A Look At Osteoarthritis Of The Spine

By Dr. Grazyna Pajunen


General Health in the body is the only way human beings can comfortably carry out their day to day activities completely. Therefore, we are always asked to take great care on our bodies. I will therefore do a review of one ailment referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine. This is one among the diseases that affect our bodies.

The term osteoarthritis is a medical term that describes wearing down of bones. It is also called degenerative joint disease. This condition when experienced in the joints and bones at the back of our bodies brings us to the term osteoarthritis of the spine.

On the other hand, osteoarthritis of the spine affects joints on the neck and lower back. It is a very serious disease that can lead even to death if proper checks are not done in time. This disease might even release spurs that can results to pain in the arms and legs.

Incidentally, statistics have revealed that this condition is associated with a certain group of people. According to research, the older you get, the higher the probability to suffer from the ailment. Again, people who are overweight have been found to suffer from the disease with more frequency than light weighted people. This can bee attributed to their posture and weight. Normally, heavy people have a curved back, a situation which can easily weaken the bone. But this is not to say that young people can not suffer from the condition. Injury or a genetic condition can easily expose a young person to this situation.

Let us now look at the symptoms. One very basic symptom is experiencing pain on the back and neck. Normally, this pain will subside when you lay down on your back. Also, feeling weak on your hands and feet is another sign. It is also important to realize that, the condition can also bring depression hence it can also be an important way of getting a clue or sign.

The doctors will also do diagnosis to find out whether or not you are suffering from these conditions. Doctors can use x-ray pictures to see any injuries. But generally, it is impossible to use blood tests to decipher it. But, doctors might undertake it to right off presence of any other disease.

After confirmation that one is suffering from it, there are various methods used to either treat or manage. So far, there is no permanent cure. Administration of drugs is one of them, the drugs are normally pain relievers. Another method is through exercise. Exercise will strengthen the bones. Also, nutrition has been embraced too help manage it. There are certain feeds that will strengthen our bodies. Massage also has been extensively used in other areas to relax our joints and bones. Since major reports have indicated weight as a factor, weight reduction is another approach used.

Finally, regular medical check ups are very vital. They will allow us to discover our disease in time, making it easier for us to get treatment. Visiting doctors to get check ups on osteoarthritis of the spine is not an exceptional.




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