Symptoms of Arthritis of the Spine

The symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis are varied and tend to develop gradually over several years.

Knowing what symptoms to look for treating them early can slow down the progression of osteoarthritis.

Arthritis Symptoms in the Back and Neck

The way that arthritis symptoms present depends on many variables, including how much joint degeneration has occurred and where it is located the spine.

• Arthritis pain in the lumbar spine is typically described as dull and aching, and there may be flareups of intense pain.  The pain may be concentrated in the lower back and/or in the buttocks, groin, and/or back of the thigh. Radiating pain can also occur in the leg (calf or sides) and foot.
• Arthritis pain in the cervical spine (neck) may cause pain in the neck, shoulders, upper back, and/or middle back. Radiating pain can also occur in the arm, hand, and fingers. Frequent headaches may also occur.
• Pain worsens with certain activities.  There are several positions and activities that make arthritis pain worse, such as twisting, deep arching, heavy lifting, or high-intensity activities, such as jogging.
• Pain is better with rest.  Lying down often relieves back and neck pain.
• Stiffness.  Bone friction and swelling in the facet joints may make the spine stiff and less flexible. The stiffness is worse upon waking in the morning or after sitting for a long time.

• Back popping or crunching.   The facet joins in your spine may crunch or grind when you bend or arch your back. This tends to happen because the cartilage in the facet joints has worn away and is not protecting the facet joints from friction. The medical term for this symptom is "crepitus."

  Side note: The sensation of crunching and popping is common in younger people and does not necessarily mean that joint damage has occurred. In fact, many people who experience crunching or popping have normal spine anatomy and may never have had pain.

• Hunched or slouched appearance.  Osteoarthritis of the spine and bad posture often go hand in hand.  A slouched posture puts stress on the facet joints and encourages the development of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis tends to further the development of other degenerative changes that makes it more difficult to maintain spinal alignment and good posture.
• Swelling.  When the cartilage of the facet joints wears away, the bones can rub together, resulting in inflammation and swelling. This swelling may be mild and go unnoticed.
• Tenderness. For some people, the affected area may be tender to the touch.
  

Related Conditions that Cause Tingling, Numbness, or Weakness

Osteoarthritis can stimulate back muscle spasms, the growth of bone spurs, or other degenerative changes that cause the spinal cord or its nerve roots to become compressed.

When the spinal cord or a nerve root is squeezed, the symptoms show up along the path of the nerve and/or the spinal cord.

Separate diagnoses are used when nerve tissues are involved. These diagnoses and their symptoms include:

• Lumbar spinal stenosis may be diagnosed when a nerve root in the low back is impinged or compressed because the opening that it travels through becomes narrower. The nerve root impingement leads to symptoms such as pain, tingling, weakness, and/or numbness that radiates from the lower back into the buttock, thigh, leg, and/or foot (also called sciatica).
• Cervical spinal stenosis may be diagnosed when a nerve root in the neck is compressed or irritated. The nerve root impingement may lead to radiating pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness that goes down the arm, hand and/or fingers.
• Cervical spinal stenosis with myelopathy occurs when bone spurs grow inside the cervical spinal column—the space through which the spinal cord travels—and impinge on the spinal cord. It can affect fine motor skills such as handwriting and other activities that require a high degree of coordination.
• Lumbar spinal stenosis with myelopathy occurs when bone spurs inside the lumbar spinal column impinge on the spinal cord and/or nerves. This condition tends to affect walking, balance, and standing for long periods of time. Physicians may refer to this condition as neurogenic claudication.

In most but not all cases, the symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis come and go, becoming worse and more frequent over months or years. If back pain develops suddenly, it is more likely to be caused by a strained muscle or other trauma or condition, and not by spine osteoarthritis.

Early recognition of symptoms and appropriate treatment can dramatically slow or eliminate the progression of osteoarthritis symptoms.