It's not unusual for people to notice increasing stiffness and pain and maybe even swelling in their joints as they age. This results from the natural wear and tear on the joints due to everyday usage and is commonly diagnosed as osteoarthritis. This condition can also affect the spine.
Types
The most common cause of arthritis symptoms in the spine are the degenerative changes associated with osteoarthritis, but the inflammatory process of rheumatoid arthritis, a systemic disease affecting the joint lining, may also have an effect, especially on the neck region. The inflammation and degenerative changes associated with either type of arthritis may lead to spinal stenosis. Another more specific type of arthritis affecting the spine is called ankylosing spondylitis.
Recognizing Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when the opening in your spine through which the spinal cord passes or the space between the vertebra---the bones that make up the spine---become narrowed. This puts pressure on the roots of the nerves that branch out from the spine. The main symptoms of spinal stenosis are pain, cramping or even numbness in your legs or arms, depending on where the pressure is on the nerves. Talk to your doctor if your leg pain worsens with walking and improves when you sit down or just bend forward. Occasionally, spinal stenosis will make it difficult to control your bowel or bladder functions. This needs to be addressed immediately if it occurs.
Recognizing Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that mainly attacks the joints between the vertebra and the joints between the spine and the pelvis. This type of arthritis is not common; it affects men more than women. Pain and stiffness can occur along the entire length of the backbone. The earliest symptom may be persistent pain and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks for longer than three months. This most often starts when men are in their 20s. As the disease progresses, the bones of the spine may fuse, and the ribs become stiff and inflexible, causing difficulty with breathing. It's usually diagnosed through medical history, x-rays and a lab test.
Considerations
Arthritis in the spine is not curable, but is treatable. Arthritis in the spine may be treated by anti-inflammatory medications and exercise programs. Other possible treatments are injections of corticosteroids, nerve blocks, braces and chiropractic or acupuncture treatments. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
Ankylosing spondylitis is also treatable through medications and exercise. If you have this condition, one of the most important considerations is to maintain as much rib cage expansion as possible in order to help keep your lung function intact. Physical therapists can help you set up a program for this.
Prevention
Keeping your weight down and maintaining good muscle strength and joint range of motion are especially important in preventing or reducing the symptoms of spinal stenosis caused by osteoarthritis. While it's not possible to prevent ankylosing spondylitis, because it is a genetically-based autoimmune disease, the worst effects can be mitigated through an ongoing program of exercise and medications.
Tags: type arthritis, Arthritis spine, associated with, changes associated, changes associated with, degenerative changes