Dr. Sundeep Kund Reddy

Spondylitis includes swelling of the vertebra. It happens because of wear and tear of the ligament and bones found in your cervical spine, which is in your neck. While it is to a great extent because of age, it can be brought on by other reasons too. Side effects incorporate pain and stiffness starting from the neck to the lower back. The spine's bones (vertebrae) get fused, bringing about an unbending spine. These changes might be mellow or extreme, and may prompt a stooped-over posture. Some of the non-surgical methods to treat spondylitis are as follows-

1. Exercise based recovery/physiotherapy: Your specialist may send you to a physiotherapist for treatment. Non-intrusive treatment helps you extend your neck and shoulder muscles. This makes them more grounded and at last, relieves pain. You may neck traction, which includes using weights to build the space between the cervical joints and decreasing pressure on the cervical disc and nerve roots.
2. Medications: Your specialist may prescribe you certain medicines if over-the-counter medications do not work. These include:
   1. Muscle relaxants, for example, cyclobenzaprine, to treat muscle fits
   2. Opiates, for example, hydrocodone, for pain relief
   3. Epileptic medications, for example, gabapentin, to ease pain created by nerve damage
   4. Steroid infusions, for example, prednisone, to decrease tissue irritation and diminish pain
3. Home treatment: In case your condition is less severe, you can attempt a couple of things at home to treat it:
   1. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, for example, acetaminophen or a calming medication, for example, Advil or Aleve.
   2. Use a warming cushion or an ice pack on your neck to give pain alleviation to sore muscles.
   3. Exercise routinely to help you recover quickly.
   4. Wear a delicate neck prop or neckline to get transitory help. In any case, you shouldn't wear a neck brace for temporary pain relief.
4. Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a highly effective treatment used to mitigate back and neck pain. Little needles, about the extent of a human hair, are embedded into particular points on the back. Every needle might be whirled electrically or warmed to improve the impact of the treatment. Acupuncture works by prompting the body to deliver chemicals that decrease pain.
5. Bed Rest: Severe instances of spondylitis may require bed rest for close to 1-3 days. Long-term bed rest is avoided as it puts the patient at danger for profound vein thrombosis (DVT, blood clots in the legs).
6. Support/brace use: Temporary bracing (1 week) may help get rid of the symptoms, however, long-term use is not encouraged. Supports worn for a long time weaken the spinal muscles and can increase pain if not continually worn. Exercise based recovery is more beneficial as it reinforces the muscles.
7. Lifestyle: Losing weight and eating nutritious food with consistent workouts can help. Quitting smoking is essential healthy habits to help the spine function properly at any age. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a pain management specialist.