According to the Mayo Clinic, the joints most commonly affected by arthritis are the hips, hands, knees, and lower back. Arthritis is a condition that involves the breakdown of cartilage and the inappropriate thickening of bone in joints. The spine is vulnerable to arthritis because of the tremendous wear and tear that this part of your body is subjected to over the years. The spine is responsible for structurally maintaining the upper half of your body. In addition, its architecture allows flexibility in bending, extending and twisting. However, over time arthritis can lead to spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) and cause significant symptoms affecting the fact.
Back Pain
According to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), if you develop spinal stenosis, you may or may not have back pain. Of course, the intensity and character of the pain depends how bad the arthritis has developed and where the narrowing is located. This pain occurs because the new bone formation from arthritis irritates sensory nerves in your back. In addition, the new bone formations can touch each other or existing bone and cause pain. If you are experiencing back pain, alert your doctor so he can perform the proper tests.
Radiating Pain
Radiating pain, or radiculopathy, is the radiation of pain along the distribution of a nerve. For example, if a nerve coming from the back is aggravated by arthritis, you may feel pain from the back to other parts of the body that the nerve travels to. The most common radiculopathy from back arthritis is sciatica. According to the AAOS, sciatica is not a condition but a term that describes the radiation of pain from the buttocks to the back of the leg because of a slipped disc or lower back arthritis. This pain can be a dull ache or a burning feeling. The type of radiating pain depends on the location of the nerve that is compressed by arthritis. If you are experiencing a radiating type of pain from your back to other parts of your body, it is possible that you may have back arthritis. However, seek medical diagnosis and treatment from your doctor.
Weakness
Because nerves carry signals to muscles, weakness can occur when these nerves are compressed by arthritis, according to the AAOS. Therefore, weakness is not in the muscle itself, but in the signal telling the muscle to contract. This can result in foot drop, which is a weakness in elevating the foot. The area that becomes weak due to back arthritis depends on which nerve is compressed in your back. If you are experiencing weakness in any of your arms or legs, you should be fully evaluated by your doctor.
