoarthritis because they notice degenerative changes in the spine. They are also able to relieve pain and help with the functioning of the affected joints. They do so through manipulation techniques such as trigger point therapy, massage, and alignments.
Additionally, chiropractors can steer you towards other healthy treatments for osteoarthritis pain relief. Options such as applying heat or cold to the area of pain have proven to be very helpful. Specific exercises the chiropractor can show you will also help in both the treatment and prevention of back pain and spinal osteoarthritis.
Chronic back issues are a pain for many people, but with the proper care, it doesn’t have to be. If you have a condition you would like treated with chiropractic care, call our Renton Chiropractors at (425) 277-2225 to make an appointment!
Sources:
Haiken, Malanie. “Back Pain? 5 Signs It’s Arthritis.” Yahoo Health. (2012).
“Living With Osteroarthritis.” American Chiropractic Association. (2014).
“Spinal Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine)” WebMD. (2014).
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