Asking your doctor to ascertain a spinal arthritis diagnosis is an important step prior to implementing any treatment plan for back or neck pain. Spinal arthritis can produce a number of symptoms that are similar to those associated with other spinal conditions or health problems, so it's important for a medical professional to correctly identify arthritis as the pain-inducing culprit. Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor can suggest a course of treatments tailored to your specific needs to help alleviate your symptoms.
Choosing a Specialist
You'll likely make an appointment with your family doctor or primary care physician (PCP) if you have pain in your back or neck that does not subside after a few days. This is a beneficial first step in ascertaining a spinal arthritis diagnosis, as your PCP should be familiar with your medical history and be able to readily recognize any deviation in your general health. However, your PCP may want to get a second opinion from another medical professional before confirming that you have spinal arthritis. He or she may refer you to one or more spine specialists for evaluation, depending on your situation.
There are several types of spinal arthritis specialists, so it can be helpful to research the medical professional(s) that your primary care physician believes can best help you. Spinal arthritis specialists can include:
Orthopedists - An orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in issues with the entire musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, muscles, joints, connective tissues, and other elements that provide stability, form, and support to the body.
Neurologists - Neurologists focus specifically on disorders of the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and the network of millions of nerves throughout the body. Spinal arthritis may cause nerve problems, particularly if a facet joint's medial branch nerves are inflamed due to bone-on-bone grinding, or osteophytes (bone spurs) have developed and come in contact with the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Rheumatologists - These specialists mainly diagnose and treat arthritis, along with other disorders of the joints, muscles, and bones. Rheumatologists are well-prepared to ascertain a spinal arthritis diagnosis.
Diagnosis
Spinal arthritis usually presents with symptoms of pain, joint stiffness, and reduced range of motion, tenderness, and inflammation. Once your PCP has referred you to a spinal arthritis specialist, you'll likely meet with the specialist who will perform a physical examination and medical history. The specialist will ask you about the frequency, severity, and location of your symptoms, and what actions or activities increase or decrease pain. The physical examination may include testing your reflexes, muscle strength, and flexibility. If your spine specialist is close to determining a spinal arthritis diagnosis, an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan may be ordered to confirm the presence of cartilage loss, damaged bone, and any bone spurs that may have developed.
Treatments
If your spine specialist has confirmed a spinal arthritis diagnosis, he or she may initially suggest a number of conservative (non-surgical) treatments. Such treatment methods usually include rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, low-impact exercise, and cold/hot therapies. In cases of severe pain and inflammation, your doctor or spine specialist may suggest facet joint injections, during which anti-inflammatory steroidal and numbing anesthetic medications are injected directly into one or more arthritic joints. Fortunately, conservative treatments are often able to alleviate spinal arthritis pain after several weeks or months of application and surgery is rarely required.
