arthritis of the back

Spinal arthritis typically occurs when cartilage breakdown causes inflammation and irritation of the surrounding nerves. Depending on which type of arthritis you have your physician may recommend different treatments. Ankylosing spondylitis, often referred to as spinal arthritis, is a rheumatic condition that causes inflammation in the spine and elsewhere.

Neurontin is used to treat neuropathic pain - pain caused by irritation or inflammation of the nerves. Physicians can also recommend anti-inflammatory drugs such as Tylenol and other NSAIDS to treat inflammation if it is present. A 2005 study suggested that taking NSAID'S regularly rather than just when you're in pain may work better if you have ankylosing spondylitis. They may also suggest Remicade or Embrel; two more powerful anti-inflammatory drugs.

Because pain often causes reduced flexibility which impairs blood flows and inhibits repair agents from reaching the injured site some physicians often recommend doing non weight bearing stretching in pools. The buoyancy of the water relieves the friction on the  joints - allowing arthritis patients a degree of flexibility not found out of the water; pool therapy is sometimes referred to as ‘floating traction'.  Pain and stiffness can also be relieved by heat and massage. 

Cort

Neurontin is a common treatment for people with neuropathic pain, which tends to respond poorly to traditional pain medications. Arthritis can cause nociceptive pain (the more common form of pain) through joint inflammation, but it can also cause neuropathic pain when degenerative changes in the spine compress or irritate nerve roots exiting the spine.

You should inform your doctor if neurontin hasn't provided any pain relief. He or she may recommend you try it a little longer (depending on how long it has been) because sometimes the full effect isn't achieved for weeks. Your doctor may also want to add another agent because neuropathic pain often responds better to a combination of pain medications rather than just one drug.

Medications used to treat neuropathic pain include neurontin and the following:

Antidepressants  

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs- nortriptyline, desipramine, Amitriptyline), SSNRI antidepressants (selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors- duloxetine and venlafaxine)

Anticonvulsants (neurontin, lamotrigine)

Topical anesthetics (lidocaine patches)

Antiarrhythmics (mexiletine)

Opioid analgesics (tramadol, morphine, fentanyl)

*Tramadol actually combines the effects of TCAs with opioid analgesia and tends to be well received by patients.