Lumbar and Lumbosacral arthritis affects the lower back and pelvic girdle, causing pain, inflammation, and the loss of motion in these areas.

The word "arthritis", which literally means "inflammation of the joint", is used to describe a group of distinct diseases. These conditions all have in common symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints and the tissues surrounding them.

Back pain is very common. How many times have you lifted something that was too heavy and felt the effects for days? Back pain is one of the leading causes of disability and loss of work in the United States. Arthritis is one possible cause of back pain.

Causes of Lumbosacral Arthritis

The exact cause of lumbar and lumbosacral arthritis is unknown. Some degeneration of the spine is thought to be the result of the normal aging process, but sometimes an old injury or a direct blow to the spine will play a role. Also, people whose occupations require heavy lifting, long periods of sitting or driving, or other repetitive pressures on the backbone are also at risk for arthritis in this part of the spine.

Symptoms of Lumbar and Lumbosacral Arthritis

Pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints are the most common symptoms of all types of arthritis. With lumbosacral arthritis, the pain may be concentrated in the pelvic region or between the lower rib cage and buttocks. Low back pain is associated with leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs. Often it results in change in posture. This can lead to pain in other weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip and ankle.

Treatment

Proper treatment can provide relief from the pain. There are remedies that can help you control this pain. While many people with chronic low back pain are tempted to limit their physical activity and exercises, this is ill advised. You may find that you need to rest more frequently, but exercise should become part of your daily regimen. By increasing physical fitness, your back may become stronger and you may increase your overall feeling of well-being. You should work with your doctor or physiotherapist on developing an exercise program designed to strengthen your lower back.

Physical Therapy

orthopedic patients typically have a deficiency that needs to be addressed. For example, patients with carpal tunnel syndrome may have weakness of specific hand muscles that require targeted exercises. Or knee conditions such as chondromalacia may be due in part to muscle imbalance around the knee joint. A physical therapist can teach exercises that specifically target these muscles to improve function and decrease problems.

Alternative Treatments

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.

Surgery

Surgical procedures for lumbar and lumbosacral arthritis are relatively rare. Still, they may be considered in the event that conservative therapy does not bring about sufficient pain relief. Open surgery, using general anesthesia, may be recommended for selected patients. A technique known as a laminectomy is often used in cases of spinal stenosis - a condition related to arthritis of the spine - to widen the area available to the spinal cord.