Low Back Arthritis

Lumbar spondylosis, or back arthritis, means your spinal discs and joints have worn and thinned. Symptoms often begin as back pain and stiffness relieved by light activity and aggravated by strenuous work or complete inactivity. Sometimes, your nerves can become pinched in narrowed openings where they exit your spine, causing pain, numbness, or tingling radiating into your leg (i.e., sciatica). 

Wear and tear on our spinal joints usually causes degenerative changes in our disc and joint space. This leads to a breakdown of cartilage and increases the chance of developing bone spurs and arthritis in our lower back.

Arthritic changes can be seen on x-rays, but the amount of wearing does not correlate directly with the severity of your symptoms. Fortunately, our office has various tools to help relieve your pain. Avoid any position that causes an increase in radiating pain. You should take frequent breaks from prolonged sitting, especially in vehicles.  However, research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle contributes to degeneration, so stay active and perform your home exercises. Low-impact activities, like walking, stationary cycling, water aerobics, and yoga, may also be helpful.