Arthritis of the Spine
Arthritis is a term that collectively describes a variety of diseases causing pain, tenderness, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, as well as abnormalities in various soft tissues of the body. Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from various forms of arthritis. Arthritis also contributes to the majority of all physical disabilities.
There are many types of arthritis, but the most common, most painful, and most frequently disabling type of arthritis is osteoarthritis.
“Osteo-” means “bone,” and this type of arthritis mostly affects the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees, as well as joints in the hands, feet, and spine. A healthy joint is a hinge at the end of bones and is usually coated by cartilage and lubricated by synovial fluid. Normally, joints move easily with very little friction, but natural degeneration of the joint can cause the cartilage to become rough and worn out. This can result in joint halves rubbing against one another, causing inflammation, the formation of bone spurs, stiffness and pain. Furthermore, the lubricating synovial fluid of the joint may become thin and the joint’s synovial lining can become inflamed.
Up to 30 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, mostly women and typically those over 45 or 50 years old. This condition appears to affect all races equally.
Osteoarthritis may be associated with degenerative disc disease, (a gradual deterioration of the shock-absorbing discs between the vertebrae of the spine) and is even confused with it in some cases. This is because osteoarthritis and degenerated discs are often found together. However, these are two separate conditions.
Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the joints in the spine. Generally speaking, spinal arthritis occurs in the facet joints (also called vertebral joints). These joints connect vertebrae together and are located in the posterior (rear) portion of the spine. Facet joints facilitate movement in the spine such as bending, twisting, and stretching, but these joints can thicken and harden with age, which can lead to arthritis. Being diagnosed with arthritis of the spine typically means that there has been a cartilage breakdown on facet joints, which can cause slight to severe pain. This pain can potentially radiate to other areas of the body such as the buttocks or upper thighs. The facet joints can become inflamed, and progressive joint degeneration creates even more frictional pain. The resulting back pain can decrease back motion and flexibility while standing, sitting and even walking.
