Spinal osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis of the spine is a condition that affects the spine ligaments, the cartilage between the spine bones, and the facet joints. Osteoarthritis is called a degenerative joint disease that affects various parts of the body such as hips, spine, hands, and knees.
Over age, the cartilage around the facet joints wears away and dehydrates the invertebral discs that are originally made of water. This causes narrowing of the spinal discs and puts more pressure on the facet joints.
In this blog, we will discuss the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis of spinal osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis
You will notice various symptoms of pain and stiffness in case of osteoarthritis of the spine. The most common sign is lower back pain. During the initial stages of the condition, you may only experience pain after hours of inactivity in the morning.
Being a progressive disease, spinal osteoarthritis shows symptoms that worsen over time. The major symptoms to look out for, include:
- Joint stiffness
- Joint tenderness
- Numbness or weakness in the arms and legs
- Tingling sensation in the legs
- Limited range of motion
Back pain due to spinal arthritis increases when sitting straight or standing. It generally improves on lying down.
Some people may not have any symptoms of osteoarthritis of the spine but still, get diagnosed with the condition.
Causes of spinal osteoarthritis
The most significant cause of osteoarthritis is a gradual deterioration of cartilage between the joints of the lower back. The accurate cause of cartilage damage is still not known, but some people are at greater risk of progressive bone disease, especially individuals with an experience of spine trauma.
If you have experienced a bone injury while young, your cartilage will break down faster than normal. Some of the confirmed causes of spinal osteoarthritis include:
- Obesity
- Bone injury at a young age
- Being a female
- Growing age
- Being in an occupation that involves repetitive stress on the spine
- Family history of osteoarthritis
- Defective cartilage or joints at birth
Diagnosis of spinal osteoarthritis
When you suffer from spinal osteoarthritis and see related symptoms, you should seek an appointment with an orthopedician. The doctor will start by asking about your family history and conduct a physical examination to detect the existing signs and symptoms.
If you have weakness or numbness in the back or neck, discuss the symptoms with your doctor. The common imaging tests involved in the diagnosis of spinal osteoarthritis are X-rays and MRIs. The tests help to track any bone damage, loss of cartilage, bone spurs, and more.
In cases that seem a bit complicated to diagnose the exact cause, the doctor may also suggest taking blood samples for ruling out the underlying condition.
There are bone specialists who may ask to get a joint fluid analysis done for better surety. In case you experience a limited range of motion or tenderness in the joints, reach out for a detailed diagnosis from a skilled orthopedist.