What causes spinal arthrosis and main symptoms

Spinal arthrosis, known as spinal osteoarthritis or spondyloarthrosis, is the wear and tear on the cartilage of the spinal joints, which causes symptoms such as pain and difficulty in moving the back, and can be caused by both age changes and genetic changes or for making wrong movements with the back.

The symptoms of arthrosis are different in each person, with intensities that vary from mild to strong, and may even cause limitations for daily and work activities. Therefore, in some cases, osteoarthritis can be an indication of absence from work or retirement, but this only happens rarely, because when the person performs the treatment properly, the symptoms are usually well controlled.

Wear can happen in any region of the spine, being more common in the lumbar and cervical regions, and, although there is no cure, the treatment can greatly improve the symptoms and the quality of life of the person, including the use of painkillers, anti -inflammatory, in addition to surgery options for cases of difficult improvement.

Main symptoms

Cartilage is important to cushion the impact and reduce friction between the ends of the bones, and when there is arthrosis, symptoms such as:

• Back pain that worsens with movement; Difficulty moving the region due to pain; There may be tingling or numbness in the neck or arms when there is cervical arthrosis; There may be tingling or numbness in the legs when there is lumbar arthrosis.

In an attempt to recover bone wear and tear by the body, small tips can also be formed at their ends, known as parrot beaks, which pinch or squeeze the nerves that pass through the region, such as the sciatic one, and cause a lot of pain.

In addition, compression of the cartilage discs in the spine, called intervertebral discs, can cause them to bulge out of the spine, giving rise to a herniated disc. Watch the following video and learn all about herniated discs:

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of spinal arthrosis is made from the symptoms presented and the physical examination done by the doctor, together with imaging tests such as x-rays of the spine.

In some cases, an MRI of the spine may be necessary to identify changes such as herniated discs or minor deformities not seen on the x-ray.

Causes of spinal arthrosis

Spinal arthrosis has genetic and hereditary influences, however, there is a greater risk of developing changes by:

• Natural wear and tear on the spine joints due to age; Repetitive and wrong movements, such as carrying heavy objects in the wrong position; Excessive physical exercises; Strokes in the spine, caused by injuries and accidents.

Thus, it is very important that the practice of physical activity is guided by a professional, and that repetitive or effort movements made at work are made with the maintenance of a correct posture, avoiding the development of arthrosis. Check out what are the habits that damage the spine and how to avoid it.

How the treatment is done

Spondyloarthrosis has no cure, but its correct treatment is very important to remove symptoms and improve the person's quality of life, with medications such as:

• Analgesics, such as Paracetamol or Dipyrone, 2 to 4 times a day, or when experiencing pain; Opioids, which are more potent analgesics, such as Codeine, Tramadol or even Morphine, for moderate to severe pain; Glucosamine Sulfate or Chondroitin, which are dietary supplements that can help cartilage regeneration; Anti-inflammatories, such as Ketoprofen or Ibuprofen, in pills or ointments, should be used for a limited time, as per medical advice, as their continued use can be harmful to organs such as stomach and kidneys; Injectable anesthetics and corticosteroids, called infiltrations or blocks, are injected into the joint for better local pain control, in cases of difficult control.

These treatments can be done in periods when symptoms appear, or can be done for a lifetime, for those with persistent symptoms, and should be guided by the general practitioner, orthopedist or rheumatologist.

Surgery options

Spine surgeries are indicated by the orthopedist or neurosurgeon only in some cases, in which there was no improvement in symptoms with previous treatments, due to their risk, even if small, of causing complications, such as bleeding, infections or spinal injuries.

These surgical procedures consist of radiofrequency, conventional or minimally invasive surgery, designed to correct deformities, reduce symptoms and make it possible for the person with this disease to live a life with minimal limitations. Find out what care is required after spine surgery.

Physiotherapy treatment

Physiotherapy is a very important treatment for those who have osteoarthritis of the spine, as the exercises and manipulations performed by the physiotherapist help to reduce inflammation, align the joints and strengthen the muscles, so that there is less overload and pain in the spine.

The practice of physical activities is also important to tone the muscles and maintain joint stability, and the best types of exercises are swimming and water aerobics, since water activities work the muscles with the least impact on the joints. Check out how physiotherapy is performed for osteoarthritis.