Arthritis Back Pain

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It is a progressive joint disease characterized by cartilage breakdown.¹ OA can take from several months to several years to reach advanced stages. Your medical provider will assess the symptoms, take X-rays, and do blood work to determine the stage of your OA and the treatment plan.²

OA can occur in the back or neck. Interesting information to know about spinal arthritis:

• Osteoarthritis is the most common type to affect the spine.
• Arthritis can occur anywhere along the spine, but most frequently in the lower back and neck.
• Pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms.
• Spinal arthritis treatment should include physical therapy.

Symptoms of arthritis in the spine differ from person to person, but may include:

• Stiffness and loss of flexibility in the spine.
• Swelling and tenderness over the affected vertebrae.
• Whole-body weakness and fatigue (more common in inflammatory arthritis).
• Pain and numbness in your arms or legs if the nerves have been affected.

Although back pain is a common symptom, not everyone exhibits back pain, even those with advanced arthritis in the spine.

Treatment for spinal arthritis depends on age, level of pain, type and severity of arthritis, and personal health goals. The joint damage is irreversible, so treatment usually is focused on managing pain and prevention of further damage. Physical therapy is helpful to improve back muscle strength and range of motion in the spine.

References:

1. Esposito MJ, Piuzzi NS, Husni ME, Muschler GF, Guarino A, Mont MA. Knee osteoarthritis: A primer. Perm J. 2017; 21:16-183. doi:10.7812/TPP/16-183
2. Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131

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