Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the spinal joints and vertebral discs of the back. It is a degenerative disease that causes the cartilage of joints to wear down, damaging surrounding tissues and bones. As the body attempts to repair damaged cartilage, bone and tissues, bone overgrowth can occur at the edges of joints. This overgrowth causes rough, uneven surfaces. BigBackPain.com reports that, though it can occur at any time, osteoarthritis typically develops after the age of 45 and is most common after the age of 60.
Pain and Stiffness
Back pain and stiffness are often the first symptoms of osteoarthritis in the back. According to the Merck Manual, pain and stiffness may be worse in the morning, improve during the day and then worsen again at night. Touching or moving the back may cause pain to increase. Many patients respond to back pain by reducing their activity in an attempt to rest their backs. However, this only makes stiffness and pain worse in the long-term because inactivity causes back muscles to weaken, placing even more stress on joints. Severity of back pain and stiffness will increase as osteoarthritis progresses.
Neurological Impairment
Osteoarthritis that develops in the neck or lower back can cause numbness, tingling, pain and weakness in one or both arms or legs, shoulders or buttocks. The Merck Manual reports that osteoarthritis causes an overgrowth of bones, which may compress nerves in and around the spinal canal. As a result, some patients may experience headaches or a loss of balance. Pain from compressed nerves may also radiate down one or both legs and may be worse with walking.
Other Symptoms
MayoClinic.com reports that some patients may experience hard lumps around the affected bones of the spine. These lumps, called bone spurs, are extra bone growth caused by osteoarthritis. Bone spurs and the joints near them may become swollen and tender to the touch. In rare cases, extra bony growths may compress the esophagus, making swallowing difficult.
