Dr. Erik T. Bendiks Atlanta | Orthopedic Surgeon | Spine Treatment Atlanta

Thursday 29 June 2017

Osteoarthritis of The Spine – Causes

It is a commonly known fact that arthritis is the main cause of pain in lower back, especially among people more than fifty years of age. The lower back comprises of five sets of facet joints, one on the right and one of the left side of each spinal bone. Like joints in other part of the body, the facet joints in lower back can be either inflamed or injured.

Osteoarthritis of the spine – What is it?

Arthritis is a general term which means swelling of a joint. The word arthritis is derived from a combination of the Greek – arthros meaning a joint and it is meaning inflammation. The facets are the only joints located in the spine. Spinal arthritis thus means inflammation of the spinal facet joints.

Causes of the Spinal Arthritis

As far as Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment in Atlanta is considered, it depends on the causes and symptoms that a patient experiences. Osteoarthritis occurs mainly because of the internal damage to the facet joints. The surfaces of these joints are lined with smooth cartilage to allow easy movement as two sides of the joints rub against each other. However, listed below are the processes which can make joint painful.
  1. The combination of the inflammation of the joints and the muscle spasms causes pain in lower back
  2. When the cartilage on one side get damaged, torn or chipped then the spinal movement moves injured cartilage gouges its neighbor causing further damage or injury
  3. This injury to the joints causes friction and ultimately inflammation
  4. The swollen facet joints transmit this pain through a single nerve coming from the facet joint
  5. It is this signal which causes the back muscles to go into spasm.
The spinal facet joints in lower back are prone to develop Osteoarthritis of the Spine. If you are suffering from Osteoarthritis of the Spine in Atlanta then consult an experienced spine surgeon for the right treatment.