If you’ve been diagnosed with spondylitis, a procedure to treat the condition likely will not be necessary, particularly in the early stages. In fact, many patients with spondylitis — or inflammation of the vertebrae — are often able to manage their symptoms with conservative, non-surgical treatments, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medication, physical therapy, warm baths, stretching and others. These treatments aim to combat the inflammation, stiffness and reduced range of motion that are associated with spondylitis.

If conservative treatments fail to provide relief

Typically, a physician will suggest that a patient follow a course of conservative treatments indefinitely to mitigate the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. Despite the fact that spondylitis is an incurable and chronic disease, it rarely leads to crippling symptoms. In severe cases of ankylosing spondylitis, however, the body may produce excess bone in the spine to the point that vertebrae become fused together.

In these rare cases where joints in the pelvis, back, neck, and other areas become fused and rigid, a surgical spondylitis procedure could be recommended as a treatment method. If joints in the spine or other areas of the body become so crippled by spondylitis that daily activities are impossible to perform, surgical reconstruction of these joints may become an option. This can entail the removal of bone, the reshaping of vertebral joints, and the use of implantations to straighten and stabilize the spine.

USA Spine Care

At USA Spine Care, our orthopedic surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures to help mitigate symptoms in patients with certain degenerative spinal conditions, including those that may be related to spondylitis. USA Spine Care does not offer minimally invasive surgery to treat spondylitis.

Not all patients with neck or back pain will be candidates for our procedures, but if you contact USA Spine Care, we’ll be happy to provide you with a review of your MRI or CT scan.

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