Spinal Arthritis

A person can suffer from many variations of back pain and often attribute it to hard work and lifting when in fact they could be misdiagnosing the issue altogether.  So how would a patient know if they suffer from Spinal arthritis or not?  Spinal arthritis has the same signs and symptoms of arthritis, which includes inflammation, stiffness and pain along the back and near the joints.  

There are also red flags that can also help pinpoint spinal arthritis such as:

· If the back pain intensifies and subsides frequently
· The back and spine become stiff overnight
· Getting out of bed is a painful activity
· The back pain diminishes after exercising or long periods of rest between activities
· A sharp lower back pain that cascades down into the thighs and buttocks
· Arm and leg crunching sound (sounds like bone-on-bone contact)
· Weakened or Numbing sensation in both arms and legs
· Limited reflex or range of motion when bending down or forward

To rule out other serious diseases a doctor may ask that you undergo several medical tests including a blood examination, a spinal x-ray, an MRI, or a CAT scan.  Should the pain be deep and rooted to the bone, you may be asked to undergo a bone scan to rule out cancer. 

If you are diagnosed with spinal arthritis there is little that can be done to reverse the condition, but there are ways to alleviate the pain and live a normal life.