Low Back Arthritis
About Lower Back Arthritis
The spine is composed of bones stacked one on top of the other from the pelvis to the skull. These bones do not touch in front as the spinal discs separate them. They touch posteriorly at joints known as ‘facets joints’ at every level of the spine. These joints, like any other joint in the body, are subject to ‘wear and tear’ degeneration which increases with age. As discs degenerate they lose water and flatten out providing a decreased ‘cushioning’ effect in the spine. This flattening out causes the facet joints to bear more of the body’s weight increasing osteoarthritic change in these joints.
Arthritis in the spine often begins to appear around the age of 40 and increases in prevalence with increasing age. Various injuries to the back over time can contribute. Because your lower back bears a great amount of your bodyweight, the lower back is the most common location of arthritis back pain.
Symptoms of Lower Back Arthritis
Arthritis of the spine may cause stiffness or pain in the neck or back. Bending, twisting, and rotational movements can be especially painful. Arthritic spine pain typically ebbs and flows with symptoms being particularly severe some days with few symptoms on others. It is generally worse with prolonged positioning either sitting, standing or lying. Holding one position for too long brings on the typical sense of stiffness characteristic of arthritic pain. It is often worse first thing in the morning and gets better with activity. In addition to the physical symptoms it is not uncommon to become depressed or feel helpless if they are hindered in daily recreational and lifestyle activities or even compromised in their work and job performance.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Lower Back Arthritis
Therapeutic exercises that increase flexibility, range of motion and strength are the front line treatment for arthritic spine pain. For some people, especially those that cannot tolerate exercise, daily medications and spinal injections may be helpful to some extent.
To learn more and get help for back arthritis please Schedule an Appointment with Regenerative Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialist Daniel Southern, M.D. in Danbury or Wilton in Fairfield County Connecticut by calling 203-456-5717.
Surgical Treatment for Lower Back
Surgical treatment for arthritis of the spine consists of spinal fusion which aims to eliminate painful motion at the facet joints. This surgery has a notably prolonged recovery and is associated with very mixed results when performed for back pain.
To learn more and get help for low back arthritis please Schedule an Appointment with Regenerative Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialist Daniel Southern, M.D. in Danbury or Wilton in Fairfield County Connecticut by calling 203-456-5717.
Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine Treatment for Lower Back Arthritis
Regenexx® Procedures provide non-surgical treatment options for those suffering from pain related to osteoarthritis, joint injuries, spine pain, overuse conditions, and common sports injuries. These medical procedures are only performed by highly-skilled doctors and are used to help reduce pain and improve function. Regenexx procedures have helped thousands of patients improve their quality of life, return to the activities they enjoy, and avoid the need for surgery or joint replacement*.
Regenexx Physicians represent a very selective, highly-skilled, interventional orthobiologics network that is 100% focused on orthopedic conditions. All Regenexx physicians are musculoskeletal experts with extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, as well as complex, image-guided injections of your body's own healing agents to treat orthopedic issues. Regenexx patient outcomes are tracked in a registry and with that information, we provide transparent outcome data (below) for those who may be considering this treatment option.
Want to find out if you are a Regenexx Candidate? Complete the Candidate Form.
