Spinal Arthritis

Arthritis Overview

Spinal Arthritis or Spondylosis is a degenerative joint condition that causes slow deterioration of cartilage. Arthritis of the spine results in narrowed cartilage disks between the bones that make up your backbone. Without this cartilage cushioning, the joints (facets) between adjacent bones compress and become irregular, causing inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness. Your body tries to compensate for this form of arthritis, but the repairs are often inadequate, resulting in growth of additional bone called bone spurs. 90% of people suffer from some form of arthritis of one area or another.

Cervical spondylosis or spinal arthritis is a common condition that results from degeneration (osteoarthritis) of the bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). This can lead to increasing pain in the neck and arm, weakness, and changes in sensation.

Degenerative Disc Disease - As we age, the water and protein content of the body's cartilage changes. This change results in weaker, more fragile and thin cartilage. Because both the discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae (facet joints) are partly composed of cartilage, these areas are subject to wear and tear over time (degenerative changes). The gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae is referred to as Degenerative Disc Disease.

What to do now if I have back pain?

Knowing what causes back problems is one of the best ways to avoid them. Educating yourself on the causes of spine arthritis can help you avoid activities that might result in back pain and ensure your spine stays healthy and strong for years to come.

Treatment options for my back pain.

Most people with spinal arthritis will likely be able to manage their symptoms non-surgically with the help of a conservative treatment regimen. Your doctor may suggest pain medication, hot-cold compresses, and gentle stretching, among others. If weeks or months of these treatments fail to offer you lasting pain relief contact us... We have a variety of minimally invasive procedures that offer a welcome alternative to the risks and lengthy recuperation of an open spine surgery. Request a free review of your MRI or CT scan today.

Alternative treatment of spinal arthritis

Alternative conservative treatments are wide-ranging including massage, stretching, and therapy modalities among many. Before choosing your options it is good to work with your doctor in developing a treatment plan.

• Conservative – Ideal for mild cases of spinal arthritis, conservative treatments can include hot therapy, cold therapy, low-impact exercises like swimming and walking, over-the-counter pain medication, hydrotherapy, or braces.
• Holistic types of treatments focus on balancing the body’s overall health, both physical and psychological. Examples include yoga, massage, acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, biofeedback, and chiropractic work.
• Pain Management – These techniques offer more targeted pain relief for individuals suffering from moderate to severe spinal arthritis. In most cases, it’s best to get a referral for a pain management specialist from your primary care physician. Treatments might include prescription medication, TENS treatment, pain patches, epidural steroid injections, or ultrasound therapy.

If weeks or months of the above non-operative treatment methods do not help you to achieve lasting relief from arthritis pain, your doctor may suggest that you consider surgery. Before committing to any procedure, gather all of the facts about minimally invasive outpatient alternatives. For more information, contact us.

Back Pain

Spine Arthritis Can Cause Back Pain:

Spinal Arthritis - The most common causes of low back pain are from a Pinched Nerve or Nerve Impingement. This is caused when pressure or impingement is created on the nerve roots in the spinal canal.

Pressure or impingement on nerve roots in the Spinal canal can be caused by:

Herniated Disc - A herniated disc, (also called bulging disc or slipped disc) is a rupture that extrudes into the spinal canal often brought on by repeated vibration or motion (as during machine use or sport activity, or when lifting improperly), or by a sudden heavy strain or increased pressure to the lower back. Back pain and leg pain can result when the herniated disc pinches one of the nerves. A herniated disc in the lumbar region can affect the nerves, which runs from your Spinal cord to your leg. Compression or inflammation of this nerve causes Sciatica - a sharp, shooting pain in your lower back, buttocks and leg. A herniated disc is also referred to as a bulging disc, ruptured disc or slipped disc. As a disc degenerates, it can herniate (the inner core extrudes) back into the spinal canal. The light blue oval area is the disc and it is bulging into the spinal canal on the lower right side of the disc. A lumbar herniated disc can cause pain to radiate all the way down the legs and into the foot. In the area of the cervical spine, a cervical herniated disc may cause the pain to radiate from the neck down the arm into the fingers.

Diagnosis

Spinal arthritis may be asymptomatic. Your doctor may relate your symptoms and limitations of daily living to the MRI or CT scan of your back to make the diagnosis of symptomatic spinal arthritis.

Treatment of spinal arthritis

• Spinal arthritis may ebb and flow with the intensity of the pain and symptoms. Non-prescription anti-inflammatory medications and exercise may be sufficient to decrease the symptoms.
• Conservative treatment from the physician for spinal arthritis may include more powerful anti-inflammatory drugs by prescription, cortisone injections in o the epidural space, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and continue your home exercise regimen. When these options fail, spine surgery may be an option.
• Before you make a decision about surgical treatment of spinal arthritis, you should check out the modern minimally invasive options for surgery. To learn more about what we do or receive a free MRI review contact us.

Types of Spine Arthritis

There are different types of Spinal Arthritis.  Arthritis of the Spine can severely effect your quality of life and comfort.  

Different types of Spine Arthritis include:

Degenerative Arthritis

Osteoarthritis of the Spine

• Degenerative arthritis of the spine is a common condition related to “wear and tear” or degeneration of the bones and soft tissue of the spine. Arthritis most often occurs due to natural ageing process but may occur with rheumatoid arthritis and sometimes due to hereditary factors.
• Symptoms of degenerative arthritis may be mild or in severe spinal arthritis may be disabling. The symptoms are pain and stiffness of the involved area of the spine. There may be popping and catching with motion and often the motion is limited in the spine. Also symptoms of numbness and weakness of the extremities may be related to inflammatory swelling pressing on the nerves to the arm or leg.
• If you have been diagnosed with spine arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and have tried other therapies with no success, it may be time for you to consider a minimally invasive procedure as a treatment option? The spine arthritis treatment page demonstrates how minimally invasive techniques work to treat symptoms caused by arthritis of the spine. Contact us today to receive a free MRI or CT scan review,

Cervical Spine Arthritis

Neck Arthritis

• Cervical spondylosis is a common condition affecting the neck that results from degeneration (osteoarthritis) of the bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). It often occurs related to natural aging process but can be due to hereditary conditions. Symptoms of cervical spinal arthritis may range from mild to disabling. Symptoms of cervical arthritis may be pain and throbbing in the neck, catching or popping sensations, Limited range of motion, and sometimes a feeling of bone rubbing on bone. This can lead to increasing pain in the neck and arm, weakness, and changes in sensation.
• If you have been diagnosed with cervical spine arthritis or cervical rheumatoid arthritis and have tried other therapies with no success, it may be time for you to consider a minimally invasive procedure as a treatment option? The spine arthritis treatment page demonstrates how minimally invasive techniques work to treat symptoms caused by arthritis of the spine. Contact us today to receive a free MRI or CT scan review, and ask us how we can help you restore your activities of daily living.

Cervical Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine

• The neck is the most common site for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. It is not know why the neck is more commonly targeted by the disease. It is caused by swelling and inflammation of the facet joints at multiple levels in the neck. It is more common in women and there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. The primary environmental risk factor is smoking.
• Rheumatoid arthritis causes symptoms of stiffness and pain and may or may not have associated arm pain from radiculopathy from nerve compression by swollen joints.
• Despite the more severe joint deterioration with rheumatoid arthritis, the same conservative treatments as degenerative arthritis are used for rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally medications such as Methotrexate, Prednisone, and biologic disease modifying agents for rheumatoid disease (DMARD’s) are most effective.
• Exercise to strengthen the neck muscles
• Over-the-counter or prescription pain medicine
• Anti-inflammatory injections
• Chiropractic therapy
• Massage

Lumbar Spine Arthritis

Arthritis in the Lower Spine

• Low back arthritis is the most common source of low back pain and symptoms. This condition is related to degenerative changes of the facet joints and degenerative disc disease. While it is considered a natural part of getting older, the pain and stiffness of spine arthritis can greatly limit one’s ability to lead a carefree, active lifestyle, so those who have this condition are often searching for the most effective treatments available.
• Symptoms of lumbar spine arthritis are pain and stiffness of the low back. These symptoms may be associated with pain of the buttock and leg that is sciatica or radiculopathy.
• Cause of lumbar spine arthritis symptoms may be prolonged sitting or standing or increased strenuous activities. Your doctor may recommend you avoid such activities until comfortable again.
• Treatment options include several ways for treating symptoms of the disease. Some of these options include weight loss, exercise, chiropractic therapy, and massage. More severe arthritis can require spinal injections, prescription medications, or physical therapy. If conservative treatment methods fail to provide relief of symptoms, surgery is an option.
• If you have been diagnosed with lumbar spine arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and have tried other therapies with no success, it may be time for you to consider a minimally invasive procedure as a treatment option

The spine arthritis treatment page demonstrates how minimally invasive techniques work to treat symptoms caused by arthritis of the spine.  Contact us today to receive a free MRI or CT scan review, and ask us how we can help you restore your activities of daily living.

Spinal Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine affects the joints of the spine particularly the two joints called facet joints at each level of the cervical thoracic and lumbar spine Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disorder, which means the body’s immune system – which normally protects from colds and flu attacks the body’s tissues such as the joints of the spine.
• The facet joints in the spine (like other joints in the body) are coated with a thin lining of tissue called the synovium, or synovial membrane. Cells in the synovium constantly produce synovial fluid which lubricates the facet joints. Spinal rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks the synovium in the facet joints, causing the membrane to become inflamed and thick. As the facet joints swell, it also can lead to damage of cartilage on the joints. Without the lubrication and protection of synovial fluid and cartilage, facet joints become stiff, swollen, painful, and damaged. Spinal muscles and ligaments also might weaken as the arthritis progresses.
• Rheumatoid arthritis also can lead to spinal stenosis. This means the open spaces in the spinal column that allow nerves to travel to other parts of the body become constricted due to arthritic inflammation primarily of the involved facet joints, exerting painful amounts of pressure on the nerves.
• Spinal rheumatoid arthritis is not as common as the more usual osteoarthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis is in general more debilitating.

Symptoms of spinal rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Fatigue
• Warm joints in the back causing pain
• Fever
• Deformity of the spine scoliosis kyphosis
• Swelling and tenderness
• Trouble walking
• Ankylosis or stiffness

Doctors are not sure what causes spinal rheumatoid arthritis, but there may be a genetic factor involved. After your doctor has used a full physical and imaging to arrive at a diagnosis of spinal arthritis, you may find that rest, gentle massage, light chiropractic work, and anti-inflammatory medications help relieve your symptoms. . Additionally medications such as Methotrexate, Prednisone, and biologic disease modifying agents for rheumatoid disease (DMARD’s) are most effective.

Unfortunately, as the symptoms of this disorder become more severe, conventional treatments will prove less efficacious. If you are considering surgery, you may find information under treatment of spinal arthrits that describes our minimally invasive procedures that may be able to help you rediscover a life without pain. Contact us now to find out more, and to receive a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Causes

Spine Arthritis Can Be Caused By:

• Causes of spinal arthritis are usually either degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis. Degenerative arthritis occurs with aging and is most commonly associated with women. Injury may aggravate underlying degenerative arthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is related to the immune system turning against one’s own tissues causing swelling and inflammation of joints.
• Both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis can cause pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness of the joints, which can negatively impact the lifestyle.

If you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis of the spine and have tried other traditional forms of treatment but still experience pain or limited mobility, you may find information under treatment of spinal arthritis that describes our minimally invasive procedures that may be able to help you rediscover a life without pain. Contact us now to find out more, and to receive a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Symptoms

Spine Arthritis Symptoms Include:

• Symptoms of spine arthritis may occur at any site in the spine from the neck to the thoracic spine and the lumbar spine.  The symptoms are usually stiffness and pain in the spine. Associated pain and numbness in either the arm or leg may signal compression of nerves related to inflammation of the spinal joints the facet joint and or the disc itself.
• Arthritis of the spine may limit your ability to work, travel, and enjoy leisure time, but there are numerous treatment options available. Most patients benefit from conservative treatments like exercise, rest, medication, or chiropractic care. However, for those who experience severe spine arthritis symptoms or are non-responsive to traditional treatment methods, surgery may be an option.

If you have been diagnosed with lumbar spine arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and have tried other therapies with no success, it may be time for you to consider a minimally invasive procedure as a treatment option?  The spine arthritis treatment page demonstrates how minimally invasive techniques work to treat symptoms caused by arthritis of the spine.

Treatments

Spinal arthritis may ebb and flow with the intensity of the pain and symptoms. Non-prescription anti-inflammatory medications and exercise may be sufficient to decrease the symptoms.

Conservative treatment from the physician for spinal arthritis may include more powerful anti-inflammatory drugs by prescription, cortisone injections in the epidural space, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and continue your home exercise regimen.  When these options fail, spine surgery may be an option.

Before you make a decision about surgical treatment of spinal arthritis, you should check out the modern minimally invasive options for surgery. To learn more about what we do or receive a free MRI review contact us.

Surgical Treatments for Spinal arthritis

• Many spine arthritis treatments are available to relieve symptoms of spinal arthritis effectively, although there is no cure for this disease. The goal of a spinal arthritis treatment is to slow the progression of the disease, stop the pain, decrease other symptoms, increase joint function, and preserve range of motion. Your doctor will first assess the severity of your condition and factor in your age and overall health before designing a treatment plan that’s right for you.
• Most symptoms of spinal arthritis are treated using conservative methods like exercise, rest, massage, ice and heat applications, or weight loss. Your doctor may recommend medications for spine arthritis, which can be either over-the-counter or prescription, depending on the severity of the symptoms. More advanced cases of spinal arthritis may require physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, or spinal injections to alleviate pain and restore mobility. If non-surgical treatments for spine arthritis fail to relieve symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery.
• If your doctor suggests surgery as a treatment option, it’s always a good idea to explore all the procedures available to you so that you are able to make a wise decision about your health. If you’d like more information on our spine arthritis treatments, contact us and ask us about our free MRI or CT scan review.

Traditional Back Surgery for Spine

• Surgical treatments for spinal arthritis are used in cases where conservative, non-surgical treatments have been exhausted and the patient still has chronic and acute pain and limitation of activities even walking. Depending on the severity of the condition, the surgical treatment will involve decompression and possibly a spinal fusion.
• “Decompression surgery" is a broad term used to describe a number of procedures that are designed to relieve symptoms caused by pressure on a nerve root or the spinal cord. During a decompression, a surgeon will remove any bone matter, disc materials or other debris placing pressure on the nerve root and spinal cord to relieve spine arthritis symptoms like pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in the back or extremities. Common decompression surgeries include laminectomy, foraminotomy, discectomy, and others.
• Sometimes an open-back decompression surgery will leave the spine unstable or structurally unsound, depending on the type of procedure performed. In this case, the patient may require a spinal fusion. During a spinal fusion, bone grafts or hardware such as screws and rods are inserted into the spine for support and to force two or more vertebra to grow together as a single unit.
• Spinal fusion and decompression both come with some negative side effects, and both are generally performed in a hospital using general anesthesia. These surgeries also involve large incisions and damage to muscle and tissue, so infection risk can be high and the recovery time can take up to a year or more.
• You can receive minimally invasive surgical treatments for spinal arthritis. These procedures use state-of-the-art technology to allow for a drastically shorter recovery time than traditional back surgery. We can perform these surgeries for spinal arthritis and a number of other back and neck problems. If you’re tired of living your life in pain, contact us to learn more about what we may do for you.

Spinal Arthritis Surgery

The idea of spinal arthritis surgery may sound like the right choice when you feel so bad and cannot do anything you normally do.. Surgery is a life changing event that can affect you physically, socially, and in the wallet. It may affect your ability to return to work, and your activities of daily living.  It is important to learn as much as possible before you decide that spinal arthritis surgery is the right treatment option for you.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with spinal arthritis and is suggesting that spinal arthritis surgery may be a way to relieve your pain, some common procedures include:

• Laminectomy – removal of lamina (the bony roof of the vertebral arch) and also the removal of bone spurs (osteophytes) that cause nerve compression
• Spinal fusion – joining, through bone graft or hardware, of two or more vertebrae; meant to eliminate mobility and pain, and also used to bolster spine when bone has been removed in procedures like a laminectomy or foraminotomy
• Osteotomy  a type of realignment by cutting across the vertebra to correct mal-alignment of the spine.
• Foraminotomy – a form of spinal arthritis surgery that enlarges neural foramen by removing significant amounts of bone

Usually, the above options for spinal arthritis surgery are traditional, open surgeries that require general anesthesia, hospital stays, and longer recovery periods. If you feel that these may not be the right options for you, there are other alternative minimally-invasive procedures that can help you rediscover a life without pain. Contact us today to learn how and for a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Spine Arthritis

Non-surgical treatments are usually the first options a doctor will consider when managing spine arthritis and other back and neck problems. Because conservative treatments help the majority of patients, doctors only recommend surgery as a last resort. Whether you’re suffering from sciatica, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the spine, or any other back and neck condition, the conservative treatment options are often the same, and include:

• Physical therapy is the first step in treatment of spinal arthritis. Physical therapy may be a home program or a referral to a therapist.   It should improve flexibility and mobility while increasing strength. Typical physical therapy treatments include exercise, massage, electrical stimulation, heat therapy, hydrotherapy (aquatic therapy) and more.
• Chiropractic care – Chiropractic care will likely include the adjustment of the spine in order to treat back and neck pain. Chiropractic care also includes many of the physical therapy modalities and exercises. Chiropractors employ such techniques as applied pressure, massage, and manual manipulation (adjustment) of the vertebrae and joints.
• Pain management – Many types of acute or chronic back pain can be alleviated with such treatments as injections, drugs and medications, spinal bracing and others.
• Alternative medicine – Alternative medicine is a broad term used to describe non-traditional therapies including acupuncture, acupressure, yoga, biofeedback, and more. Some people report experiencing relief from alternative medicine.

If you are interested in a non-surgical treatment for your spinal arthritis, it is very important to check with your doctor before starting any treatment program. All treatments carry the risk of side effects and further injury to your spine and neck, so you should always remain in a doctor’s care throughout the treatment process.

General measures you may lessen the severity of the pain of spine arthritis. These include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Maintaining proper posture
• Remaining active and avoiding any extended periods of inactivity
• Quitting smoking, as smoking impairs blood flow resulting in nutrient and oxygen loss in spinal tissues
• Wearing comfortable, low-heeled shoes
• Sleeping on a mattress of medium firmness to reduce curvature of the spine

If you’ve tried non-surgical treatments but are still experiencing back or neck pain due to spine arthritis, it may be time to consider a minimally invasive surgical procedure.. For more information on the types of procedures we provide please contact us.

Medications for Spine Arthritis

In general your physician will prescribe anti-inflammatory medications for the spine arthritis. These may be such medications as Motrin or Naprosyn, medications that work directly on the spine arthritis. Short courses of cortisone also may be helpful. Another category of medications is pain medications. If the pain is more severe and not controlled by the anti inflammatory medications, pain medications may be prescribed.

• If your arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune type of spinal arthritis, medications such as Methotrexate, Prednisone, and biologic disease modifying agents for rheumatoid disease (DMARD’s) are most effective for joint and spinal discomfort.
• The pain associated with arthritis can seriously affect your life, but you don’t have to live with it forever. If you’ve tried medications for spine arthritis without success, there are other safe and effective options. Minimally invasive surgeries work to treat symptoms of spinal arthritis and other back problems with a high success rate.

Spinal Arthritis Exercises

Neck Arthritis Exercises

• Spinal arthritis exercises can be an important part of any physical therapy program aimed at relieving the pain that accompanies spinal arthritis. An arthritic joint means that the joint has either degenerated (osteoarthritis) or inflamed (spinal rheumatoid arthritis), causing every movement of the joint to be extremely painful. Spinal arthritis exercises should, therefore, be aimed at strengthening muscles and ligaments around the joint so that a weight burden can be removed from the arthritic area – and at increasing general flexibility so that you can experience as much joint mobility and pain relief as possible.
• It is important to consult with your doctor before attempting any exercise for your spinal arthritis, as some exercises could make you worse.
• Gentle range of motion of the Neck and back  gently moving the head from side to side, then practice bending forwards and backwards
• Do small arm circles and pendulum swings can keep the lumbar (lower) and cervical (upper) regions of your spine flexible.
• Aerobic exercise: build endurance without doing high-impact activities by swimming easy laps in a pool or training on an elliptical machine.
• Meditation: Very light stretching and rhythmic breathing can help calm your mind and body.

Spinal Arthritis Pain Relief

If you are one of millions suffering daily with the pain of spinal arthritis you realize there must be a treatment for your pain. You should seek a diagnosis of your problem. It may be spinal arthritis of degenerative or rheumatoid type. It may be spinal stenosis causing pressure on your nerves to the arm or leg. There may be inherited factors that will influence your painful condition.

• Spinal arthritis pain relief treatments might include mild chiropractic therapies that focus on the joints of the spine so that tension is released and circulation is increased. Strength-building exercises can help bolster the spine so that arthritic joints don’t have to support so much weight. Low-impact activities such as walking, gentle stretching, or swimming can help build endurance. Steroid injections may temporarily help pain that results from joint swelling and can also help your doctor to pinpoint the exact location of the afflicted joint.
• If these conventional forms of pain relief do not prove effective, your physician may suggest that you consider a major open-back surgery. These surgeries may include Laminectomy or fusion surgery.  There are minimally invasive surgical alternatives to large open surgeries. Please contact us for more information.

Neck Arthritis Treatment

Treatment of the neck arthritis by your doctor will depend on the severity of your neck pain, arm radiculopathy pain, and limitation of range of motion. The most common course of treatment for neck arthritis symptoms is conservative, or non-surgical, methods. When a patient’s neck mobility or radiculopathy remains compromised after conservative treatments, or if chronic pain persists, your physician may suggest surgery as an option.

There is no known cure for arthritis, and most patients will experience long-term intermittent or it may become constant effects from this disease. When a person is diagnosed with neck arthritis, or cervical osteoarthritis, most physicians offer options for conservative neck arthritis treatment, including:

• Physical therapy – Exercise to strengthen the neck muscles
• Hot or cold therapy – Heat pads to increase circulation or cold pads to reduce swelling
• Pain medicine – Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as well as prescription pain killers
• Anti-inflammatory injections – Cortisone or steroidal solutions to numb pain
• Behavior modification – Avoiding activity that might exacerbate neck arthritis symptoms
• Chiropractic therapy – Including traction or non-surgical spinal decompression therapy
• Others – Acupuncture, massage, cervical pillows

If cervical spine arthritis pain deteriorates quality of life significantly after months of conservative treatment, they may begin to look into surgical treatment. Spinal decompression surgery is treatment of irritated nerve roots that become compressed as the spinal structure degenerates.  This procedure is designed to take the pressure off those nerves, thereby reducing irritation and pain.

Minimally invasive treatments of neck arthritis treatment can help you get your life back.

Prevention

Osteoarthritis Prevention

• Prevention of spinal arthritis is not completely possible. Spinal arthritis is not curable but the symptoms may be diminished by prevention of bending, lifting, and twisting activities that aggravate the arthritis.
• There are arthritis prevention steps you can take to help lessen the chance you'll have to deal with this potentially debilitating condition. Staying at a proper weight, eating right, exercising, getting adequate rest, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can all help to keep your joints strong and healthy, and there are some supplements you can take that claim to help joint health.
• If weeks or months of these treatments fail to offer you lasting pain relief contact us... We have a variety of minimally invasive procedures that offer a welcome alternative to the risks and lengthy recuperation of an open spine surgery. Request a free review of your MRI or CT scan today.

Risk Factors

The following are Arthritis risk factors for both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis.

To best understand the risk factors of spinal arthritis one should understand that spinal arthritis is a degenerative condition related to aging and seen more frequently in the female and older patients. . Below are some more details on the causes of this condition:

• Aging – Deterioration of joint cartilage can begin as early as age 30, but accelerates after age  50.
• Gender – In general, spinal arthritis is more common in post-menopausal women.
• Obesity – Excess weight put stress on the facet joints, contributing to cartilage deterioration.
• Other Disease – Gout, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and infections can cause spinal arthritis.
• Genetics – A family history of arthritis or other abnormal joint conditions increases your risk.
• We have a variety of minimally invasive procedures that offer a welcome alternative to the risks and lengthy recuperation of an open spine surgery.

Request a free review of your MRI or CT scan today.

Resources for Spine Arthritis

Millions of people suffer from back and neck pain due to degenerative spinal arthritis, also called spinal osteoarthritis. You may have wondered what causes arthritis of the spine. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not an autoimmune disease. It is a “wear and tear” degenerative condition that can be accelerated by a variety of factors, including aging, gender, obesity, disease, and genetic predisposition.

Arthritis of the spine is characterized by the gradual breakdown of the cartilage that surrounds the facet joints, which are the hinges that allow adjacent vertebrae to articulate. Bone spurs, or osteophytes, can develop in arthritic joints, which may lead to spinal stenosis and painful neural compression. Below are some more details on the causes of this condition:

• Aging – Deterioration of joint cartilage can begin as early as age 30, but accelerates after age  50.
• Gender – In general, spinal arthritis is more common in post-menopausal women.
• Obesity – Excess weight put stress on the facet joints, contributing to cartilage deterioration.
• Other Disease – Gout, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and infections can cause spinal arthritis.

Genetics – A family history of arthritis or other abnormal joint conditions increases your risk.