Do you suffer from osteoarthritis in the lower back? If so, you probably have symptoms such as a feeling of heavy and tired legs when you move, as well as difficulty walking long distances and pain in the lower back. Read about the cause and possible treatments at CPH Privathospital. With us, you are in friendly and experienced hands.

Osteoarthritis (arthrosis) is a rheumatic disease in which cartilage and tissue around the joints are gradually broken down. In osteoarthritis of the lower back, the spine itself is affected. Here, the intervertebral discs of the spine are worn down, which in some cases causes pain and makes it more difficult for you to move. 

Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but you can relieve the pain and slow the progression of symptoms. At CPH Privathospital, we offer, among other things, a thorough preliminary examination, where you are offered professional physiotherapy and exercises by a physiotherapist. In this way, you can live more “easily” with the arthritis and improve your quality of life. 

If no improvement occurs, you will be offered a fusion operation. The name is due to the fact that the operation will attempt to stabilise/stiffen the back – either following spondylolisthesis between two vertebrae or in cases of degenerative changes in the spine. Therefore, the operation is also called a stabilising spinal operation and a fusion operation.

Would you like examination or treatment of your spinal disorders? You are always welcome to call us during opening hours. Whether you are a public patient or private.

Why you can develop osteoarthritis in the lower back

To understand why osteoarthritis in the lower back occurs, we must first learn more about the human back. Your spine consists of 24 bony vertebrae that are connected by joints. Between each of these vertebrae are the so-called discs, which are a form of soft cartilage discs. They function as shock absorbers and make the spine mobile and flexible. 

This is why it hurts when you move your back, for example, and have osteoarthritis. Your vertebrae are not relieved to nearly the same extent by the soft cartilage discs. At the same time, the nerves in the back do not have the space they normally have.

As a rule, there is no clear cause for why some of us develop osteoarthritis while others do not. However, there may be several factors that increase the risk of osteoarthritis in the vertebrae. These may include:  

• Physically demanding work, heavy lifting or strenuous movement
• Risk of hereditary disease and poor production of articular cartilage
• Sudden injuries directly to the lower back from, for example, an accident
• Old age and slow, natural wear of the joints 

It is rare that you need an operation for arthritis in the lower back. You can often keep your pain down with regular exercise and the right exercises. If you experience no effect, or if you have severe pain, we at CPH Privathospital will do our best to improve your quality of life. Contact us by phone here, and learn more about your options. 

Watch for symptoms of osteoarthritis in the lower back

You can have a normal everyday life without noticing the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the lower back. This actually happens to quite a few people. The development is often slow, and the pain may take several years to develop. Others experience symptoms such as:

• Pain in the lower back and tenderness around the muscles
• Pain radiating into one or both legs and arms
• Altered sensation in arms or legs
• It hurts more when you walk, and the legs feel tired and heavy

Are you experiencing any of these signs of osteoarthritis in the lower back? Then it is important that you contact a doctor with experience in spinal diseases. After the diagnosis, he or she can then tell you whether you need physiotherapy or a spinal fusion operation. This way you get both the right assessment and the best treatment.

At CPH Privathospital we also offer treatment and operation for disc herniation in the lower back as well as the neck. Some of the symptoms may be the same, and you should therefore have your back problems examined by an expert.

Spinal fusion operation in the lower back with professional expertise

Fortunately, you rarely need to be operated on, even if you have osteoarthritis. Sometimes a period of exercise and exercises can be enough to reduce your pain. However, a stabilising spine operation may be necessary if you have too much pain in your back and legs.

The operation is performed under general anaesthesia and lasts approximately one to three hours. Here our consultant will either create a bone bridge (uninstrumented fusion) or insert screws and rods (instrumented fusion) in the back. The purpose is to stabilise the joint or joints in the back that are causing your pain. However, all of this will be explained in detail and personally assessed when we speak with you. 

At the preliminary examination, we will carefully review the advantages and disadvantages of the operation together with you. If you have any questions along the way, our experienced consultants will answer you as well as possible. We take time for personal dialogue, so that you feel as safe as possible throughout the entire process. Therefore, it will also be the same spine surgeon who follows you from start to finish.

Read more about our speciality in spine surgery procedures, and learn more about your options for good treatment with us. Whether you are an insurance patient, public or private patient.