Arthritis affects millions of people each year worldwide.  It can cause debilitating effects for the person who is afflicted, causing varying degrees of symptoms and disability.

 Many people worry that certain pain they are having may be something more serious, such as in that case of arthritis low back pain. Arthritis in the lumbar spine, or the lower back, is a common problem and one which can cause a variety of symptoms.

Lumbar spine arthritis is more common in older people, but it can also be found in other age groups as well.  Some of the people who are more prone to developing arthritis in the lower back, besides the older population, include people who are obese, those who are involved in heavy labor, and those who have suffered a previous injury to their spine.

Arthritis of the lumbar spine happens in the joints that connect each segment of the spinal column, or the vertebrae.  When the joints become arthritic, movement in the back becomes stiff and painful.  Lumbar spine arthritis is sometimes found along with other spinal conditions such as disc degeneration and spinal stenosis.

Lumbar spine arthritis normally causes the symptoms of stiffness in the lower back and often severe pain.  The stiffness is especially noticeable in the morning as they get out of bed, but can sometimes become more loosened up throughout the day.  Sometimes strenuous activity and prolonged use of the lower back muscles can cause symptoms to become worse.

If lumbar facet arthritis worsens, it can result in the joints forming bone spurs and the tissue becoming inflamed.  These joints contain nerves around them which can become pinched resulting in a disorder called spinal stenosis.  This condition is seen often in patients with arthritis of the lower back.

The treatment options that are offered will depend on the severity of the person’s symptoms.  Treatment always starts with more simple measures to be sure that the patient can tolerate them and find relief.  Some of the methods of treatment include physical therapy, chiropractic care, anti-inflammatory medicine, weight loss, alternative treatment (acupuncture, magnet therapy, natural remedies, and massage), ice and heat applications, epidural injections of steroid medicine and spinal fusion surgery.  Surgery is normally a last resort after relief has not been found through other methods of treatment.

Of all the symptoms of lumbar spine arthritis, low back pain can be the most difficult to manage and live with.  The constant pain and stiffness can be the cause of much stress and can seriously alter a person’s way of life.  It is important to recognize symptoms and begin treatment early to ensure that the progression of the disease is slowed down.  Finding a treatment that works may take some time as everyone will have different levels of pain and treatment requirements.

Published by Relief  For Back Pain

Other Relevant Posts:

Three Different Forms of Arthritis

The most common symptom is a loss of flexibility in the lumbar spine and in more severe cases, inflammation of the eye, fever, fatigue, weight loss or anaemia. Although it can be debilitating and painful an early diagnosis and treatment …

 Arthritis Is Making a Killing in a Maturing Market

I well remember the day I ceded control of my spinal column. Years ago, I bent over at the waist with my daughter in one arm to pick up my house keys. I felt a disturbance in my lumbar force that felt like lava running down my spine. …

 Alternative Medicine And Back Pain

Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. However, arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the small joints of the spine. Arthritis of the spine can cause back pain with movement. …

Chair Massage Can Contribute In Treatment Of Arthritis

When you have arthritis, muscle and soft tissue become tends and are difficult to bend. Some cases of lumbar spine arthritis have been reported for spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis and disc degeneration. …

Lumbar Laminectomy for Lower Back Pain

Facet arthritis and/or cysts. The surgery is usually performed under local anaesthesia. The patient lies face-down on the operating table. This then opens the lumbar spine for inspection and operation. …

Low Back Pain Relief With A Massage Chair For Arthritis

Of all the symptoms of lumbar spine arthritis, low back pain can be the most difficult to manage and live with. The constant pain and stiffness can be the cause of much stress and can seriously alter a persons way of life. …

Cervical Spine Arthritis

Dr. Jeffrey Wang, M.D., is the Chief of Spine Surgery and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurology at the UCLA School of Medicine. He specializes in all spine disorders in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar area. …  

Arthritis Pain Relief for Ankylosing Spondylitis 

A dramatic loss of flexibility in the lumbar spine is usually the first symptom of this disease. Arthritis might also be present in the hips, feet and shoulders. The symptoms often mimic those of other more likely back problems, …

Technorati Tags: arthritis, arthritis lumbar spine, arthritis o, back pain, chair massage, lower back pain, lumbar laminectomy, lumbar spine, lumbar spine arthritis, magnetic resonance imaging, spinal column, treatment arthritis

Free Back Pain Video and eBook

Low back pain can sometimes be traced back to a degenerative disc problem in the spinal column.  In order to understand why the pain happens it’s first important to understand how the spinal column is formed.  The spinal column is a vertical row of small round bones that are interconnected or articulated so that the bone can bend.  Through the center of the these round bones runs the spinal cord which is a bundle of nerves that travels from the base of the brain out to the rest of the body.  The spinal column protects the cord and gives the body flexibility and mobility.

Between each of the round bones, called vertebrae, are soft discs.  These discs are there to cushion the motion between the bones so there isn’t bone rubbing on bone during motion.

Degenerative changes to the spinal column are common and the intervertebral discs are one structure that is prone to those changes.  They are associated with wear and tear, aging and misuse such as smoking.  Long before any changes might be evident on imaging studies there are biochemical and structural changes that may seem to be similar to osteoarthritis.

The term degenerative disc disease refers to the changes to the discs which causes low back pain.  But, despite the rather dramatic label, this condition is very common among individuals.  It is estimated that approximately 30% of 30 to 50 year old people will have some degree of degeneration of the disc space.  And, after a person reaches age 60 this finding is expected and the exception.

Although the description of degenerative disc disease appears to be straight forward there is some degree of disagreement in the medical community about the description and the implications, especially when x-ray findings indicate changes in a young adult.   But, while there is some debate about the disease itself it is known how the changes in the spine cause pain.

Generally the pain that is associated with degenerative disc disease and low back pain are thought to stem from two different factors.  These factors are the inflammation from the changes to the disc and abnormal micromotion instability.

When inflammation occurs in the body there is release of chemicals that irritates the musculature which results in spasms of the muscles around the area.  If one of the out rings of the disc is damaged or worn it isn’t as effective in resisting motion in the spine.  This micromotion instability isn’t associated with gross instability such as a slipped disc but still causes pain or discomfort in the area.

Both the micromotion instability and the inflammation cause muscle spasms in the lower back.  As the body attempts to stability the lower back the muscles spasm further creating more pain.  This cycle is a reflex of the body and although it isn’t necessary to protect the nerve roots it can also be painful and result in an individual who appears crooked from one area of the back to the next as the muscle spasms pull the back out of alignment.

Published by Relief For Back Pain

Other Relevant Posts:

Low Back Segmental Stiffness

With time and repeated episodes of pain and degenerative changes which occur in the discs and facet joints, the back can become stiff and develop chronic back pain. Gravity tends to force fluid out of the disc under load and is …

BACK PAIN

Many a times sudden movements can cause back pain. There is the risk of spinal disc herniation and spinal disc degeneration disease. The other probable causes could be trauma, cancer, osteoporosis, infection, injury and inflammatory …  .

Neck Solutions » Aging of the cervical spine

Patients who developed neck pain and stiff shoulder during 10 years demonstrated significantly more frequent progression of structural disc degeneration on MRI.

Symptoms of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

Chronic low back pain may be a sign of lumbar degenerative disc disease. Symptoms of this common condition include lower back pain & numbness or tingling in the legs.

Relief For Low Back Pain

Surgical procedures are also part of lower back pain treatments. Surgery may be required to treat problems related to degenerative spinal discs and problems related to spinal alignment.

A Little Ignorance Regarding Back Pain Can Spell Doom For You

If you are concerned with learning about general “Back Pain ” information or “Back Pain Accupuncture” or even other related subjects like “Back Pain Doctor”, or “Degenerative Disk Disease”, this article will clearly throw some …

Technorati Tags: back pain, bundle of nerves, chronic back pain, degenerative changes to spinal column, degenerative disc disease, degenerative disc problem, Low Back Pain, osteoarthritis, spinal column, spinal cord, vertebrae