![]() ![]() The genes people inherit from their parents can also affect the risk of osteoarthritis developing. People who aren’t very active, don’t have a healthy diet, or are overweight are more likely to get osteoarthritis of the spine. Injuries or other joint problems, such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, can make people more likely to get osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect anyone at any age, but it’s more common in women and people over 50. This can mean that your back or neck don’t move as smoothly as they used to, and they might feel stiff or sore. Osteoarthritis means that the cartilage of your facet joints and discs has got thinner and the surfaces have become rougher. Strong ligaments surround your spine and support the vertebrae, to help keep them in place. The cartilage and discs allow your spine to move with as little friction as possible. There are also discs of cartilage between each of your vertebrae. The ends of your facet joints are covered in a smooth and slippery surface, known as cartilage. The spine is split into five sections – cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx. Its purpose is to protect your spinal cord, carry the weight of your body and help you move around. The spine is sometimes called the vertebral column or spinal column. There are 33 vertebrae in your spine – these start at the top of your neck and run all the way down your back, to your tailbone. You have a number of facet joints that sit on either side of your spine and guide the movement of the bones in your back and neck. Most cases of neck and back pain only last a short while and will improve by themselves, without treatment.Ī joint is where two or more bones meet. Having back or neck pain doesn’t mean you have osteoarthritis. ![]() When these changes happen in one or more of your joints, it’s called osteoarthritis. But sometimes the process your body goes through to repair joints can change their shape or structure. The joints in your body go through a normal cycle of damage and repair during your lifetime. Spondylosis means ‘arthritis in the spine’, and cervical is the medical term for the neck. Osteoarthritis of the neck is sometimes called cervical spondylosis. Osteoarthritis of the spine affects the back and neck. Osteoarthritis (os-tee-o-arth-ri-tus) is the most common type of arthritis, and the spine is one of the most commonly affected parts of the body.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |