"Spondylosis" is a medical term used to define different forms of arthritis or osteoarthritis of the spine. It is a degenerative disease that occurs when joints, ligaments and intervertebral discs deteriorate over the course of life. It can affect the neck (cervical spondylosis), the central part of the back (dorsal spondylosis) or the lower back (lumbar spondylosis). Cervical and lumbar spondylosis are the most common. It is a very common disease and it is estimated that 80% of individuals over the age of 40 show signs of it through radiographic examinations. Learn to treat spondylosis so you can relieve the pain that accompanies it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use Home Remedies to Relieve Pain Caused by Spondylosis
Step 1. Resort to cryotherapy
Cryotherapy reduces swelling by narrowing the caliber of blood vessels (vasoconstriction). It is also able to put the most sore parts to sleep. You can resort to cryotherapy using a cold pack, an ice pack, a cold cloth, a pack of frozen vegetables.
- Do not apply cold for more than 15-20 minutes.
- Always use a towel to avoid direct contact between the skin and the source that gives off the cold.
- Do not use anti-inflammatory ointments together with the ice pack.
- Avoid cryotherapy if you have blood circulation problems.
Step 2. Try heat therapy
Thermotherapy widens the caliber of blood vessels (vasodilation), promoting circulation. It also relieves muscle spasms by altering the perception of pain. You can use heat therapy by using a hot pack, heat pad, hot water bottle, or by soaking a cloth in hot water and applying it to the affected area.
- You can also take a hot bath or shower.
- Do not apply heat for more than 15-20 minutes.
- Place a cloth between your skin and the heat source.
- Do not use anti-inflammatory ointments together with the hot compress.
- Check the temperature to avoid getting burned. Avoid hot tubs and spas for hypertension and heart disease.
Step 3. Take a few days off
In case of severe pain caused by spondylosis, you should slow down and rest for a few days. However, do not exceed 72 hours otherwise you risk increasing your recovery time.
Staying in bed for too long also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, which is the formation of a thrombus in the veins of the lower limbs. This condition can lead to a pulmonary embolism, which is the blockage of an artery in the lung, which is potentially lethal
Step 4. Train regularly
Practicing physical activity regularly, albeit with some changes due to the pain associated with spondylosis, helps to accelerate recovery. It is preferable to continue moving normally. Low-impact sports, such as walking and swimming, are great choices. Yoga is also excellent gymnastics. It should be considered that people who walk every day are less likely to suffer from neck or lower back pain.
- In addition to 30 minutes of cardio exercise 3 times a week, you should practice some basic exercises, such as the pelvic lift. They help strengthen the core muscles that support the spine.
- Consult your physical therapist before embarking on a new type of training. Ask him if he can help you find an exercise routine that fits your physical condition.
Step 5. Wear a neck or back brace
A concealer helps relieve the pain caused by spondylosis. Make sure you don't wear it for more than a week. It will allow the muscles to rest. It is not recommended to wear it for a long time because it can weaken them and increase neck or lower back pain.
Buy a soft cervical collar at the pharmacy or ask your orthopedist for advice
Step 6. Use a bolster pillow
A solid pillow under the neck or between the legs can help relieve the pain caused by spondylosis, especially if it radiates from the middle of the back to the lower back. On the market you can find pillows specially designed for the cervical tract which, thanks to additional support, are able to relieve pain. In other words, they correct the direction of the spine by providing additional support and keeping it straighter during sleep.
There are special pillows designed for this purpose, but if you can't find a model that meets your needs, just pick one that's tall enough
Step 7. Change your lifestyle
It can prove beneficial for spine health, regardless of your age. If work forces you to bend over or lift heavy loads, consider less strenuous use. If you are obese or overweight, losing weight can reduce the strain on your back. Quitting smoking can improve bone health, especially those of the spine.
- You should also consider posture. If your back is curved when sitting or standing, try to correct it by keeping your neck and chest straight.
- There are other natural methods to treat spondylosis, although not all of them are based on solid scientific evidence.
Method 2 of 3: Treating Spondylosis with Medical Therapies
Step 1. Try pain relievers
Pain and other symptoms related to spondylosis, both acute and chronic, can be treated with self-medication. The pain usually subsides within a few days. To calm this symptom, take a pain reliever.
- Among the most effective drugs, consider non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Moment, Brufen) and naproxen (Momendol). Paracetamol (Tachipirina) is also an excellent pain reliever.
- Paracetamol is the best option for those suffering from asthma, hypertension, heart disease or gastric ulcer.
Step 2. Consider a pain reliever ointment
Topical pain relievers can supplement or be used as an alternative to oral anti-inflammatories and analgesics. They are sold in the form of ointments, foams, gels, roll-ons, sprays and patches. They contain various active ingredients, including:
- Revulsive, such as camphor, menthol and methyl salicylate (Wintergreen oil). They work by creating a cool or burning sensation that takes the mind away from pain.
- Capsaicin, which is obtained from chilli. It has proven to be very effective in the treatment of localized pain. It causes a tingling or burning sensation in the skin and can take several days to relieve pain.
- Salicylates, substances that give aspirin its analgesic properties. They can be absorbed by the skin, relieving localized pain.
Step 3. Ask your doctor if he can prescribe a stronger medication
There are several medicines that can relieve the pain associated with this condition if over-the-counter or topical ones are not enough. Your doctor may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory to relieve the inflammatory process associated with spondylosis.
The most used NSAIDs include diclofenac (Voltaren), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Artaxan) and oxaprozin (Walix). Side effects of NSAIDs include lightheadedness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and bloating. Be careful if you take a drug in this class for more than a week because prolonged use increases the risk of stomach ulcer, kidney damage and heart attacks
Step 4. Try a muscle relaxant
Your doctor may prescribe it to treat muscle spasms associated with spondylosis. The most common muscle relaxants include carisoprodol (Soma complex), cyclobenzaprine (Flexiban), methocarbamol (Robaxin) and metaxalone (Muscoril).
- The most common side effects include sleepiness, lightheadedness, dry mouth and dysuria (difficulty urinating).
- Taking muscle relaxants should only be limited to short periods, otherwise it can be addictive or addictive.
Step 5. Check with your doctor to find out if you can use an opioid pain reliever
Depending on the severity of the pain, the doctor may prescribe an opioid-based analgesic. The most common ones contain codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone.
- Side effects associated with this class of drugs include sleepiness, constipation, dry mouth and dysuria (difficulty urinating).
- They should not be taken with alcohol or medicines containing paracetamol (Tachipirina) because these combinations can greatly increase the risk of liver damage.
- The intake of opioid painkillers should not exceed two weeks, otherwise it can be addictive and addictive.
Step 6. Learn about antiepileptic and antidepressant medications
Medicines initially prescribed to treat seizures, or epilepsy, have also proved useful in treating relapsing pain. Low-dose antidepressants have been used for years against chronic neck and back pain. In sporadic cases, in fact, a chronicization of spondylogen pain can occur.
- The most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of chronic pain are gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica). The mechanism by which they manage to control pain is still unclear. Sleepiness and weight gain are common side effects of gabapentin, while side effects of pregabalin include sleepiness, lightheadedness, dry mouth and constipation.
- The most prescribed tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of chronic pain are amitriptyline (Laroxyl), imipramine (Tofranil) and nortriptyline (Noritren). Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is a new antidepressant used to combat relapsing pain. Both tricyclic antidepressants and duloxetine work by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters, which in turn inhibit the transmission of nociceptive (pain) signals to the brain. Side effects of these antidepressants include sleepiness, weight gain, dry mouth, constipation, and dysuria (difficulty urinating).
Step 7. Get an epidural steroid injection
It is a minimally invasive procedure that can be used to treat pain caused by spondylosis. The infiltration consists of a combination consisting of a long-acting steroid (triamcinolone, betamethasone) and an anesthetic agent (lidocaine, bupivacaine). The drugs are injected into the epidural space between the protection of the spinal cord (dura mater) and the ligaments of the spine (vertebrae). The results are variable and the relief can last for weeks, months, and sometimes even years.
- It is not recommended to have more than three injections in a 12-month period because they can weaken the spine after this limit.
- Risks posed by epidural steroid injection include infections, bleeding and neurological damage.
- Doctors qualified to administer this type of infiltration are physiatrists, anesthetists, radiologists, neurologists and surgeons.
Step 8. Find out if you need surgery
Most patients with spondylosis do not need a spinal operation. Non-surgical treatments are effective in at least 75% of cases, but sometimes more invasive surgery becomes necessary. If you start experiencing neurological deficits, such as loss of bowel or bladder control, surgery may be the best choice. Another sign of such problems is loss of sensation or function in the arms, legs, feet and fingers.
In these circumstances, the deficit is caused by the contraction of a nerve or by the compression of the spine. If these imbalances are not resolved, the damage related to the nervous system could worsen
Step 9. Consult your doctor about the possibility of having spinal decompression surgery
Spinal decompression surgery is an umbrella term used to describe several surgical procedures that can relieve compression of the spine. You will need to work with your doctor on the best technique based on your health needs.
- Laminectomy involves removing the "lamina," which is the back of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal. It allows to increase the size of the spinal canal.
- Laminoplasty consists in leaving the lamina in its place which, however, is reshaped along one side of the spinal cord.
- Discectomy is a technique in which a portion of the intervertebral disc is removed that puts pressure on a nerve root or spinal canal.
- Foraminotomy and foraminectomy consist of dilating the openings through which the nerve roots exit the spinal canal by removing tissue.
- You may also have osteophytes surgically removed, which removes bone spurs from the areas where they compress the nerves.
- Corpectomy consists of the removal of all or part of the vertebral body, including discs.
Method 3 of 3: Treating Spondylosis Using Other Methods
Step 1. Get physical therapy
Your doctor may prescribe physiotherapy for persistent neck and lower back pain caused by spondylosis. The physical therapist can combine passive treatments, such as cryotherapy and heat therapy, ultrasound and electrical stimulation, with therapeutic exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the neck, abdomen and back.
- Physiotherapy is usually prescribed when you have chronic pain that lasts for several weeks and is not relieved with other treatments.
- Additionally, physiotherapy may include a course of massage. Once the physiotherapy exercises are finished, a professional massage therapist will work on the back muscles to calm and relax them.
- The goal of physiotherapy is to prevent the onset of relapsing pain.
Step 2. Try spinal manipulation
Performed by a chiropractor, this technique is also able to relieve the pain caused by spondylosis, especially during the first month. It works by realigning the vertebrae that have lost their correct position due to the weakening of the spine induced by spondylosis. Overall, it is a safe procedure.
Generally, the most common side effects are of little relevance and include fatigue and temporary muscle soreness. Very rare complications of spinal manipulation include weakness, loss of sensation in the legs or arms, and bowel or bladder problems
Step 3. Consider acupuncture
It is a very popular treatment for persistent neck and lower back pain. Performed in case of spondylosis, it involves inserting very thin needles, the size of a human hair, into the neck or back. They can be rotated, electrically stimulated or heated to improve results.
