Arthritis in the Back

Natural and Medical Lumbar Arthritis Treatments

An estimated 50 percent to 80 percent of adults will have back pain at some point. For some, it will set up shop slowly. For others, it will come on suddenly and with great force. Arthritis in the back (Lumbar Arthritis) is a major problem.

Back pain from arthritis can be a cruel thief, robbing you of a good night's sleep, a day's work and pay, or the ability to play with your children.

Fortunately, no matter the cause, you can find back pain relief and, in many cases, keep back pain from returning.

Arthritis of the lumbar spine is a problem that occurs in the joints that connect each spinal segment, or vertebrae. The vertebrae are connected in three places. In front of the spinal cord, the vertebrae are separated by a cushion-like spinal disc. Behind the spinal cord, the vertebrae are connected by two small joints called facet joints. These facet joints, together with the spinal disc, allow movements of the spine including forward bending, arching your back, or sideways twisting.

When the facet joints become arthritic, these spinal movements become painful and stiff. Lumbar spine arthritis often is seen together with other spinal conditions including:

Disc Degeneration

As the facet joints wear out in arthritic conditions of the spine, the disc can also wear out over time. Facet arthritis often proceeds along with disc disease of the lumbar spine.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is also often seen in patients with lumbar spine arthritis. As arthritis progresses, nerves become pinched, leading to symptoms of spinal stenosis. These symptoms may include leg pain, numbness, tingling, and difficulty walking.

How To Tell if You Have Arthritis in the Spine?

Generally, the signs and symptoms of arthritis include inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the joints. In the spine, symptoms may also include one or more of the following:

• Back pain that comes and goes
• Spinal stiffness in the morning, such as after getting out of bed or after activity. Often this pain decreases with rest or, for some, after exercise.
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness in the neck
• Lower back pain that runs down into the buttocks, thighs, or pelvic area, sciatica
• Pain or tenderness in the shoulders, hips, knees, or heels
• A crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone
• Weakness or numbness in legs or arms
• Limited range of motion, difficulty bending, or walking
• Spinal deformity

Arthritis of the lumbar spine most often causes stiffness and pain of the low back. Patients often notice their back is especially stiff in the early morning after getting out of bed, and may loosen over the course of the day. Symptoms also often become worse with prolonged or strenuous activity.

When lumbar facet joint arthritis worsens, the joints form bone spurs, the tissue swells from inflammation, and the nerves around these joints can become pinched. This is a condition called spinal stenosis, which is often seen in patients with lumbar arthritis. These patients often experience the common symptoms of spinal stenosis.

There are numerous natural and homeopathic solutions to arthritis back pain.
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Lumbar Spine Arthritis Treatment

Treatment of lumbar spine arthritis depends on the symptoms experienced by the patient. Treatments always begin with simple measures and become more involved if patients don't find relief with these simple steps.

Some of the treatments available for lumbar spine arthritis include:

Physical therapy is used to strengthen the muscles of the lumbar spine. By better supporting the spine with stronger muscles, less of the burden is placed on the facet joints. Even in patients who are fit and active, muscles around the spine can be further strengthened to alleviate symptoms.

Losing weight is a difficult task in patients who have worn-out joints. However, losing even a small amount of weight is often a sufficient step to relieving pain. By removing even 10 pounds or more, the facet joints will support less of a load, and pain may be sufficiently relieved.

Anti-inflammatory medications can decrease the amount of inflammation around the arthritic joints. By lowering the inflammatory response, pain is often alleviated. Always use anti-inflammatory medications under your doctor's supervision.

Ice and heat applications can be very effective at relieving pain in the back. Patients usually find that heat is most effective before activity to "loosen" the spine, and ice is best used after any strenuous activities.

Chiropractors treat spine alignment, often with a process called manipulation. These treatments do not alter the spinal alignment, but they can provide excellent relief of pain. Often the relief is temporary, but chiropractic treatments are a reasonable treatment to consider during a flare-up of lumbar arthritis.

Alternative treatments include acupuncture, massage, magnet therapy, natural remedies, and others. There is no doubt that many patients find significant relief from these types of treatments. While the scientific studies are lacking to support these treatments, most have few side-effects and are reasonable treatments to attempt.

Epidural injections are a way to administer a steroid shot around the area of the arthritis. Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Using a needle allows the medication to be delivered right to the area of the arthritis. In patients with arthritis of a single facet joint, an even more precise injection, called a selective facet joint injection, can be performed.

Spine fusion is a surgical procedure used to eliminate movement between adjoining vertebrae. When all other treatments fail to provide relief of symptoms, a spine fusion may be a reasonable option for the treatment of severe facet arthritis.

Fortunately there are more natural remedies you should look into. When treating arthritis in your back, you may wish to try one or more arthritis homeopathic remedies. These remedies may come in the form of supplements or they may involve lifestyle changes.

The most important thing that one will need to remember when trying any arthritis natural remedies is that the same thing may not work for everyone. You are an individual and your treatment will need to be the same. Keep trying various combinations to find the one that works best for you and your body.

Natural arthritis remedies that you may wish to try include glucosamine and chondroitin. Both naturally occur in the body and a supplement can help your body promote both joint health and repair. MSM is another compound which occurs naturally. It contains sulfur which reduces inflammation without the use of prescription medications. Manganese is an antioxidant nutrient which slows the aging process. It has been found to be very effective when fighting rheumatoid arthritis. The vitamin B3, known as niacinamide, helps your body to maintain cell and tissue integrity. This has been shown to slow arthritis progression. Others you may wish to try include ginger extract and turmeric. Both are anti-inflammatory extracts which help treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. If you are currently taking an NSAID, you may wish to switch as studies show these extracts are more effective than those medications. For most, using the above items in combination produces the best results.

Arthritis is not a death sentence. In fact, many people who have arthritis continue to live active and productive lives. Educating yourself about your condition and managing your symptoms are the keys to not letting arthritis slow you down. Check out the links below for more information on how arthritis can be treated and tips on living with arthritis.

Just because you have spinal arthritis does not mean you will live a restricted lifestyle. Many people with arthritis have minimal symptoms. If you have activity-related back pain relieved by rest, it is likely that arthritis exists. More concerning symptoms are those of significant rest or night pain or numbness, pain or burning in the legs. Try natural arthritis remedies for immediate relief and see your doctor if these symptoms are severe or persistent.

And to find out much more check out this free mini-course on natural cures for arthritis sufferers by clicking this link: Arthritis Natural Remedies