What does Arthritis of the Spine (Neck & Back) Feel Like?
Arthritis is a common cause of spinal (neck & back) pain. The most common type of spinal arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA) of the spine, that involves wear and tear or degeneration of the spine. In this blog we will discuss what arthritis of the spine feels like.
 
Watch this video for more details on "What is spinal arthritis?"
 
 
The first sign of arthritis is pain in the spine (neck/back). If your arthritis is present in the lower back, you will have pain in and around the lower back. This pain maybe localised to the spine or may present as a diffuse pain around the lower back tha may extend up to the bottom and hips. It is not uncommon for spinal arthritis to be mistaken for hip joint pain. If your arthritis is present in the neck, you will have pain in and shoulder area, sometimes extending into the shoulder blades and mid back.  
 
The second sign of spinal arthritis is nerve pain (tingling, numbness, burning, heaviness or sensitivity to touch). The bony spurs from arthritis can pinch or irritate the nerves that exit the spine and lead to nerve pain. In the lower back this can be seen as nerve pain in the bottom all the way to the feet and toes (known as lumbar radiculopathy). A typical example of this is sciatica, that is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve in the lumbar spine. In the neck it is seen as nerve pain anywhere from the shoulder to the finger tips (known as cervical radiculopathy).  
 
The third sign of spinal arthritis is stiffness in the spine. It is most prominent in the mornings. As the day goes by the stiffness may get better. Stretching also helps to reduce the stiffness. The next sign of spinal arthritis is closely related to the morning stiffness. It is loss of flexibility. However this is felt throughout the day and doesn’t get better with movement. An example of this is if you could easily pick up something from the floor prior to spinal arthritis it may not be possible now or cause pain or discomfort to do so. Lack of flexibility can be a symptom of many other spinal problems but  it is commonly seen with arthritis of the spine. 
 
The fourth sign of spinal arthritis is crepitus or clicking sound which is seen specially with end of range spinal movements such as bending down to tie your shoe laces or turn your neck to look behind you. 
 
If you suffer from spinal arthritis and have experienced these symptoms you can learn how to manage your back pain and nerve pain, join my free community where we have done a free training on Simple Solutions to Manage your Back/Nerve Pain.

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MEET SWATI

 
Hi there! 
I am Swati, an Executive Mum Power Coach and a Certified Posture Expert. I use my proven system to help mums of younger kids working in high-stress executive jobs manage their back, neck, and nerve pains, despite low energy levels and brain fog. I do all this without taking away a big chunk of their time out of their already busy day. This enables them to be more productive and capable professionals at work and guilt-free mums who can focus on their kids instead of always being distracted by pain. 



My passion for helping executive mums stems from my own experiences. I have been in the same boat and understand the frustration and helplessness of being in constant pain or being afraid to engage in activities due to the fear of pain. After two pregnancies in the span of three years and juggling my two kids, housework, and a demanding job, I was constantly in pain. The weight gain from motherhood added extra stress to my already overburdened spine and joints. I was stuck in a vicious cycle of weight loss and spinal/nerve pain that I just couldn’t break free from.

On top of the physical pain, I also suffered from adrenal fatigue. I often felt exhausted, waking up groggy even after a full night’s (10 to 12 plus hours!) sleep, and struggled with low energy levels and brain fog. Simple tasks became challenging, and I found myself forgetting things and unable to think clearly. It was incredibly frustrating and made it even harder to balance my professional responsibilities and family life.

My work involved long hours of standing during the day, prolonged hours on the laptop in the evening, and lots of running around and rocking my kids to sleep in between. Despite my knowledge and expertise in pain relief, I still found myself unable to escape the constant daily pain and fatigue.

Sitting at a desk job from 9 to 5, or longer, plus endless meetings that seem to go on forever. The frequent traveling, the uncomfortable hotel pillows that make it impossible to get a good night’s sleep—I’ve experienced it all. I remember not being able to share my discomfort at work because I felt like an imposter, talking about pain relief strategies and focusing on work while I was not able to achieve it myself. I didn’t disclose the extent of my pain and forgetfulness to my colleagues for years. Even though I loved my kids and my job, I couldn’t give 100% to either. The discomfort held me back from reaching my full potential, making me feel guilty as a mum and less productive at work. I felt like I was constantly running on empty, unable to catch a break from the pain and exhaustion.

finally got fed up after years of trying and decided to make a New Year’s resolution to get ‘healthy’ instead of focusing solely on my pain, fatigue, forgetfulness, and weight loss. When I shifted my focus to getting healthier by reducing the inflammation in my body and addressing my adrenal fatigue, the pain started to decrease, my energy levels and focus improved, and the pounds started shedding off too! That, of course, meant a happier spine, nerves, joints, and a happier me! Today, my neck, back, and nerve pain are down to zero, my knee pain has reduced by 75%, my brain fog has reduced drastically and my energy levels are higher than ever. I realized that I had been focusing on the wrong solutions for over a decade!

Now, my mission is to share my knowledge of pain relief and managing adrenal fatigue along with my personal experience with other mums, especially those with younger kids who work in high-stress executive jobs. My goal is to help you find lasting relief, boost your energy, and reclaim your life, just as I did. 

If you can relate to all this, you are not alone. As a mum, I have been there and done that—momma, I got you! I’ve helped hundreds of mums in this situation over the years find their solution to manage spinal and joint pains, low energy levels, and brain fog that hold them back. This enables them to feel confidently in control and empowers them to cultivate that confidence and productivity at work and enjoy being with their kids, to be able to run around with them without the fear of injury or pain.

Are you ready for this journey? Ask me how if you are curious.

Let's DO THIS!
xx Swati
** Executive Mum Power Coach **

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