One of the leading causes of spinal degeneration is osteoarthritis. When the cartilage that protects the joints in the spine wears away over time, the ends of the bones begin to rub against each other, leading to inflammation, pain and degeneration. This process not only causes the spine to lose its inherent flexibility but also compresses the nerves, forms bone spurs and increases the risk of disc herniation.
Osteoarthritis is the initiating factor and also the underlying cause of the gradual weakening of the spinal structure, thereby causing symptoms of pain, stiffness and loss of motor function.
Spinal degeneration is the term used to refer to osteoarthritis that occurs in the spine. This is one of the most common forms of arthritis and tends to increase with age. However, being common does not mean that it is easy to recognize or easy to live with this disease.
According to statistics, more than 80% of people over 40 years old have signs of spinal degeneration on X-rays, but not everyone has obvious symptoms. However, when problems arise, they often lead to the following five common signs that many people face.
Signs of spinal degeneration due to osteoarthritis
Here are 5 common signs:
1. Pain
Pain is the most typical and common sign of spinal degeneration. This condition can affect any part of the spine, but is most common in the neck and lower back. The level of pain can be mild, dull or severe enough to cause disability.
The difference is that the pain does not stop at the spine but can also radiate along the affected nerve. If the damage occurs in the neck, the pain can radiate down the shoulders, arms and hands. If it is in the lower back, the patient may have sciatica pain that radiates down the buttocks and legs.
In particular, the pain often becomes worse when performing repetitive movements such as bending, twisting the back or lifting heavy objects.
2. Unusual sensations
In addition to pain, the patient may also experience many other uncomfortable sensations along the compressed or damaged nerve. These can be numbness, muscle weakness, tingling, sharp pain or burning.
As the disease progresses, you may notice a loss of sensation in the affected area such as no longer feeling vibration, temperature or pain, a sign that the nerve is seriously damaged.
3. Stiffness and reduced range of motion
Degenerative spine disease, like other forms of arthritis, can cause stiffness, making it difficult to move or move flexibly. This is due to damage to the facet joints, the small joints located between the vertebrae that help the spine be flexible and supple when turning, bending or twisting.
Many people notice that stiffness appears clearly after sitting for a long time, lying down for a long time or not moving for a period of time. Restarting movement will be difficult and painful.
4. Crackling sound in the spine
Another quite typical sign of spinal degeneration is the cracking, rustling sound every time the spine moves. This sound comes from the wear of the joint surfaces when moving.
Sometimes, even if you do not feel pain or stiffness, this sound still appears when you turn or bend over, and this can also be an early warning sign of spinal degeneration.
5. Loss of function
In more severe stages, spinal degeneration not only causes pain and stiffness but also directly affects the function of many organs in the body. When the nerve roots or spinal cord are severely compressed
The patient may experience the following problems:
- Clumsiness in the hands: dropping objects, reduced ability to coordinate movements.
- Difficulty maintaining balance: easy to stumble or lose stability when walking.
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction: urinary incontinence, constipation or uncontrolled diarrhea.
In addition, degenerative spine disease also increases the risk of compression fractures, leading to weakness, pain or even paralysis in different parts of the body.
