There are two types of arthritis. The most common type is caused by degenerative wear-an-tear on the joints - the aging process. Have you ever noticed how often older people have swollen knuckles? This is a symptom of arthritis and is the result of many years of use.

The natural aging of the facet joints in teh back of your spine, or the aging of the discs in the front is a common reason for low back pain. The lining around the joint can also become inflamed and cause back pain. Degenerative changes will cause a loss of water content in the discs and will affect the amount of motion available in the spine. The narrowing of the discs, the wearing down of the facet joints and the inflammation of the lining around the joints can result in arthritis-like changes.

While arthritis in the low back is a common diagnosis and can cause discomfort, it is important to remember that is a process of wear and tear. Just because your back is affected is not to imply that you will have serious problems in other joints. Anti-inflammatory medication will usually control the discomfort. and modifying your daily activities will allow you to do anything you want to do.

If you are diagnosed as having some other type of arthritis, your physician will prescribe special medication and warn you of additional precautions you should take.