The Possession of a Preoccupied Mind

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Hey, how you doin'?  No, I am not rewatching Friends for the zillionth time.  It's just that I hate to start traditionally.  I'm in a conflicting situation: some of my readers like my conversational tone, but apparently it isn't quite acceptable to the publication agencies. Two of my best-appreciated stories were rejected because of their tone. The rejection felt like a jolt that I could practically feel in my head, especially the second one.  Since that day, I've been caught up in a vicious loop of boredom because I stopped writing anything new.   I also called off a new transcription gig that promised me some good money, but the client was a tad bit of a scoundrel in his behaviour.  So here I am, having voluntarily stepped away from both writing and work, and somehow managing to be bored out of my mind. Pretty efficient, ain't I? I'm in that peculiar state where I don't want to do anything to kill time, yet somehow want the time to pass joyfully. I ...
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Your Ultimate Guide To Know About: What is Arthritis of the Spine

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Arthritis commonly affects the body's joints, but arthritis of the spine specifically targets the spine. This condition arises when inflammation develops in the facet joints or sacroiliac joints, which connect the pelvis to the spine. As a result, a person experiences intense pain in the neck or lower back, depending on the affected area. Spinal arthritis can develop anywhere along the spine, but most often occurs in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) regions. 


What is Arthritis of the spine? 


Spinal arthritis is an inflammatory condition. Here, the facet joints—small connections between the vertebrae—become inflamed. The sacroiliac joints, which link the pelvis to the spine, may also be affected. Inflammation in these joints causes severe pain, stiffness, and a restricted range of motion in the affected area. 


Types of Spine Arthritis 


Spinal arthritis can develop at any location along the spine, but it most commonly occurs in the neck and lower back. It is classified into two subtypes: inflammatory and non-inflammatory.


Non-inflammatory - 


the non-inflammatory type of arthritis of the spine is basically the degenerative type. This is also called the osteoarthritis of the spine or the wear and tear of the spine. This is mainly due to the age factor. However, poor body posture can also lead to this condition at an early age. This type of spine arthritis occurs due to the slow breakdown of the cartilage (flexible connective tissue found between the joints) of the facet joints. The breaking down of the cartilage causes bone spurs. This further leads to pain and stiffness around the affected area. If it causes more damage, it can result in nerve compression as well. 


Inflammatory - 


This is the other form of spine arthritis, which is caused by the inflammation of the spinal joints. Mainly, an autoimmune condition (instead of protecting the healthy joints, the body's immune system attacks them) leads to this type of spine arthritis. Here, the joints of the spine fuse together to cause the spine to become stiff and rigid. In extreme cases , the spine becomes unbending and completely stiff. This state of the spine is otherwise called the bamboo spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is the main example of spine arthritis. This primarily starts at the sacroiliac joints (SI joints). But it gradually affects the lower back, cervical part, and even the whole spine as well. 


Causes of arthritis of the spine 


The causes of arthritis of the spine are varied. Starting from degenerative causes (natural wear and tear) due to aging, to autoimmune conditions. Apart from that, postural incorrection also leads to the early onset of spine arthritis. Some diseases also lead to spine arthritis, such as psoriasis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Weight is also a primary factor in developing arthritis. Other than that, certain bad habits, such as chewing tobacco, also increase the chances of getting arthritis. 


Symptoms of spinal arthritis 


Despite the variation, almost every form of arthritis has some common symptoms. This includes pain (from moderate to severe) around the areas where the arthritis has developed (mainly the neck or lower back) . The pain sometimes feels like radiating from the lower back to the pelvic region to the thighs. In case it is cervical arthritis, the pain can feel like it radiates from the neck through the shoulder. Apart from pain, stiffness is another symptom of spine arthritis. The rigidity of the spine is worse in the morning. Along with it comes tenderness of the arthritic area. Feeling fatigued is another symptom of developing arthritis. 


Diagnosis of arthritis of the spine


The diagnosis of arthritis in the spine mainly depends on various methods. First, the healthcare provider may run some physical examinations. They may ask about your experience with pain. Where do you feel the pain? The type of pain, whether it is throbbing or radiating, whether it is vague or pronounced. They then run some blood tests to check the RA factor and ESR in the blood. Finally, imaging tests like X-ray, MRI scan, or CT scan can be done to see an image of the spine to locate the arthritis. 


Treatment of spinal arthritis 


The treatment of spinal arthritis includes two types of treatment:- 


The Conservative Treatment 


NSAIDs -

The -over-the-counter pain relievers can be consumed for pain management. These medications are called NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). They work by reducing the inflammation, thus reducing the pain. But NSAIDs should be consumed with the healthcare provider and for not more than 10 days. 


Physical Therapy - 

Physical therapy is the most advisable treatment for arthritis of the spine. It helps in reducing the stiffness of the spine and making it flexible. Gentle stretching, exercises to improve range of motion, and strengthening exercises of the glutes and hips are advised for pain management and to get the optimal results. 


Steroids - 

Your healthcare provider can prescribe you Steroidal treatments such as corticosteroid(in the form of pills) or cortisone shots (in the form of injection) to manage your spinal arthritis. 


DMARDS - 

DMARDS (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) can be prescribed by your healthcare provider to slow the progression of your spinal arthritis. However, it is a little rare in the case of arthritis of the spine. 


Surgical Method 

If none of the conservative methods of treatment help you manage your spinal arthritis, then your doctor can recommend you for the surgical method. The surgical method involves spinal fusion or spinal decompression. This method will help you in fighting spinal stenosis. 


Read more Sacroilitis Treatment: Effective Ways To Manage Pain And Inflammation

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