Understanding Spine Arthritis: Facts & Basics

Spine arthritis — also known as spinal osteoarthritis — is a type of arthritis that affects joints in the spine. Over time, the cartilage — which is the soft, cushioning tissue between the joints — wears down, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Arthritis can also affect your disc, which is also the gel-like soft material cushioning between your vertebrae, which can also lead to stiffness, back pain (called discogenic back pain), and reduced mobility.  This form of arthritis most commonly affects the lower back (lumbar spine) and the neck (cervical spine), although it can occur in other spinal areas as well, but not as commonly.

Unlike autoimmune forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, spine arthritis is usually a result of wear and tear over time, which is why it’s often called “degenerative arthritis.” However, it can also develop after an injury, from overuse, poor posture over time, bad ergonomics, sleeping the wrong way, and due to structural issues, like scoliosis. 

Spinal arthritis is most common in older adults. Experts estimate that by the age of 60, nearly 95% of men and 70% of women will have some amount of spinal arthritis. However, younger people — especially athletes or people with physically demanding jobs such as heavy labor — may also develop it earlier in life.

If left untreated, spine arthritis can lead to serious complications, including spinal stenosis, radiculopathy or pinched nerves, spinal instability (i.e. spondylolisthesis) and compression fractures in the weakened vertebrae. It may also contribute to kyphosis, an abnormal forward spinal curve causing a hunched posture and scoliosis, an abnormal S-shaped curve of the spine.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Spine Arthritis

Spine arthritis symptoms may develop gradually, often beginning with mild stiffness, soreness, or a loss of flexibility that worsens over time. Some patients describe an aching pain in the neck or lower back, especially after periods of inactivity or in the morning. As the condition progresses, you may notice a grinding sensation with movement or pain that radiates into the arms or legs, which is a sign that nearby nerves may be affected. Other spine arthritis symptoms may include:

• Swelling or tenderness in the spine near the affected area
• Headaches (for spinal arthritis in the neck)
• Fatigue or weakness affecting the whole body
• Being unable to straighten your back or turn your neck
• Shooting/radiating pain down your arms and/or legs
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Back pain or stiffness
• numbness/weakness in your arms and/or legs
• Achiness 
• Buttock pain
• Trapezial or shoulder blade pain
• Stabbing pain
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Leaning forward, particularly on a grocery cart 
• Heaviness in arms and legs

In advanced cases, these symptoms can worsen to the point that they impact your ability to walk, lift, or perform daily activities comfortably. Don’t wait until it gets to this point to seek care. Early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve your outlook.

Dr. Hooman Melamed takes a comprehensive and personalized approach to diagnosing spine arthritis. During your visit, he will carefully review your medical history, perform a physical examination, and possibly order imaging tests such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT) scans as needed. 

In some cases, advanced diagnostic testing — including specific imaging, genetic testing, or lab assessments — may be recommended to better understand your specific spine arthritis profile and guide your treatment plan accordingly. Be sure to speak up about any other conditions you have or medications you’re currently taking during your evaluation.

Causes and Risk Factors for Spine Arthritis

Spine arthritis is most often caused by the natural aging process, but several other factors can contribute, too. Over time, wear and tear on the joints and discs between the vertebrae can lead to cartilage breakdown, inflammation, and reduced joint function. Some of the most common spine arthritis causes and risk factors of spine arthritis include:

• Increasing age
• Male sex
• Genetics
• Previous spinal injuries
• Overweight or obesity
• Repetitive motions or overuse
• Tobacco use
• Poor posture
• Other co-occurring spinal conditions 

Comprehensive Treatment Options Available in Beverly Hills

Unfortunately, there’s no cure-all remedy for osteoarthritis, however, medical advancements and holistic treatment approaches are making a significant difference. 

Non-Surgical Treatments

Dr. Hooman Melamed prioritizes conservative care options for spine arthritis before considering surgery. Some non-surgical options include:

• Physical therapy and guided exercise: Personalized plans can help rebuild core and back muscles, maintain flexibility, and shield irritated spine joints.
• Lifestyle adjustments: Adopting lifestyle changes such as weight loss, adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, daily important supplement intake such as Vit D3+K2, ginger, turmeric, black seed oil, among others, stress control, and methods for reducing inflammation can be a complementary strategy.
• Medication management: Non-opioid pain relievers, such as epidural corticosteroid injections or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may be used for short-term pain relief. 
• Chiropractic care: Chiropractic realignment can alleviate pinched nerves and restore proper joint motion.
• Holistic alternatives: Acupuncture, Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, and other low-impact exercise programs can be a helpful addition to your non-surgical treatment plan.

Additionally, regenerative cell therapy is increasingly used for degenerative spine conditions, including spinal osteoarthritis. By delivering healing cells and growth factors directly into damaged joints, this treatment option can reduce inflammation and encourage tissue repair.

Surgical Treatments

When non-surgical treatments aren’t enough, Dr. Melamed offers a variety of minimally to ultra-minimally invasive surgeries for spinal arthritis:

• Cervical, thoracic, lumbar decompression: Decompression is done ultra minimally invasive endoscopically, or minimally invasive microscopic treatments remove a small amount of bone or disc material through tiny incisions by preserving most of the anatomy, relieving pressure on nerves with minimal tissue disruption.  The vast majority of patients who ultimately would require spine surgery are candidates for a non-implant-based outpatient decompression operation.
• Minimally invasive motion-sparing artificial disc replacement or fusion procedures: For severely unstable or degenerative segments, minimally invasive outpatient vertebral fusion may be used to fuse vertebrae while reducing recovery time.  For the vast majority of other surgical conditions, minimally invasive outpatient artificial disc replacement surgery is used to replace the damaged disc and preserve the motion between your vertebrates. Most patients qualify for the artificial disc replacement given the choice between fusion and artificial disc.

New perioperative protocols currently being tested in Los Angeles — such as zolpidem for spinal fusion — may soon be available for enhancing recovery after these types of procedures. 

Contact Dr. Hooman Melamed Today

If you’re living with back or neck pain from spine arthritis, expert help is just a click away. Request an appointment online today to schedule a personalized consultation with Dr. Hooman Melamed and take the first step toward finding lasting relief and restoring spinal health.