There are many different types of causes for arthritis back pain and over 80% of individuals who are 50 or older will suffer from some form of arthritis. Arthritis can occur at any area of the body where two bones have the potential to rub together. Spinal arthritis occurs in the back. The back is constructed of vertebrae, which are connected by cartilage and discs. Other muscles and ligaments attach to the spine and control movement.
Arthritis in the spine occurs when the cartilage or discs wear down. The wear and tear can be from aging, injury, bone spurs, bone overgrowth, or misuse. The pain from arthritis is from swelling when the bones rub together as the cartilage is no longer protecting the joint. Arthritis can cause pain and stiffness in the neck or lower back. Cervical arthritis affects the neck and upper spine. Arthritis in the pelvic and lower back is known as lumbar arthritis.
Individuals who participate in specific activities or have certain lifestyles are much more likely to have spinal arthritis than others. Older individuals, women, athletes, individuals who use their joints a lot for work or play, overweight individuals, and those who have many injuries are at risk to develop arthritis back pain.
Persons who have cancer, liver disease or diabetes, a weakened immune system and infections are more likely to develop spinal arthritis. Women are also more then twice as likely to develop arthritis over men.
Symptoms of spinal arthritis include stiffness, pain, inflammation, back pain that comes and goes, morning spinal stiffness, pain or tenderness in the neck, lower back pain that extends to the thighs, pelvic area or buttocks, pain in the hips, heels, knees or shoulders, crunching feeling or the sound of bone rubbing together, and numbness or weakness in the arms or legs. Walking is sometimes difficult, with limited range of motion and sometimes spinal deformity.
If you are experiencing severe back pain then you should consult your doctor. The doctor will take your medical history and you should give as much detail as possible about when your pain began and any other health issues you may have or have had. Your doctor will usually have you do some simple exercises and you need to inform him or her when it hurts.
The symptoms of spinal arthritis are similar to other more serious diseases so your doctor will have to rule these out first, which may require a lot of tests. Once you receive a proper diagnosis, you can then undergo treatment for arthritis back pain.