What does arthritis feel like in your back

Is long-lasting pain in your lower back and hips becoming a normal part of your life? Pain in the lower back and hips can be related to a number of conditions, so it’s important to pay attention to the symptoms to understand what may be affecting you. Often, this pain is related to osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the cartilage in your joints to wear down. It frequently affects the hips and lower back. While osteoarthritis can affect the hips and lower back separately, it often affects them both at the same time, which is why you may be experiencing pain in these areas.

Symptoms of hip arthritis

The symptoms of arthritis in the hips include:

• Pain and stiffness in the hips
• Stiffness after sitting for a while
• Stiffness when getting out of bed
• Feeling of grinding or crunching in the joint
• Difficulty bending or using the hips for physical activity

Some of these symptoms can also be shared with other conditions that cause hip pain like bursitis or tendinitis. A doctor can examine your symptoms and order tests like an MRI scan to confirm whether the source of your pain is arthritis.

Symptoms of lower back arthritis

The symptoms of lower back arthritis are similar to that of the hips. They include:

• Pain and stiffness in the spine
• Limited range of motion in the spine
• Swelling
• Grinding and crunching in the spine
• Pain, numbness, and tingling in the nerves in or around your lower back

A number of conditions cause lower back pain. Even sitting for too long can cause lower back pain. However, a doctor can examine your symptoms and run tests to confirm if the source of your back pain is arthritis.

Treatment for lower back and hip arthritis

Depending on the severity of your arthritis, all you may need is some medication or to stretch and exercise. However, many people with arthritis in the lower back and hips can benefit from orthopedic surgery.

Orthopedic surgeons can replace damaged hip joints or discs in the spine with artificial ones. They can also remove damaged tissue and bone fragments created by arthritis.

In the spine, arthritis can exert pressure on the nerves, which is painful and causes other issues. Surgeons have procedures that help reduce this pressure so you can continue to use your spine with less pain.

Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute today for arthritis treatment

Are you tired of suffering from long-lasting pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips? It’s time to talk to an orthopedic specialist at the Florida Spine and Joint Institute about finding the right treatment. Contact us today for more information about arthritis in the back and hips or to schedule an initial appointment.

Spinal arthritis causes stiffness and lower back pain and may be related to autoimmune disorders, infection, wear and tear, and other conditions. Spinal arthritis is inflammation of the sacroiliac joints between the spine and pelvis or facet joints in the spine.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the causes and symptoms of spinal arthritis, as well as how it’s diagnosed and treated. We’ll also define the three different types of spinal arthritis, also called lumbar arthritis.

 

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Spinal Arthritis Causes

Genetic components have been identified in select forms of spinal arthritis, meaning some researchers believe it may be hereditary. The cause of arthritis in the back or neck can also vary depending on the type of arthritis.

Causes of spinal arthritis may include:

• Osteoarthritis, or OA
• Psoriatic arthritis, or PsA
• Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA
• Osteoporosis
• Enteropathic arthritis
• Spondyloarthritis

Risk Factors for Arthritis in the Back

Risk factors for spinal arthritis include:

• Excess weight or obesity
• Age
• Presence of certain conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis, gout, tuberculosis, Lyme disease and diabetes

Spinal Arthritis Symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis in the back vary from person to person. In general, symptoms may include:

• The feeling of grinding when moving the spine.
• Back and neck pain, especially in the lower back.
• Tenderness and swelling over the infected vertebrae.
• Headaches, in the case of arthritis in the neck.
• Numbness and pain in your legs or arms if the nerves are affected.
• Loss of flexibility and stiffness in the spine, such as not being able to turn your neck or straighten your back.
• Stiffness, swelling and pain in other areas of the body. This is especially the case in inflammatory arthritis.
• Body fatigue and weakness — this is more common in inflammatory arthritis.

How Is Spinal Arthritis Diagnosed?

Your physician may use some or all of the following diagnostic methods to confirm lumbar arthritis:

• Joint aspiration, or the testing of the synovial fluid inside the joint
• X-rays of the spine to locate the arthritic joint
• Physical exam and medical history
• Blood tests for genetic markers and/or RA antibodies
• Myelography, ST scan, MRI, bone scan and/or ultrasound to locate the damage, rule out alternate causes or detect spinal cord and nerve involvement

Types of Spinal Arthritis

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, and most of them affect the neck or back. Here, we’ll take you through three types of spinal arthritis:

1. Spondyloarthritis

Spondyloarthritis is a set of inflammatory diseases that exert influence on both the locations and joints where the tendons and ligaments attach to the bones. There are many forms of spondyloarthritis, including:

• Reactive arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Enteropathic arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Juvenile spondyloarthritis
• Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Spine 

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the synovium, or the joint lining.

Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is considered an inflammatory arthritis because it is not caused by wear and tear. It may cause pain in the back and other joints, even when they are not in use.

3. Osteoarthritis of the Spine

Osteoarthritis of the spine is a breakdown of the discs, joints and cartilage in the lower back and neck. At times, osteoarthritis can cause weakness and pain in the legs or arms.

What Can Be Done for Arthritis in the Back?

Conventional approaches to ease arthritis back pain may include:

• Alternative treatments such as acupuncture or chiropractic manipulation.
• Medications to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
• Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support the back.
• Regular exercise and weight loss, which can increase the flexibility and strength of back muscles.
• Surgical treatment to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves or spine.

How Bad Is Arthritis for Your Back?

Arthritis of the spine leads to severe inflammation and pain and can make it difficult for you to sit, stand or walk.

If you are diagnosed with spinal arthritis, your facet joints, which facilitate movement in the spine, have experienced cartilage breakdown.

Contact Spine INA for Your Spinal Pain Consultation

No matter the level of spinal pain or discomfort you feel, Spine INA understands and is here to help. Our physicians specialize in alleviating back and joint pain and are committed to providing an honest, empathetic and personalized approach.

We are leaders in spine and joint pain, and we use the most cutting-edge technology and the least invasive techniques. 

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