Understanding Arthritis in the Spine: A Patient's Experience

Question
Doctor:  Back in 2002 i had some back pain and an orthopedic doctor took and xray of my spine and discovered on of my vertebra had some arthritis just one was what seemed strange to me, he did not make anything out of it other than to say i can see that this might cause you some pain now and then.  I was thinking, should i follow up and ask to have another x ray?  i remember about 20 years ago i was punched in my back pretty good. i am now 37

Answer
You prob had some minor injury to the joint years ago and now there is some developement of chronic arthritis, but it is hard to take XRAY findings and convert them into real world implications on your back... many people have arthritis on xray and have no pain whatsoever and vice versa.