Arthritis of the spine, or spinal osteoarthritis, is a fairly common degenerative spinal condition that usually affects individuals age 50 and older. The spine endures a great deal of daily wear and tear as it supports the body and allows for regular movement. This can lead to deterioration of the cartilage that lines the facet joints in the spine and allows the spinal vertebrae to glide across one another easily. When this cartilage wears away, bone can rub against bone, resulting in stiffness, inflammation and localized pain. If the friction in the joint causes the development of a bone spur as the body tries to stabilize the joint, it could cause pressure to be placed on a nearby nerve root or the spinal cord. Arthritis of the spine surgery may become a consideration if this pressure results in severe symptoms such as radiating pain, numbness, muscle spasms and more.

Deciding if surgery is an option for you

Choosing to have arthritis of the spine surgery isn’t an easy decision to make, and it’s important that you discuss all of your options with your physician first. Here are some of the factors that could make surgery the right choice for you:

1. Your symptoms are greatly impacting your quality of life. In many cases, spinal osteoarthritis doesn’t produce symptoms. However, if you are experiencing severe pain and other symptoms that are interrupting your daily life and affecting your happiness, you may want to consider surgery.
2. Conservative treatments haven’t provided the desired relief. When you are diagnosed with arthritis of the spine, your physician will likely suggest that you try a combination of nonsurgical treatment options for several weeks. If your symptoms don’t improve, surgery might be the only option remaining.
3. Your symptoms are progressively getting worse. If you are following you doctor’s suggestions and your symptoms are becoming more severe, your chances of finding relief without surgery are relatively low.

Arthritis of the spine surgery at USA Spine Care

If you and your doctor have determined that surgery is your best treatment option, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive neck or back surgery at USA Spine Care. Our board-certified surgeons+ have helped more than 75,000 patients to date and treat many different degenerative spinal conditions, including arthritis of the spine.

For more information about the surgical procedures we perform and the different conditions we treat, contact USA Spine Care today.