Spondylosis refers to arthritis of the spine.Over time, wear and tear on the joints, ligaments, and discs of the spine can cause it.Spondylosis can affect the neck, upper and middle back, and low back.Spondylosis is the most common form.80% of people over the age of 40 have evidence of Spondylosis on x-ray scans.If you learn how to treat spondylosis, you will be able to alleviate some of your pain.
Step 1: Cold therapy can be used.
Cold therapy reduces swelling by decreasing the diameter of blood vessels.It can numb pain.Cold packs, bags of ice, cold rags, and frozen vegetables or fruit can be used for cold therapy.Don't use ice packs or other cold therapy methods for more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.A towel should be placed between the skin and the cold source.Do not use pain relief at the same time you apply cold.If you have poor circulation, don't use cold therapy.
Step 2: It's possible to try heat therapy.
Circulation is increased by heat therapy, which increases the diameter of blood vessels.It reduces the sensation of pain.Using heat packs, heating pads, or hot water bottles can be used to apply heat therapy.You can take a hot bath or shower.Do not use heat therapy for more than 20 minutes.Place a cloth between the skin and the heat source.If you are applying heat, do not use pain killers at the same time.To avoid burns, test the temperature.If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, avoid spas.
Step 3: Take it easy for a few days.
Taking it easy and getting bed rest for a few days can be helpful in some cases of severe pain due to spondylosis, but should be limited to no more than one to three days.Long-term bed rest increases an individual's risk for blood clot or deep vein thrombosis.A DVT can lead to a blood clot in the lungs, which can be life threatening.
Step 4: Get some exercise.
Regular exercise can help speed recovery after a painful episode of spondylosis.It is a good idea to continue normal activities.Walking or swimming are good low impact exercises.A form of exercise that is good is yoga.People who walk daily are less likely to have neck or low back pain.In addition to 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times a week, you should also do core exercises.This strengthens the core to support the spine.Before starting an exercise, you should talk to your doctor.You and your doctor can come up with an exercise routine that works for you.
Step 5: A neck or back brace is required.
The pain of spondylosis can be alleviated with temporary bracing.Don't wear it for more than a week.Rounding allows muscles to rest.Long-term bracing can weaken muscles and cause more pain in the neck and back.You can get a soft neck brace from a doctor.
Step 6: There is a support pillow.
Sleeping with a firm pillow below the neck or between the legs may help relieve the pain of spondylosis.Special pillows have been developed for the neck, which may relieve pain.While you rest, the pillow changes the direction of your spine, giving you added support and keeping it straight.If you can't find one of the special pillows, use the fullest pillow on your bed.
Step 7: Do you want to change your lifestyle?
At any age, lifestyle modification may help the spine.If your work involves a lot of bending or heavy lifting, consider less strenuous work.Losing weight can help reduce stress on the spine.Smoking can affect bone health.You should think about your posture as well.Keeping your back and neck straight is a must if you are sitting or standing.Not all of the natural methods are backed up by good evidence.
Step 8: You can try over-the-counter pain killers.
Home methods can be used to treat the pain and other symptoms of spondylosis.After a few days, the pain caused by spondylosis usually improves.Over-the-counter pain remedies are a good way to treat pain.NSAIDs, such as aspirin, are examples of OTC meds that help with this condition.Tylenol is a medicine that may be helpful in the relief of pain.Individuals with a history of asthma, high blood pressure, liver disease, heart disease or stomach ulcers are better off with acetaminophen.
Step 9: It's a good idea to use a pain killer.
It is possible to complement or be used as an alternative to oral pain relief.They can be administered in many ways, such as in creams, foams, gels, roll-ons, sprays, and sticks.Counterirritants are the most common ingredient in this class of medication.The oil of wintergreen is one of the examples of counterirritants.They use a cooling or burning sensation to distract an individual from the pain.Bengay, Icy Hot, and Tiger Balm are popular brands.Capsaicin is a drug.Capsaicin was found to be very effective for pain relief.It causes a burning sensation on the skin and may take several days to relieve the pain.Zostrix and Capzasin are popular brands.There are drugs called Salicylates.aspirin has pain relieving qualities.They can be absorbed into the skin for pain relief.Aspercreme is a popular brand.
Step 10: You should get a prescription.
When non-prescription drugs are no longer enough for you, your doctor may give you a variety of prescription-strength pain medications.NSAID's may be prescribed by your doctor to reduce inflammation associated with spondylosis.Diclofenac, meloxicam, etodolac, and oxaprozin are popular prescription drugs.The common side effects of NSAID are dizziness, headaches, nausea, and excess gas.If you are taking NSAID for more than a week, it is advisable to use caution.
Step 11: Try to relax the muscles with muscle relaxants.
Spondylosis can be treated with muscle relaxants.Carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, and metaxalone are popular muscle relaxants.Drowsiness, dry mouth, and difficulty urinating are some of the common side effects of muscle relaxants.The use of muscle relaxants should be restricted due to their high risk for dependence.
Step 12: Discuss narcotic pain medicine with your doctor.
Your doctor may prescribe a narcotic pain medicine for you.There are narcotic pain medications.The common side effects of this class of medication are drowsiness, dry mouth, and difficulty urinating.The combination of narcotic pain medications with alcohol or other drugs can cause serious harm to the body.The increased risks of tolerance, dependence, and addiction should limit the use of narcotic pain medications to less than two weeks.
Step 13: Ask about the drugs.
Drugs originally used to treat seizure have been found to be helpful in the treatment of chronic pain.For years, low doses of antidepressants have been used to treat chronic neck and back pain.Some cases of spondylosis can lead to chronic neck or back pain.Gabapentin and pregabalin are the most commonly prescribed anti-seizure medications.It's not clear how these drugs control pain.There are side effects of gabapentin.There are some side effects of pregabalin.There are commonly prescribed tricyclic antidepressants that are helpful in the treatment of chronic pain.In the treatment of chronic pain, duloxetine is a novel antidepressant.Increased levels of the brain neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine are important in blocking the transmission of pain signals.Depression, weight gain, dry mouth, and difficulty urinating are some of the common side effects of these antidepressants.
Step 14: Get a steroid injection.
An Epidural steroid injection may be used to treat pain caused by spondylosis.The injection consists of a long-acting steroid and an anesthetic agent.The medications are injected into the epidural space of the spine, which is between the dura andvertebra.Pain relief from an ESI can last weeks, months, and sometimes years.There is a limit on the number of ESIs that can be performed in a year.Infections, bleeding, and nerve damage are possible side effects of ESIs.Physicists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and surgeons are some of the types of physicians who can administer ESIs.
Step 15: Do you need surgery?
Most patients with spondylosis don't need surgery.In at least 75% of spondylosis cases, non surgical treatment is successful, but in some instances, surgery is necessary.If you begin to experience a loss of bowel or bladder control, surgery is likely to be your best option.It's possible to lose feeling or function in your arms, legs, feet, and fingers.Nerves are being pinched or your spine is being compressed under these circumstances.If these conditions are not fixed, the damage to your nervous system could get worse.
Step 16: Talk to your doctor about the surgery.
Different surgical procedures that can relieve pressure on the spine are referred to as spine decompression surgery.To determine the best technique for your situation, you will need to work with your doctor.The size of the spinal canal can be increased during a laminectomy.During a laminoplasty, the lamina are removed from one side of the spine.A discectomy is the removal of a portion of an intervertebral disc that has put pressure on a nerve root.The openings where the nerve roots exit the spine are enlarged by the removal of tissue.During osteophyte removal, bone spurs are physically removed from areas that cause pinched nerves.A surgeon will remove the entire body during a corpectomy.
Step 17: Go through physical therapy.
Physical therapy can be prescribed by a physician for neck and back pain.Passive treatments, such as ice and heat, can be combined with therapeutic exercises to strengthen neck, abdominal, and back muscles.Chronic pain that lasts several weeks without responding to other treatments is usually prescribed for physical therapy.Your physical therapy routine may include massage therapy.The muscles in your back will be worked on by a massage therapist after you have them.The goal is to prevent pain in the future.
Step 18: Try manipulation of the spine.
The first month of pain from spondylosis can be alleviated with the help of spine manipulation.It works because of the weakness in the spine brought on by spondylosis.It's a safe procedure.The most common side effects are fatigue and muscle pain.Weakness, loss of feeling in legs or arms, and bowel or bladder problems are extremely rare.
Step 19: Consider the benefits of acupuncture.
It's a popular treatment for neck and back pain.There are very thin needles that are about the size of a human hair inserted into the neck or back.The needles can be warmed, twirled, or stimulated.The chi of the body is thought to be balanced by acupuncture.The release of chemicals that reduce pain may be an alternative explanation.