Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects many people as they age. The degenerative joint condition will affect virtually everyone if they live long enough. It can affect many different areas in the body, including the spine. If an arthritis patient does develop a condition that affects the spine, he can expect to deal with back pain. It does not matter where the condition settles down, the basic causes of the condition are the same.
The first and foremost cause is aging. As the human body gets older, it produces less of the cushioniong materials. The cushioning materials are a simple way to refer to the process, but there are names for each type of material. The first is cartilage, which is find in the knees, nose and many different joints in the body. The second cause is often changes in the synovial fluid. The synovial fluid provides the lubrication between the joints that lets the joints flow freely. The changes in the fluid and the reduction in the amount of fluid produced cause the joints from grind from time to time.
The causes of osteoarthritis in the spine are the same as the causes of osteoarthritis in other parts of the body. The condition affects each patient differently. There are factors that can cause a person to develop the disease more readily than another person. Women are more likely to get the disease in man. Age is the primary determining factor. A person is also more prone to develop this condition if he is overweight. The only factor that is under the patient’s control is his weight. If he wants to avoid developing arthritis for as long as possible, he should take measures to control his weight.
Even though there is no cure for the condition, there are ways to improve the symptoms of the disease. Many forms of osteoarthritis flare up in cool, damp weather. A patient can keep the environment in their home warm and dry. The use of a simple heater can do this in the Winter months. The heaters easily remove humidity from the air.
Exercise can also reduce the pain. A person who decides to walk even a short distance every day will find that he experiences less pain. He should not over do it. A patient should also make sure that he is healthy enough to engage in such activities before he adds a walk or a similar exercise to his daily regimen.
The causes of osteoarthritis are not the same as the causes of gout or rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms are similar. All of the conditions cause a patient to suffer a great deal of pain. The treatment portion for all types of arthritis will include a pain killer. The pain killer may be a simple over-the-counter medication that is taken as needed, or it could include something a little bit stronger. The pain killer will not be an addictive substance under normal circumstances. A patient will probably not be able to undergo surgery to correct the problem.
