Arthritis Back Pain

Arthritis & Back Pain

Arthritis in your back is inflammation of the facet joints in the spine.  Inflammation of the sacroiliac joints which link your pelvis and lower spine is another common place for arthritis development. Sometimes, the inflammation may also affect the sites where ligaments and tendons attach to the bones of the spine. Regardless of the exact location, arthritis in the back or neck can be painful and often becomes chronic.

Arthritis Back Pain
Arthritis in the back

See the many vulnerable areas where arthritis can attack the joints in your spine. For example, the facet joints (white pads) on vertebrae can become fused together this is called Facet Arthropathy.

What does arthritis in my back feel like?

Stiffness and loss of flexibility in the spine, such as being unable to straighten your back or turn your neck. Swelling and tenderness over the affected vertebrae. Feeling of grinding when moving the spine. Pain, swelling and stiffness in other areas of the body (especially in inflammatory arthritis)

Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis cause inflammation and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints and resulting in painful deformity and immobility. It not only attacks the back but also in the fingers, wrists, feet, and ankles.

Back pain can also attributed to Osteoarthritis.  Osteoarthritis is degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone, most common from middle age onward. It causes pain and stiffness in more areas than your spine it is also prevalent in the hip, knee, and thumb joints.

Is there a cure for arthritis related back pain?

There is no cure for arthritis of the spine.  Although, treatments can improve inflammation and joint function also make your joint pain more tolerable. If you are dealing with back pain contact Carolinas Pain Center in Charlotte or Huntersville, NC. Our pain specialists will ensure you receive an individualized, multidisciplinary approach to care and a personal treatment plan.

Many people who have arthritis or a related disease may be living with chronic pain. Pain is chronic when it lasts three to six months or longer, but this pain can last a lifetime. It may be constant, or it may come and go.

References

Eric J. Roseen, DC MSc, Michael P. LaValley, PhD, Shanshan Li, ScD, Robert B. Saper, MD MPH, David T. Felson, MD MPH, Lisa Fredman, PhD, and For the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures2019 Jan; 34(1): 90–97. Published online 2018 Oct 22. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4680-7  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6318166/
2020 Sep; 161(1): S138–S146. Published online 2020 Aug 19. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001923