Lumbar Arthritis Causes, Risk Factors and Powerful Treatments

Lumbar arthritis affects the lower back. Osteoarthritis causes most lumbar arthritis. Pain and stiffness are lower back arthritis symptoms.

The spine has five sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx. Lumbar arthritis affects the lower back, just above the pelvis. Most arthritis-related back pain is in the lower back. Many Americans aged 55–64 have lumbar spine osteoarthritis, 30% of men and 28% of women. OA and spondyloarthritis can affect the lower back.

What is Lumbar Arthritis?

When we think of arthritis, we usually think of hip and knee arthritis, but it can affect other joints. They include lumbar facet joint arthritis, also known as "lumbar arthritis." Back of the spine facet joints connect vertebrae on the right and left sides at each level. These joints stabilise the spine during bending and twisting and prevent spinal bodies from slipping.

However, joint damage and narrowing occur when the protective cushioning cartilage tissue between facet joints wears away. To replace cartilage, the degenerated facet joint forms “osteophytes” and grows outward.

Causes of Lumbar Arthritis 

Specific types of arthritis cause lumbar arthritis. OA causes most lumbar arthritis symptoms, but others can contribute such as sciatica. Some lumbar spine arthritis types are:

Osteoarthritis

The most common arthritis is OA. Lumbar OA occurs when the cartilage that protects the lowest spine joints, including the facet joints, breaks down, exposing bone nerves. Chronic OA damage in spine facet joints wears them out. Since the spine bones grind and push together with movement, bone spurs can form. Everyone can get OA, but women and people over 50 are more likely to. Overweight, inactivity, and genetics increase OA risk.

Spondyloarthritis

The spine and sacroiliac joints are affected by spondyloarthritis. Strong ligaments support the sacroiliac joints between the sacrum and pelvic bones. Spine support comes from the sacrum.

In 2016, 1.35% of North Americans were affected by spondyloarthritis. Sacroiliac joint pain usually affects teens, children, and young adults.

Most spondyloarthritis is ankylosing. Spondyloarthritis causes enthesitis, or inflammation of tendons and ligaments entering bone.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Spondyloarthritis subtype psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can cause lumbar symptoms. People with psoriasis usually get PsA, but others can too. In PsA, low back pain occurs. According to the Arthritis Foundation, 20% of patients have spine involvement. Bony overgrowth can fuse vertebrae, causing stiffness and pain.

Arthritis Enteropathic

Spondyloarthritis can also be enteropathic. Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients are affected.

Enteropathic sacroiliac arthritis causes mechanical Back Pain. One in five inflammatory bowel disease patients develop enteropathic arthritis.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis makes bones brittle and susceptible to even minor traumas. Aging, hormone decline, and chronic inflammatory diseases cause osteoporosis. The inner spongy and more solid outer vertebrae weaken and hurt with osteoporosis. Over time, bone collapse can cause secondary degenerative arthritis.

Lumbar Arthritis Treatments

However, non-surgical treatments can reduce lumbar arthritis pain. When lumbar arthritisis expected to cause spinal stenosis, surgery is considered. The following methods treat lumbar arthritis:

Medications

Analgesics, NSAIDs, antidepressants, and muscle relaxants advised by a pain doctor in Dallas can treat lumbar arthritis pain.

Physical Therapy and Exercise

Physical therapy and exercises effectively treat lumbar arthritis. Physical therapy strengthens back, leg, and abdominal muscles. Hot-cold therapy, posture correction, spine alignment, and weight management through exercise can also reduce facet joint load and can treat lumbar radiculopathy.

Facet Joint Injections

Facet joint injection injects corticosteroids and analgesics into the painful joint. Back pain can be relieved quickly and for months with facet joint injections recommended by pain management in Dallas. In some cases, a block injection is given to the nerve branch that sends pain instead of the facet joint. Facet joint injections can be repeated if pain returns. Corticosteroids limit the number of injections per year.

Facet Joint Denervation Radiofrequency Ablation

Facet joint pain is transmitted by the “medial branch.” Radiofrequency ablation uses needles and electrodes to apply radiofrequency current to medial branches under ultrasound or fluoroscopy. These electrodes interrupt nerve conduction and pain transmission by applying controlled heat to nerves. Therefore, the patient no longer feels joint pain. The procedure takes 25-30 minutes. Effectiveness lasts 6–12 months, depending on the person.

Surgical Intervention

If non-surgical treatments fail for advanced lumbar arthritis with spinal stenosis, surgery is considered by pain doctors in Fort Worth. Many patients worry about surgery. However, leading clinics worldwide use modern robotic spine surgery techniques to reduce surgical and postoperative complications. If lumbar arthritis pain is affecting your daily life, a Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation or Orthopedics and Traumatology specialist of the Pain Clinic in Plano will recommend a treatment.

Conclusion