Patient Information Library

Arthritis of the Spine

What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a general term that describes many different diseases causing tenderness, pain, swelling, and stiffness of joints as well as abnormalities of various soft tissues of the body. Various forms of arthritis affect nearly 50 million Americans and contribute to the majority of all physical disabilities. The term arthritis comes from "arthros", which means a joint and its attachments, and "-itis" meaning inflammation.

Arthritis affects approximately 90% of people over the age of 55 in the United States. It is estimated that by the year 2020, over 60 million people will suffer from this often-disabling problem.

Arthritis can affect any part of the body, including the spine. There are many forms of arthritis but the most common, the most frequently disabling, and often the most painful is osteoarthritis. Osteo- (meaning bone) arthritis mostly affects the weight bearing joints (hips and knees) plus the hands, feet and spine. Normal joints are hinges at the ends of bones usually covered by cartilage and lubricated inside a closed sack by synovial fluid. Normally, joints have remarkably little friction and move easily. With degeneration of the joint, the cartilage becomes rough and worn out, causing the joint halves to rub against each other, creating inflammation with pain and the formation of bone spurs. The fluid lubricant may become thin and the joint lining swollen and inflamed.

Types of Arthritis: Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is also sometimes confused, or may be associated, with degenerative disc disease; a gradual deterioration of the disc(s) between the vertebrae of the spine. This is because osteoarthritis and degenerated discs are commonly found together. However, they are separate conditions.

Osteoarthritis affects up to 30 million Americans, mostly women and usually those over 45 or 50 years of age. All races in the U.S. appear to be equally affected.

Another type of spinal arthritis occurs in the facet joints. The facet joints are the joints that connect two vertebrae together. These joints are located in the posterior aspect of the spine. The facet joints can commonly develop thickening and hardening with age, which can lead to arthritis. Arthritis in the facet joints can cause slight to severe pain, sometimes radiating into the buttocks or upper thighs.

Spinal arthritis breaks down the cartilage between the aligning facet joints in the back portion of the spine and quite often leads to pain. The facet joints (also called vertebral joints) become inflamed and progressive joint degeneration creates more frictional pain. Back motion and flexibility decrease in proportion to the progression of back pain induced while standing, sitting and even walking.

Type of Arthritis: Spinal Arthritis
Over time, bone spurs (small irregular growths on the bone also called osteophytes) typically form on the facet joints and even around the spinal vertebrae. These bone spurs are a response to joint instability and are nature's attempt to help return stability to the joint. The enlargement of the normal bony structure indicates degeneration of the spine. Bone spurs are also seen as a normal part of aging and do not directly cause pain, but may become so large they cause irritation or entrapment of nerves passing through spinal structures. The result may be diminished room for the nerves to pass; developing into a condition known as spinal stenosis.

If you suspect your back pain is being caused by arthritis of the spine, it may be a good idea to take a look at our arthritis symptoms page (Jody, is there a link for this?) to confirm your suspicions. This page has detailed information provided by LSI's staff of world leading experts.

Arthritis/Bone Spur Connection
One of the best ways to avoid back problems is to know what causes them. Educating yourself on the causes of arthritis of the spine can help you avoid these activities and prolong your spine's integrity for years to come.