Medically reviewed by Dr. David L. Greenwald, MD, FAANS, FACS — dual board-certified spine surgeon & neurosurgeon. Last reviewed October 2026.

Over time, the spine's joints and discs wear down — cartilage thins, bone spurs form, and the spinal canal can narrow. These degenerative and arthritic changes are a leading cause of chronic back and neck pain, and they're very treatable. Desert Spine and Pain diagnoses and treats the full range for patients across Phoenix, least-invasive-first.

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How the Spine Degenerates with Arthritis

What Is Degenerative & Arthritic Spine Disease?

Degenerative and arthritic spine disease is the gradual wear of the discs, joints, and cartilage that hold your spine together. The cushioning discs between the vertebrae lose height and flexibility, the smooth cartilage lining the spine's small facet joints thins, and the body responds by forming bone spurs. Over years, those changes can narrow the openings that nerves travel through and stiffen segments that used to move freely. Doctors use several overlapping names for it — degenerative disc disease, spinal osteoarthritis, facet arthritis, and degenerative joint disease — but they all describe the same underlying process of a spine aging under load.

Some degree of this wear is a normal part of getting older, and many people have arthritic changes on an X-ray or MRI without any pain at all. The problem begins when those changes start to pinch a nerve, inflame a joint, or make a segment unstable — and that is when pain, stiffness, and radiating symptoms take hold. The encouraging news is that degenerative and arthritic spine conditions are among the most treatable problems we see. At Desert Spine and Pain, they are evaluated and treated by Dr. Greenwald, who is both a board-certified spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon, so the mechanical wear and the nerve involvement are assessed together by one expert.

Degenerative & Arthritic Conditions We Treat

"Degenerative" and "arthritic" cover a family of related spine conditions, and the right treatment depends on exactly which structure has worn down and whether a nerve is involved. These are the specific conditions in this group we diagnose and treat — select the one that fits your symptoms to learn more:

Symptoms of Degenerative & Arthritic Spine Conditions

Because these conditions build up slowly, the symptoms tend to come and go for years before they become constant. The pattern is usually more telling than any single symptom. Watch for:

• Aching back or neck pain. A deep, nagging ache in the lower back or neck is the most common complaint, and it often tracks with activity and the time of day.
• Stiffness that eases with movement. Many patients feel their worst first thing in the morning or after sitting still, then loosen up as they start moving — a hallmark of arthritic joints.
• Pain that worsens with certain movements. Bending backward, twisting, or standing for long periods tends to aggravate arthritic facet joints, while leaning forward may bring relief.
• Radiating pain. As the wear progresses, pain can spread into a buttock, hip, thigh, or down an arm when an inflamed or enlarged joint irritates a nearby nerve.
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness. When bone spurs or a narrowed canal begin to compress a nerve, you may notice pins-and-needles, numbness, or weakness in a leg or arm.
• Reduced range of motion. Everyday motions like turning your head to check a blind spot or bending to tie your shoes become harder and less comfortable.

Symptoms that stay mild and intermittent can often be managed conservatively. Symptoms that are progressing — spreading, intensifying, or adding new nerve signs — deserve a prompt evaluation so we can protect your nerve function before it is compromised.

What Causes Degenerative & Arthritic Spine Conditions?

These are chronic, cumulative conditions, not sudden injuries. They develop as the spine absorbs decades of ordinary load, and several factors influence how quickly and how severely that wear sets in:

• Age-related wear. The leading cause. Over the years, the discs lose water and height and the facet-joint cartilage gradually thins, so the joints bear more friction and the body lays down bone spurs in response.
• Genetics. The strength and durability of your discs and cartilage are partly inherited, which is why some people develop significant degenerative changes earlier or more severely than others with similar lifestyles.
• Prior injury or trauma. A past fall, sports injury, or car accident can accelerate wear at the affected level and lead to post-traumatic arthritis years down the road — a common thread in personal-injury cases.
• Repetitive strain and body weight. Years of heavy lifting, repetitive bending and twisting, or carrying extra weight all increase the mechanical load on the discs and facet joints and speed their breakdown.
• The degenerative cascade. Wear rarely stays in one place. As a disc loses height, more load shifts onto the facet joints behind it, driving facet arthritis — which in turn can thicken ligaments and bone and contribute to spinal stenosis.

You cannot undo the aging process, but you can slow its impact and treat the symptoms effectively — which is exactly where an accurate diagnosis and a targeted plan come in.

How We Diagnose Degenerative & Arthritic Spine Conditions

The single most important step is also the most overlooked: confirming which worn structure is actually generating your pain. Because arthritic changes show up on imaging so often — frequently in people with no symptoms at all — a scan alone can be misleading. Dr. Greenwald builds the diagnosis from the whole picture:

• History and physical exam. We map where the pain is, what provokes and relieves it, and how it has changed over time, then examine your range of motion, strength, reflexes, and sensation.
• Imaging. X-rays reveal joint-space narrowing, bone spurs, and alignment; an MRI shows the discs, cartilage, ligaments, and — critically — whether a nerve or the spinal cord is being compressed. A CT scan is used when fine bony detail is needed.
• Diagnostic injections. When it is unclear whether a specific facet joint or nerve is the true source, a targeted, image-guided injection can confirm the pain generator before any long-term treatment is chosen.

Because Dr. Greenwald is both a spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon, the joints and the nerves are evaluated together — so your plan is built around the real source of the pain, not just the first abnormality that appears on a scan.

Treatment Options for Degenerative & Arthritic Spine Conditions

Most degenerative and arthritic spine conditions are managed successfully without surgery. We follow a least-invasive-first path, starting with the most conservative options that can give you lasting relief and escalating only when the evidence calls for it:

• Conservative care. Activity modification, targeted physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support the spine, and anti-inflammatory medication form the foundation for most patients.
• Image-guided injections. Precisely placed facet joint injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and sacroiliac joint injections calm inflammation and interrupt pain signals from a worn joint.
• Radiofrequency ablation. When injections confirm the source, radiofrequency ablation can quiet the small nerves carrying pain from an arthritic facet joint for lasting relief.
• Minimally invasive surgery. When nerve compression or instability requires it, a targeted decompression or fusion relieves the pressure and stabilizes the segment — reserved for the cases that truly need it.

How We Approach Degenerative Spine Care

Our philosophy is simple: treat the real source of your pain with the least-invasive option that will work. Most degenerative and arthritic conditions are managed with conservative care and interventional pain procedures, and we exhaust those before considering anything more. When a nerve is being compressed or a segment has become unstable, Dr. Greenwald's dual training as a spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon means both the mechanical and the neurological sides are handled by one expert — and that any surgery is done with minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. We welcome out-of-network patients, require no referral, and provide 24/7 concierge support with close coordination with personal-injury attorneys for accident-related arthritis.

When to See a Spine Specialist

Occasional stiffness that comes and goes can usually wait for a routine visit. But some symptoms mean the wear is pressing on a nerve or the spinal cord, and those deserve prompt attention:

• Back or neck pain that lasts more than a few weeks, keeps you from normal activity, or steadily worsens.
• Pain that radiates into a leg or arm, or new numbness and tingling.
• Progressive weakness or numbness in a limb that is getting worse rather than better.
• Signs of myelopathy — changes in balance, a feeling of clumsiness, or trouble with hand coordination such as buttoning a shirt or handling small objects. These can signal spinal-cord compression and should be evaluated urgently.

Proudly Serving the Greater Phoenix, Arizona Area

Why Choose Our Spinal Arthritis Specialists in Phoenix

Your condition is diagnosed and treated by a specialist who is both a board-certified spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon — so the mechanical and the neurological sides of spinal arthritis are evaluated by one expert. We welcome out-of-network patients, require no referral, and partner closely with personal-injury attorneys for accident-related arthritis.

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Degenerative & Arthritic Spine Conditions: Frequently Asked Questions