Degenerative arthritis of the spine is also known as osteoarthritis, which is very common with almost all aged persons. However, it can also occur among younger people such as those in their early teens. There is no definite answer what causes osteoarthritis up to this day, nevertheless scientists and doctors know that worn out cartilage, hereditary and poor nutrition are the contributing factors of osteoarthritis.
The problem with this type of condition is that it cannot be cured, because there are now ways to replace the worn out cartilage. The only thing that doctors can do is to alleviate the pain and focus on relieving the symptoms of this type of arthritis.
These are the following remedies for degenerative arthritis of the spine:
- Avoiding stress on the joints – In many cases, the indications of osteoarthritis are cause by certain activities that put stress on the joints like playing tennis and running. Avoiding these activities may prevent these indications.
- Non-impact exercise – Regular non-impact exercise of joints accomplishes two things: It can prevent the joints from becoming stiff, which can lead to pain and it helps keep the muscle strong. Swimming is an example of this type of exercise.
- NSAIDs – non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also be helpful for treating osteoarthritis.
- Hryaluronic Injections and Cortisone – Cortisone, a corticosteroid, can alleviate pain and swelling with degenerative arthritis of the spine when injected. Another treatment, hyaluronic acid, also helps by replacing the loss fluid in the joints.
- Surgery – When all other treatment options have been tried and are found to be insufficient then surgical intervention is your last option. This involves replacing the joint with an artificial implant. This will reduce and alleviate the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis.
These remedies can help alleviate and reduce the pain cause by this type of arthritis, however, lifetime treatment and consultation to your doctor is necessary. Remember, osteoarthritis cannot be cured by can only lessen the symptoms. It is best that an early age, people should do regular exercise and proper eating habit in order to avoid this type of condition. Degenerative arthritis of the spine can be prevented if you have a good lifestyle.