Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment in San Leandro

The spine contains many small joints that connect the vertebrae and allow the spine to bend and twist. These facet joints have cartilage and fluid that help the bones to slide and move without friction, but wear, tear, injury and other factors can result in degenerative disease. Like all joints, spinal joints are susceptible to arthritis and degenerative disease. At Allied Pain & Spine Institute, we offer spinal osteoarthritis treatment in San Leandro, CA.

Spinal osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the facet joints. The disease can destroy the cartilage and create bone spurs in the spine. Over time, spinal osteoarthritis can restrict the movement of the spine and may result in nerve pain as bone spurs and inflammation impact the spinal nerves. Patients with spinal osteoarthritis can find it difficult to bend or twist the torso or neck, limiting movement. Spinal osteoarthritis usually occurs in either the cervical (neck) or lumbar (low back) spine.

Depending on the nerves affected, patients may experience tenderness and pain near the affected joints. Tingling, numbness and weakness may also affect the arms, hands or legs if the major nerves are compressed or pinched by bone spurs or inflammation. Osteoarthritis in the spine can also cause other complications such as damaged spinal discs or spinal stenosis.

Relief for Spinal Osteoarthritis

There is not a cure for arthritis, but there are treatments that can relieve pain and improve the symptoms. At Allied Pain & Spine Institute, we carefully examine our patients with spinal pain to determine if osteoarthritis may be causing the discomfort. There are treatment options that can slow the progression of the disease and minimize pain. Injections, physical therapy, medication management and other therapies may be recommended to reduce pain and improve spine mobility. Surgery is usually not used as a treatment for spinal osteoarthritis, but it may be used if bone spurs need to be removed or for repair of damaged spinal discs.

If you have symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis and live in Oakland, Fremont or the South Bay area, come see us at Allied Pain & Spine Institute. Contact our medical center in San Leandro, CA, to schedule your consultation with one of our spine specialists.