What Kind Of Arthritis Is In The Lower Back

Who Gets Osteoarthritis Of The Spine

In general, osteoarthritis happens as people get older. Younger people may get it from one of several different causes:

• injury or trauma to a joint
• a genetic defect involving cartilage

For people younger than age 45, osteoarthritis is more common among men. After age 45, osteoarthritis is more common among women. Osteoarthritis occurs more often among people who are overweight. It also occurs more frequently in those who have jobs or do sports that put repetitive stress on certain joints.

Contact Spine Institute Of North America For Your Spinal Pain Consultation

No matter the level of spinal pain or discomfort you feel, Spine Institute of North America 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. To learn more about arthritis in the back and how we can help, call us at 609-371-9100 or set up an appointment for a consultation today.

Pain In Your Buttocks May Be Due To Arthritis Here Are The Clues To Look Out For

When you have arthritis, buttoning a shirt or fastening a clasp can be a pain in the butt. So is folding laundry with achy joints, blow drying your hair or even signing paperwork. But then there is genuine pain that can occur in your buttocks and it may be caused by arthritis.

The buttock is a large area, with many different structures within it, explains Claudette Lajam, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with NYU Langone medical centre in New York City. The giant muscle at the surface of the buttocks is called the gluteus maximus. It overlies other layers of muscle and two major joints: the hip joint and sacroiliac joints, which are situated on each side of your spine and connect the sacrum to the ilium .

Buttock pain may indicate a problem in either of the sacroiliac joints, the lumbar spine , the muscles of the pelvis or any of those other layers, says Dr Lajam, who also serves as spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

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The Best Exercises For Arthritis Back Pain

Arthritis can feel like a real pain in the back. In fact, the back is the most common source of pain among all individuals.

Unlike acute, or short-term back pain, arthritis can mean long-term chronic discomfort.

Symptoms that may accompany back pain include:

• rashes
• swelling
• tingling

Your symptoms may be so severe that you dont feel like moving. But with your doctors consent, you may find that exercise can be one of the best ways to relieve arthritis back pain.

Are There Any Complications

Some people who have osteoarthritis in their neck might have problems swallowing or when they speak, but this is not very common. This can be caused by bony spurs affecting blood supply to the spinal cord.

If you have osteoarthritis of the spine, you may have other problems that may need treating. Let your doctor know urgently if you:

• have trouble going for a wee, or feel like you need a wee when you dont
• lose control of your bladder or bowel the organs that control wee and poo
• have feelings of numbness or tingling around your genitals or bottom
• lose power in your legs
• feel unwell like having a fever or sweating.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition that happens when the spinal canal, which contains the spinal cord, gets narrower. The most common symptoms are pain and weakness or numbness in the area linked to the affected part of the spine such as the legs, arms, neck, back or shoulders.

Spinal stenosis is often caused by osteoarthritis, as the bony spurs that form on the edge of the vertebrae can irritate the nerves in your spine. It can usually be treated with exercise, over-the-counter drugs and steroid injections.

Sometimes surgery will be needed to remove the spurs and make space in the vertebral column.

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Can This Injury Or Condition Be Prevented

OA occurs as you age, but is not a direct result of getting older. There are many factors that may put you at risk of developing OA, including your family history. Other factors include exposure to risks at work such as assuming prolonged or awkward positions and smoking. Regular conditioning and strengthening exercises will improve the ability of your muscles to work and may help prevent OA of the spine.

How To Ease Buttock Pain From Arthritis

If youre experiencing buttock pain and youre not sure why, its a good idea to make an appointment with your GP. They may refer you to a rheumatologist or orthopedic doctor depending on your symptoms and circumstances.

If youre already diagnosed with arthritis and are experiencing buttock pain thats new or different, its important to let your doctor know. You might have an additional kind of arthritis or injury alongside your current diagnosis.

Step one for buttock pain treatment is following your arthritis treatment plan, says Dr Lajam. Taking your medication as prescribed and maintaining a healthy weight can help relieve buttock pain caused by arthritis. Your doctor may recommend steroid injections in affected joints to help relieve the related buttock pain.

Staying active is highly recommended for managing your buttock pain. Exercises that help stretch and strengthen low back, hip and buttock muscles can also ease your pain. Your doctor may advise physical therapy which can be customised for your needs.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Spinal Arthritis

Symptoms of spinal arthritis may differ from person to person. In general, they may include:

• Back and neck pain, especially in the lower back

• Stiffness and loss of flexibility in the spine, such as being unable to straighten your back or turn your neck

• Swelling and tenderness over the affected vertebrae

• Feeling of grinding when moving the spine

• Pain, swelling and stiffness in other areas of the body

• Whole-body weakness and fatigue

• Pain and numbness in your arms or legs if the nerves are affected

• Headaches

Although back pain is a common symptom, not all people have it, even those with advanced spinal arthritis. On the other hand, some may experience pain even before arthritis can be seen on an X-ray.

In certain types of spondyloarthritis, eye inflammation may occur, causing pain, watery eyes and blurred vision.

How Is It Diagnosed

Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation and ask you questions in order to form a clear picture of your individual situation. These questions may include:

• Your past and current health and use of medication.
• How you are functioning in your daily life.
• How your symptoms came about.
• How long you have had symptoms.
• Where the symptoms are located.
• How and when pain occurs.

Your physical therapist will then conduct a physical examination and may:

• Evaluate your posture and measure the range of motion of your spine.
• Assess the movement of the spine and extremities in the involved area.
• Check your nerve function with reflex, sensation, and strength testing.
• Observe how you move during commonly performed activities.
• Check your balance to determine your risk of falling.

The information learned in your evaluation will help your physical therapist prescribe a program to ease your discomfort, boost your quality of life, and get you moving your best.

If your physical therapist suspects that your pain might be caused by an underlying condition, they may request imaging testing such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI from your doctor. Your therapist may also refer you to your doctorfor further evaluation. Your physical therapist will work with your doctor to provide the best diagnosis and treatment.

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Who Should I See For Lower Back Pain

Your primary care physician knows you best and should be your first contact for lower back pain. If he or she is unable to diagnose or treat the issue, you may get referred to a specialist, such as a rehabilitation physician . These specialists practice a comprehensive approach to lower back pain, and can diagnose and treat a variety of conditions that have lower back pain as a symptom.

Later, you may get referred to a physical therapist, a chiropractor or another practitioner depending on the nature of your back pain. The good news is that surgery is rarely needed for lower back pain. Only about one in ten patients needs lower back surgery, Chhatre says.

Osteoarthritis Of The Back/spine

Spinal OA can make it hard to get around. Treatment can ease your back pain.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the back. It can occur anywhere along the spine. Usually the low back and sometimes the neck are affected.

In OA, the cartilage that pads the ends of the bones wears down. In spinal OA, this occurs in the facet joints small joints located between and behind vertebrae.

When you move, the bones rub together painfully. Bony growths form in the joints. These spurs can press on nerves, causing more pain.

Causes of Back/Spine OA

The cause of OA is unknown. Some common factors that play a role in OA include:

• Age: The older you are the greater your chance of having OA.
• Weight: People who are overweight are more likely to have OA.
• Stress: Repeated joint stress from work or sports can increase your risk.
• Injury: A back injury can lead to OA.
• Genetics: Some people have a family history of OA.

Symptoms of Back/Spine OA

Symptoms usually start slowly and get worse as time goes by. Pain and stiffness may be worst when you first wake up or after sitting for a long time. Pain can also get bad after being very active.

• Stiffness and a loss of flexibility: Turning your neck or straightening your back may be tough.
• Pain: Your low back is the most common site of pain.
• Crepitus: You may have a feeling of grinding when moving.
• Tenderness and swelling: Your back along the affected joints may be sore to the touch.

Diagnosing Back/Spine OA

Non-Drug Treatments

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Arthritis In Neck And Back

Back and neck pain can be experienced by anyone suffering from arthritis. Pain on your back and neck can be an indication that your chest muscles are tightened and weakened due to your condition. However, when dealing with arthritis in neck and back, there are exercises that you can opt for to help you manage your condition and alleviate its symptoms. Continue reading

Which Lifestyle Factors Contribute To Lower Back Pain

There are three major lifestyle factors that may affect your chances of developing lower back pain:

• Multiple studies have established a link between smoking and lower back pain. Smoking raises inflammation inside the body and hinders the body from healing itself.
• Obesity is also associated with several types of chronic pain, including lower back pain. In people with high body mass index , the stress on the spine increases, contributing to even more wear and tear.
• Your level of physical activity can also play a role in your lower back health. While a sedentary lifestyle could increase your risk of developing lower back pain, so can excessive or strenuous physical activity. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about your ideal level of physical activity.

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Questions To Ask The Doctor About Medications:

• What will the medication do?
• How long will it take before I notice results?
• What is the name of the medication? Is there a generic brand?
• Are there side effects I should know about?
• How should I take the medication ?
• How often should I take the medication?
• What should I do if I forget to take a dose at the specified time?
• Let your doctor know if you are taking other medications. Sometimes certain medications cannot be taken together.

Symptoms Of Arthritis In Lower Back And Hips

When we think of arthritis, we think of joint issues in senior people. While senior citizens do suffer the most from arthritis, it isnt exclusive to any age group, nor is it a single condition describing a specific type of joint related issue. There are several different types of arthritis that affect different age groups.

If you are someone who experiences chronic joint pain, you should be aware of arthritis. In this article, well try to give you a detailed description of arthritis, and its symptoms in lower back and hips.

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Weight Loss Exercise And Diet

Think about the extra pounds people carry every day due to their being overweight. This puts added pressure and strain on the back and stomach muscles, causing those muscles to stretch and weaken. Weak back and stomach muscles cannot support the back properly. Poor posture can shift your body out of balance. This forces only a few muscles and joints to do all the work. Without proper exercise, muscles become weak and tire easily. Exercise is necessary to keep the back strong and limber. A good conditioning exercise program led by a trained instructor can be particularly helpful. An effective program includes a warm-up period about 30 minutes of aerobic activity isolated muscle group work and a cool-down period. Over a period of time, the rewards of regular aerobic workouts can include a slimmer waistline and healthier back.

Reactive Or Enteropathic Arthritis

Both reactive and enteropathic arthritis are tied to lumbar arthritis symptoms.

Reactive arthritis is triggered by an infection in your body. It typically results after a bacterial infection, such as chlamydia or salmonella.

Enteropathic arthritis is typically tied to inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.

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Early Signs Of Arthritis In The Back

Arthritis in the back arises due to the inflammation of facet joints in the spine or sacroiliac joints between the spine and the pelvis. The main reasons for arthritis in the back include

• Wear and tear
• Professions involving lifting heavy machines or loads

Some of the early signs of arthritis in the back include

Some of the late signs of arthritis in the back include

• Pain that radiates to the arms and legs
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of bowel or bladder function
• Loss of coordination or changes in the ability to walk
• Severe back spasm
• Kyphosis

Arthritis And Back Pain

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are specific types of arthritis that primarily affect the spine and cause back pain. These conditions, which are known as spondyloarthropathies, include:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Pagets disease of bone
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis

If you suffer from a form of arthritis that causes lower back pain, an that is specially designed to treat your condition.

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Prescription Medication And Surgery

If OTC medications arent easing your symptoms, your doctor may recommend corticosteroids or muscle relaxants. Corticosteroids are used to control inflammation, and muscle relaxants are used to minimize muscle spasms.

Your doctor will only recommend surgery as a last resort. Its typically only needed in cases where the bones have fused together or where the pain is so extreme that it prevents any range of motion.

Arthritis In Back Relief

Various physical therapies can provide relief against arthritis in back. You may try doing tai chi and yoga exercises to relieve your condition. Finding an arthritis back relief is actually very easy, as there are various alternative treatments available for you including the following: Continue reading

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Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment May Include:

• MedicationsAs with more common osteoarthritis, treatment often begins with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications . Although most patients’ symptoms respond well to anti-inflammatory medication, these drugs do not treat the underlying disease. Sometimes medications are not strong enough.Unlike osteoarthritis, in inflammatory arthritis, certain medications can affect the actual disease. For example, TNF-blocking drugs may help block a protein that can cause inflammation . Adalimumab , etanercept and ixekizumab are three types of TNF-blockers that may stop disease progression.
• Physical therapy, therapeutic exercise Physical therapy stresses proper posture, joint mobility, and deep breathing. Some patients may develop forward posture therefore, postural training and extension exercise is helpful. Stretching and range of motion exercise helps keep the facet and rib joints mobile. Additionally, deep breathing expands the chest and aids lung function.

Surgery For Back Arthritis

Surgery is a last resort when it comes to arthritis in the back. Know that 95 percent of people with back pain will not need surgery, and 75 percent will fully recover within three months, says Dr. Tiso.

Doctors recommend that you try medications, physical therapy, and weight loss before considering surgery, says Dr. Kilian. The best surgical outcomes often occur in patients who are actively involved in physical therapy and have a healthy body weight, he says.

The type of surgery depends on the type of arthritis and region of the back that is affected. Depending on the procedure performed, surgery aims to decompress any pinched nerves and free up the nerve roots from bone spurs and other tissues that may be pressing on them.

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