I was diagnosed with DISH at Mayo Clinic in Rochester while undergoing some tests before back surgery. I was not overweight when diagnosed. A cause for Dish has not been found but they say it can be related to genetic factors, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and possibly too much heavy lifting and carrying. My cervical spine from C1 through C6 is fused and a large number of vertebrae in thoracic spine are also fused. I do have bone spurs but the only difficulty I have had is with occasional numbness in my arms/hands, my voice is a bit hoarse and, of course, back pain. More men have DISH than women. Diabetes runs in my mother's family but I am not diabetic. I always wondered if all the heavy labor I did while building a house and garage with my husband and remodeling 2 others contributed to this arthritis. I was 58 when diagnosed. I do have hypertension and high cholesterol.