Spinal osteoarthritis means the normal degeneration of our discs and joints in the spine as we age naturally, just like osteoarthritis in our knees and hips.
Similar to our knee and hip joints, this natural gradual degeneration can be hastened by abnormal and/or repeated stresses on our spine, both at work and at play. Examples include:
- strenuous impacting or lifting activities like running and weights
- chronic sustained "bent" postures like mobile phone or computer use
- falls or injuries to the neck or back
Till date there is NO medical treatment to reverse or "cure" osteoarthritis as it is a naturally progressive ageing process (surgery does NOT cure it, instead it artificially replaces or fuses the joints to stop the pain) hence successful management of the abovementioned risk factors is the only way to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and avoid early surgery.
