If you’ve been experiencing ongoing back pain, stiffness, or reduced flexibility, you might be dealing with spinal arthritis, a condition that affects the joints in your spinal column and can make daily movement a challenge. This article will help you understand what spinal arthritis is, what causes it, how it’s diagnosed, and the most effective treatment and prevention strategies available.
At Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine in Granville and Coshocton, Ohio, our spine specialists provide comprehensive care to help patients find relief and regain mobility. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Spinal arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the facet joints, the small joints in the spinal column that allow movement and flexibility. Over time, these joints slowly erode due to degenerative changes or inflammation, leading to stiffness and painful symptoms. Arthritis can affect multiple joints in the lumbar spine (lower back) or cervical spine (neck).
There are several types of arthritis that can develop in the spine, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the joints, while osteoarthritis develops as joints wear down over time. According to the CDC, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to affect the spine.
The most common arthritis symptoms in the spine include the following:
Patients with symptomatic spinal arthritis may also experience tingling or numbness if the condition leads to spinal stenosis, where the spinal canal narrows and compresses nearby nerves. Because these symptoms overlap with other spinal conditions, it’s important to have a health care team identify the exact cause.
Spinal arthritis can develop for several reasons, depending on the type. It often involves inflammation, degenerative changes, or an autoimmune disorder that affects the facet joints in the spinal column. Understanding the cause helps your health care team identify the best medical treatment options for your condition.
Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage that cushions the facet joints wears down over time. As the joints slowly erode, bones rub together, leading to painful symptoms, including stiffness and ongoing back pain.
Common risk factors include the following:
Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage that cushions the facet joints wears down over time. As the joints slowly erode, bones rub together, leading to painful symptoms, including stiffness and ongoing back pain.
Common risk factors include the following:
Spondyloarthritis refers to inflammatory conditions like psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, which affect the lower spine and sacroiliac joints. Inflammation from these autoimmune disorders can lead to stiffness, degenerative changes, and sometimes spinal fusion.
Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage that cushions the facet joints wears down over time. As the joints slowly erode, bones rub together, leading to painful symptoms, including stiffness and ongoing back pain.
Common risk factors include the following:
A proper diagnosis begins with a thorough physical examination and a review of the patient’s reported symptoms. Your doctor may order diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to look for joint space narrowing, bone spurs, or inflammation around the facet joints and lumbar spine.
In some cases, lab tests may be used to identify autoimmune markers associated with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Accurate diagnosis ensures that your health care team can distinguish spinal arthritis from other causes of ongoing back pain and design the most effective care plan.
At Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine, we emphasize treating spinal arthritis with a combination of conservative medical options and advanced interventions. The goal is to relieve pain, improve mobility, and medically manage arthritis symptoms to preserve quality of life.
Conservative options for treating symptomatic spinal arthritis often begin with the following:
If non-surgical options no longer control symptoms, your spine surgeon may discuss surgery with you. Surgical options range from minimally invasive procedures to spinal fusion. While every surgical procedure carries risk, it may become necessary when joints slowly erode or nerve compression causes painful symptoms that don’t respond to non-surgical care.
While not everybody can prevent spinal arthritis, focusing on joint health and lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Try the following to prevent spinal arthritis:
Taking proactive steps can help you reduce pain and limit the risk of degenerative changes that cause painful symptoms later in life.
If you’re struggling with symptomatic spinal arthritis or ongoing back pain, our specialists at Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine in Granville and Coshocton, Ohio, are here to help. Our expert health care team will work with you to design an individualized treatment plan using the latest medical treatment options, from physical therapy to spinal arthritis surgery. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Medically reviewed by Eric Erb, MD
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If your back pain feels worse after rest, improves slightly with movement, or is accompanied by stiffness and limited flexibility, you could have spinal arthritis. However, other spine conditions like spinal stenosis or disc issues can feel similar. A proper diagnosis requires a medical evaluation, including diagnostic imaging and a review of your symptoms by your health care team.
There’s no permanent cure for spinal arthritis, but symptoms can be effectively managed. Many patients find significant relief through physical therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy body weight. For advanced cases, spinal arthritis surgery or spinal fusion may be recommended to relieve pain and stabilize the spine.
You should see a spine surgeon or orthopedic specialist if your back pain lasts longer than a few weeks, interferes with daily activity, or radiates to other areas. Early consultation can help you relieve the symptoms and, in some cases, prevent the condition from getting worse.
