Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesCommon SymptomsSecondary SymptomsWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Common Symptoms
Secondary Symptoms
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Spinal arthritis is the inflammation of the joints between the bones in your spine or the joints connecting your spine to your pelvis.
It can affect the:
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Types of Spinal Arthritis
There are many different types of arthritis. They are often categorized into inflammatory or non-inflammatory types.Noninflammatory arthritis still causes inflammation in the joints, but it is usually less intense and is a reaction to damage in the joint.
Common Symptoms of Spinal Arthritis
Some symptoms of spinal arthritis are common to all of the different types of arthritis. These can include:
There are some differences in how the symptoms can feel based on the type of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis tends to become more painful when the joint is in use, because prolonged use of the joint increases the grinding and inflammation in the joint.
For an inflammatory type of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, the pain can become worse even when the joints not in use, and long periods of time in the same position can increase pain.
Symptoms can also vary based on the part of the spine affected. For example:
Secondary symptoms of spinal arthritis can vary depending on the type of arthritis you have.
Osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis can feel worse in the morning because of prolonged inactivity while sleeping. In addition, standing or walking for long periods of time can make the symptoms of osteoarthritis worse.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects many joints at once, causing inflammation, pain, swelling in multiple areas of the body. It can also cause symptoms such as fatigue, anemia, fever, and loss of appetite.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
In the early stages of this inflammatory disease, you may also experience mild fever, loss of appetite, and general discomfort. For people with ankylosing spondylitis, the pain is often described as a dull, persistent pain that is felt on both sides of the base of the spine and lower back.
Over time, the pain can spread to the upper back and neck. Pain and tenderness sometimes radiate to the ribs, shoulder blades, hips, legs, and feet.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Reactive Arthritis
In addition to joint pain, people with reactive arthritis may also have eye inflammation, increased urinary frequency, inflamed tendons and ligaments, or rash on the soles of the feet, palms, or mouth.
If you are experiencing joint pain, contact your healthcare provider. With any of the types of arthritis, it’s important to see a practitioner and have a treatment plan for managing the condition. There are no cures for arthritis, but treatment helps to manage the symptoms, reduce inflammation, and can even put the disease into a remission, where you will experience no symptoms for a period of time.
The longer the disease is uncontrolled, the more likely it is for more severe damage to happen to the joints, making it more difficult to live with.
A Word From Verywell
Spinal arthritis is a painful and progressive group of conditions. Without an effective treatment plan, it can lead to difficulty completing activities of daily living or disability and reduce your overall quality of life. If you are experiencing joint pain, speak to your healthcare provider about developing a treatment plan. This will help improve your quality of life.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UC Davis Health.6 Common types of arthritis and related conditions.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.Arthritis Foundation.The spondyloarthritis foundation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Spinal arthritis (arthritis in the back or neck).Gillick JL, Wainwright J, Das K.Rheumatoid arthritis and the cervical spine: a review on the role of surgery. International Journal of Rheumatology. doi:10.1155%2F2015%2F252456Johns Hopkins Medicine.Spinal arthritis (arthritis in the back or neck).American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UC Davis Health.6 Common types of arthritis and related conditions.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.Arthritis Foundation.The spondyloarthritis foundation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Spinal arthritis (arthritis in the back or neck).Gillick JL, Wainwright J, Das K.Rheumatoid arthritis and the cervical spine: a review on the role of surgery. International Journal of Rheumatology. doi:10.1155%2F2015%2F252456Johns Hopkins Medicine.Spinal arthritis (arthritis in the back or neck).American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UC Davis Health.6 Common types of arthritis and related conditions.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.Arthritis Foundation.The spondyloarthritis foundation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Spinal arthritis (arthritis in the back or neck).Gillick JL, Wainwright J, Das K.Rheumatoid arthritis and the cervical spine: a review on the role of surgery. International Journal of Rheumatology. doi:10.1155%2F2015%2F252456Johns Hopkins Medicine.Spinal arthritis (arthritis in the back or neck).American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.
UC Davis Health.6 Common types of arthritis and related conditions.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.The spondyloarthritis foundation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Spinal arthritis (arthritis in the back or neck).
Gillick JL, Wainwright J, Das K.Rheumatoid arthritis and the cervical spine: a review on the role of surgery. International Journal of Rheumatology. doi:10.1155%2F2015%2F252456
American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.
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