Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis, and it often affects the spine. Read on to learn about how osteoarthritis can impact the spine and what you can do to achieve relief from chronic back pain.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative or non-inflammatory arthritis. It’s the most common type of arthritis to affect the spine, and it develops as a result of wear and tear.
Spinal osteoarthritis damages the cartilage within the joints of the spine, known as facet joints. These joints connect the vertebrae and give the spine flexibility, allowing you to move, twist, and perform all types of day-to-day motions.
Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that protects joints throughout the body by absorbing impact. It also prevents friction between the bones in a joint. With osteoarthritis, this cartilage breaks down, causing increased impact on the bones. As the cartilage wears away, the bones within the facet joints may start to rub together, causing pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
In people with spinal osteoarthritis, the spinal discs may also start to show signs of degeneration. With age and/or wear and tear, the spinal discs become thinner and drier. As a result, they’re less effective as shock absorbers and contribute to symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Lumbar Spine Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis most commonly impacts the lumbar, or lower, spine. This is because the lumbar region is the most flexible part of the spine, and it must bear the most strain with daily activities. The estimated prevalence of lumbar spine osteoarthritis is 40 to 85% of adults in the U.S.
Symptoms of Spinal Osteoarthritis
The symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis can differ from person to person, but typically worsen with certain movements, like bending and twisting the back. In some people, joint pain from osteoarthritis is also worse at night.
Symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis may include:
- Chronic back or neck pain
- Stiffness
- Lost spinal mobility
- Inability to straighten the back
- Swelling and/or tenderness in the spine
- A sensation of grinding with spinal movements
Chiropractic Care for Spinal Osteoarthritis
Chiropractic care is one of the most widely recommended conservative therapies for spinal osteoarthritis. Through manual adjustments, non-surgical spinal decompression, and targeted exercises, your Coral Springs chiropractor can correct spinal misalignments and alleviate inflammation. Proper spinal alignment reduces wear and tear on the spinal structures and may help slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
If you’re suffering from symptoms of osteoarthritis or another form of chronic back pain, schedule an appointment at Wasserman Chiropractic for a personalized treatment plan.
