Arthritis

Arthritis

The term arthritis means inflammation of the joints. Arthritis of the spine usually refers to a condition where there is inflammation of the facet joints between the vertebrae. The pain that results from arthritis is usually the mechanical type of back pain. If bone spurs develop due to the arthritis and begin rubbing on the spinal nerves, there can also be compressive type pain produced as well. There are two types of arthritis: systemic inflammatory arthritis, and wear-and-tear arthritis. A systemic type of arthritis is actually a disease process that affects all the joints of the body - such as rheumatoid arthritis. Many arthritis type diseases affect the connective tissues of the body. All of these diseases cause inflammation of the joint tissues and destruction of the joints. The joints of the spine may be involved in systemic types of arthritis because the facet joints are made up of the same tissues as any other joint. Therefore, diseases that attack joint tissues also attack the facet joints.

Wear-and-tear arthritis, or osteoarthritis, can result from many things. It can come from a single injury that damages the joint. It can also result from a lifetime of overuse of different joints that damage the joint a little bit at a time. Doctors are now beginning to realize that osteoarthritis also runs in families. Something about the genetic makeup of different individuals makes them more prone to develop osteoarthritis of various joints.

Osteoarthritis is caused by a permanent breakdown of the articular cartilage inside the affected joint. Articular cartilage is the material inside the joint that cushions the bones of the joints from impact and allows smooth, gliding motions. Because damaged cartilage cannot repair itself, it begins to fray, making it less flexible and more prone to injury. Over time, the cartilage can wear away completely, causing the bony surfaces of the joint to rub directly against each other. Eventually the joint becomes worn away and bone spurs develop around the joint.