Arthritis is the wear-and-tear breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage absorbs shock during physical activity and prevents bones inside the joint from rubbing together. Arthritis in the middle back occurs when cartilage between the vertebrae, or back bones, breaks down. Bone spurs, or bone humps, form, which can cause a variety of symptoms in a patient. Doctors tend to treat middle back arthritis conservatively, but surgery may be needed in severe cases.
Middle Back Pain
Medline Plus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, states that middle back pain is associated with middle back arthritis. Arthritis tends to first occur at the facet joint, or the joint that connects adjacent vertebrae. Bone spurs at the facet joints in the middle back rub together because of the lack of cartilage between the vertebrae. This further causes inflammation of the facet joint, which can aggravate nearby nerves that sense pain. Furthermore, this symptom is commonly worse with bending, twisting or extending of the back. Doctors will first recommend rest, ice and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly called NSAIDs, to treat back pain. The family of NSAIDs includes ibuprofen and aspirin.
Facet Joint Swelling
The facet joints in the middle back tend to become inflamed and swollen. Swelling occurs because bone spurs rub together and cause inflammation. Inflammation in the joint attracts fluid to the facet joint, which can cause pain and a sense of fullness in the facet joint. Facet joint swelling is treated with rest, ice and NSAIDs. However, a doctor may recommend a corticosteroid injection in the facet joint to reduce swelling. Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory medications that reduce swelling. This injection reduces inflammation around the facet joint and the medial branch nerve that senses pain around that joint. Corticosteroids can only be injected three times per year to avoid bone thinning, according to Medline Plus.
Limited Range of Motion
Arthritis in the middle back can restrict the flexibility of the spine, the Mayo Clinic states. This occurs because bone spurs and inflammation limit the range of motion of the facet joints in the back. This causes limitations in bending, extending and twisting of the middle back. Furthermore, these limitations can prevent the completion of daily activities. Rest, ice and medication can reduce swelling in the middle back, which can help improve range of motion. However, physical therapy may be the most beneficial treatment for improving flexibility. In physical therapy, a physical therapist will teach exercises to improve flexibility of the middle back. Adherence to a home exercise program can help maintain the flexibility of the middle back and prevent future episodes of stiffness.
