Is acute, perpetual pain in the back a symptom of arthritis?

I have recently been told by my doctor that I have arthritis in my back. I was suffering from acute and perpetual pain on right side of my back, and it is a sharp pain. It happened a couple of weeks ago and I was recommended to undergo a course of physical therapy which could subside the pain, however it could not help that effectively. I don’t know much about this health problem, but I would really want to know if someone else is facing some similar kind of problem. Are there any solutions to it? Please suggest.