What Is Spondylitis?
Spondylitis is a form of spinal arthritis that involves inflammation of the vertebrae causing inflammatory back pain. Spondylosis refers to degenerative changes in the spine such as bone spurs and degenerating intervertebral discs between the vertebrae and are are frequently referred to as osteoarthritis. Spondylosis can occur in the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper and mid back), or lumbar spine (low back).
The pain is usually concentrated around the neck, shoulder and lower spine, with downward-moving stinging pain. Spondylitis may affect the cervical spine, the lumbar region; and the sacroiliac joints. Over time, spondylitis inflammation can lead to ankylosing spondylitis where sections of the spine fuse together in a fixed, immobile position.
Spondylitis can lead to severe, chronic pain and discomfort. With early diagnosis and treatment like prescription medication, lifestyle changes or steroid injections to relieve spondylitis symptoms, most patients with these conditions go on to lead long, productive lives.
Spondylitis is characterized by inflammation of the joints of the spine and sacroiliac, and also inflammation of the surrounding ligaments that attach bones to each other. You can trust St. Louis Pain Consultants to diagnose your pain and discuss the many treatment options available today.
Spondylitis symptoms will depend on the severity and progression of the condition and often include:
What to Expect
Proper diagnosis starts with an experienced pain management doctor. The type of pain that you may have with spondylitis can be similar to the symptoms of several types of disorders. Accurately determining the correct source of your pain is critical to successful treatment.
A thorough clinical evaluation, including a complete medical history, analysis of your symptoms, and physical examination is critical to diagnose spondylitis.
Every patient is different and we work with each one to establish an individualized, comprehensive plan, to achieve maximum relief. Pinpointing the source of pain and utilizing a targeted treatment plan makes our approach highly successful.
With the help of today’s technology, our pain management specialists accurately diagnose, target, and relieve the source of pain, to help you return to an active lifestyle.
Diagnostic Options
Pain is usually the driving factor that causes a patient to seek treatment for a spine condition. Before we can recommend any treatment options, we must first diagnose the cause of your pain. The following tests may be performed in order to diagnose whether you have spondylitis:
- Physical Examp
- X-rays
- MRI/ CT scans
- Blood work
These advanced diagnostic techniques definitively pinpoint the source of pain and allow us to treat the pain. Once we diagnose an annular tear, we will create a treatment plan to reduce the symptoms of pain and discomfort while your body heals itself through the natural resorption process. Many patients can find effective relief through conservative therapy.
If you are living with spondylitis pain, seek help from St. Louis Pain Consultants.
We want to help remind you what life without pain feels like.
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