Common Causes Of Facet Arthropathy

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that can affect any joint in the body, causes the cartilage between the joints to wear down much quicker than from regular wear and tear. While this condition more commonly affects the joints in the legs, especially the hips and knees, it can also occur in other areas of the body, such as the facet joints. With improper spacing between the facet joints caused by loss of cartilage, more strain and stress on the joints can result in irritation and erosion of the bone. When the cartilage erodes away, the facet joints are more likely to rub together, causing arthritis and increasing degeneration and inflammation. This can trigger cases of facet arthropathy.

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Aging

Facet arthropathy is more likely to occur in men and women who are over fifty years old. This is because the condition may occur simply as a part of the natural aging process. The spine gets so much use on a daily basis, making it easy to understand how much just everyday wear and tear can place on the joints in this region of the body. Individuals who have led very active lives or who have spent a lot of time bending, twisting, and lifting may be more prone to developing facet arthropathy than those who have led more sedentary lifestyles.

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