Obesity is a complex health condition that can lead to even more complicated health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 42.4% of Americans are considered obese, and many more face weight challenges that can negatively impact their health.
As an experienced pain specialist, Jose De La Torre, MD, also understands the effect your weight can have on the health of your spine, including the increased risk for spondylosis – a type of degenerative arthritis.
At New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine, Dr. De La Torre provides comprehensive treatment options to relieve spondylosis pain and reduce your risk for additional complications.
Spondylosis develops in your spine when the protective discs or spinal joints break down and wear out. You may also be at increased risk for spondylosis if you have bone spurs, bony projections that develop where the bones in your spine meet each other.
Your weight plays a role in the development of both arthritis and bone spurs. This is because the extra weight you carry around puts unnecessary pressure on the structures in your spine, causing their accelerated breakdown.
Other risk factors for developing spondylosis include:
You might also be at increased risk for spondylosis if you work at a job that requires repetitive spinal movements or if you participate in high-impact sports.
Spondylosis can develop without causing any symptoms. As the condition progresses, you may notice that your spine feels persistently stiff, or you have pain with movements. Other symptoms of spondylosis can include:
You may also hear or feel a grinding sensation when we move your spine. If left untreated, spondylosis can cause the loss of control over your bowels and bladder.
In the early stages of spondylosis, you may benefit from dietary changes and increased exercise to help you lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight.
As a pain management specialist, Dr. De La Torre may also recommend physical therapy to improve the flexibility and strength of your spine to reduce pain naturally. Massage therapy and chiropractic treatments can also minimize pain and increase blood circulation throughout your spine.
If conservative therapies aren’t enough, you may benefit from:
When you have chronic back pain and other symptoms of spondylosis that you can’t treat with conservative therapies, you may be a candidate for surgery.
In addition to weight loss, there are ways to lower your risk for spondylosis. We can work with you on strategies to protect your spine, so you can reduce the likelihood you’ll develop bone spurs or arthritis.
These strategies may include:
If you smoke, you should quit. We can provide you with resources that help you quit smoking for good to protect the long-term health of your spine and reduce your risk for other chronic diseases.
For more spondylosis prevention tips, schedule a consultation online, or call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine today.
