Back Arthritis – Symptoms and Causes
Although most people associate arthritis with being a degenerative disease that affects the hands, hips, or knees, back arthritis is more common than many people think. It’s also referred to as spinal arthritis or osteoarthritis, and it mainly affects older people. Back arthritis can affect any of the joints in the back area. However, the lower portion of the back is where most back arthritis occurs and causes the most pain. The symptoms and pain are first noticed when pressure is placed on the nerves that protrude from the spinal column. As the degeneration becomes worse, so does the pain, and treatment is needed for the pain.
The cause of back arthritis can be that the nerves are pinched. The bones in the spinal column can also put pressure on the nerves which will cause back arthritis. When the canal of the spine where the spinal cord is located becomes narrower due to back arthritis, it’s known as spinal stenosis. This form of back arthritis can cause chronic pain or a numbing sensation in the legs. Most forms of back arthritis are caused by degeneration of the bones and joints, but another form of arthritis known as rheumatoid arthritis, is caused by inflammation and swelling at the site of the pain.
Back arthritis can start when the tissue or disks that cushion the spine, begin to break down. As we age, osteoarthritis can be a serious problem. The joints and bones can change shape, and the edges of the bones can protrude. These bone spurs can put pressure on other regions of the back. When this form of back arthritis begins, the result can be severe pain. The type of back arthritis known as rheumatoid arthritis, ordinarily affects people who are younger, and isn’t as common as other forms of arthritis.
The symptoms that people may experience from back arthritis aren’t always noticeable at the outset of the disease. Back arthritis symptoms can be anywhere in the spinal column and get progressively worse. If the condition is spinal stenosis, relief may come by leaning forward. The symptoms from back arthritis might get worse when standing for long periods of time. Other symptoms from spinal stenosis can be pain that begins in the region of the neck and goes into the arms and shoulders, pain that goes into the buttock and leg region, or severe cramps or a numbing sensation in the legs and arms. A doctor can diagnose the type of arthritis that you suffer from.
