Spondylitis Treatment

Treatment of spondylitis should be initiated before development of irreversible damage of joints with an aim to relieve pain and stiffness while preventing any complications and spinal deformity.

Treatment may include any of the following depending upon patient condition and diseases state:

• Oral or intravenous medication is the first step to treat spondylitis and can relieve symptoms like inflammation, pain and stiffness. The choice of drug varies from patient to patient and may include any of the following: 
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen (Naprosyn), celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen and indomethacin (Indocin)
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers like Adalimumab (Humira), Etanercept (Enbrel), Golimumab (Simponi), Infliximab (Remicade)
• Corticosteroids either orally or as injection directly in the joint
• Physical therapy by specific exercises along with proper sleep and walking positions can give relief from pain while improving physical strength and flexibility.
• Surgery is recommended in cases with severe pain or joint damage that has not responded to any kind of conservative management. Mainly total joint replacement or arthroplasty surgery is recommended to remove the damaged joint and replace it with a metal, plastic, or ceramic artificial joint. In case of cervical spondylosis, surgical techniques that may be used include anterior cervical discectomy, cervical laminectomy and prosthetic intervertebral disc replacement.
• Steroid-based injections can also provide short-term pain relief:
  • Cervical epidural block
  • Cervical facet joint block
  • Medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation

Authored by Dr. Shyam Sundar K