My doctor says I have degenerative changes in my spine. Does this mean I have arthritis?
Answer From April Chang-Miller, M.D.
Yes. The phrase "degenerative changes" in the spine refers to osteoarthritis of the spine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Doctors may also refer to it as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease.
Osteoarthritis in the spine most commonly occurs in the neck and lower back. With age, the soft disks that act as cushions between the spine's vertebrae dry out and shrink. This narrows the space between vertebrae, and bone spurs may develop.
Gradually, your spine stiffens and loses flexibility. In some cases, bone spurs on the spine can pinch a nerve root — causing pain, weakness or numbness.
If you have osteoarthritis, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment and pain management plan, which may include exercise, medications and measures to protect your joints. Your doctor may also refer you to a rheumatologist, physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon.
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Feb. 08, 2022
- Osteoarthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. //www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Osteoarthritis/default.asp. Accessed Dec. 9, 2016.
- Doherty M. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of osteoarthritis. //www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Dec. 9, 2016.
- Goode AP, et al. Low back pain and lumbar spine osteoarthritis: How are they related? Current Rheumatology Reports. 2013;15:305.
- Imboden JB, et al. Osteoarthritis. In: Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Rheumatology. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2013. //www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed Dec. 9, 2016.
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Case Reports
Treatment of multilevel degenerative disc disease with intradiscal electrothermal therapy
K Malik. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007 Apr.
Free article
Abstract
Intradiscal electrothermal therapy is a frequently performed procedure for the pain of internal disc disruption. It is typically performed on one to two discs; the discal treatment is followed by a long period of rest and rehabilitation. In patients with multilevel disc disease, intradiscal electrothermal therapy is either not contemplated or only one to two discs are treated at a time. This approach therefore either denies these patients the potential benefits of intradiscal electrothermal therapy or significantly prolongs the period of pain and disability. A 25-year-old female patient presented with internal disc disruption at four lumbar disc levels, diagnosed by provocative discography and post discography CT scan. All these discs were treated simultaneously by intradiscal electrothermal therapy. The patient tolerated the procedure well and responded favourably with significant and prolonged decrease in her symptoms. She reported sustained reduction in her pain and showed no clinical evidence of early neurological or infectious complications during 18 months of follow-up. This report indicates that intradiscal electrothermal therapy can be performed at multiple levels at a single sitting, compared to intradiscal electrothermal therapy performed at one to two discs at a time, this approach may obviate the need for surgery and may reduce the duration of pain and disability incurred. However, the influence of multilevel intradiscal electrothermal therapy on long-term complications or outcome is not known.
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