Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease of the joints that occurs when the protective cartilage at the ends of bones gradually wears away over time. It is the most common form of arthritis in the world, affecting more than 32 million Americans and millions of people worldwide. This wear and tear causes bones to rub against each other, causing pain, inflammation, and limited mobility. What’s unique about osteoarthritis is that symptoms often get worse over time if not properly treated.
Many people often think that osteoarthritis only affects large joints such as the knees, hips, or hands. However, this disease can also be a potential cause of back pain, one of the most common types of pain people experience.
Understanding Back Pain and Osteoarthritis
While there are many causes of back pain, osteoarthritis is one of the most common but often overlooked culprits. This condition occurs in the small joints along the spine, causing pain, stiffness, and limited movement.
Many people with chronic back pain actually have degenerative arthritis in the spine that they do not realize. Osteoarthritis of the spine often affects two important groups of joints:
Facet Joints
These are the small joints that connect the vertebrae together, allowing the spine to flex and rotate flexibly while maintaining stability. When the cartilage in the facet joints wears away, the vertebrae begin to rub directly against each other, causing back pain, especially when you stand or move.
Sacroiliac Joints
Located at the position connecting the spine to the pelvis, the sacroiliac joints play an important role in distributing weight from the upper body to the legs. When osteoarthritis affects this area, the patient may feel pain in the lower back, hips, or down the legs.
Common Warning Signs
Back pain caused by osteoarthritis of the spine often begins silently and can be easily confused with normal pain. However, there are some typical signs that help you recognize this disease early.
Here are 6 common signs that often occur, including:
1. Joint Stiffness
You may notice that your back joints become stiff and less flexible, especially in the morning when you wake up or after a long time sitting still. This feeling of stiffness often lasts from a few minutes to hours and makes it difficult for you to do simple movements such as bending, stretching or turning your back.
2. Joint Pain
The pain often appears in the neck or lower back, at first it is just a slight ache but over time it will become more obvious. In particular, the pain tends to increase when you are active, stand for a long time or change positions suddenly. On the contrary, when you lie down to rest, the pain may be somewhat relieved.
3. Reduced Range of Motion
As the cartilage wears away and the joints become damaged, your mobility will gradually decrease. Movements such as bending, rotating the hips, or simply twisting become difficult and painful. This limited mobility not only affects daily activities but also makes your body more susceptible to sluggishness and fatigue.
4. Numbness or Weakness in the Arms or Legs
Some people with osteoarthritis also experience numbness or weakness in the limbs. This occurs when bone spurs or degeneration compress the nerves that run through the spine, affecting sensation in the arms or legs. You may feel a loss of strength, obvious weakness, or sometimes numbness like needles.
5. Tingling in the Legs
When the nervous system is damaged by osteoarthritis, many people also experience tingling, prickling in the legs, especially when standing for long periods of time or moving a lot. This symptom sometimes lasts even when you rest, causing discomfort and anxiety.
6. Pain Relieves When Lying Down
One of the most notable features is that the pain often subsides when you lie down and becomes worse when standing for a long time, sitting up or moving. This is a typical sign that the spine is under pressure and damaged by osteoarthritis. However, not everyone has obvious symptoms. Some people have severe spinal joint damage but do not feel pain in the early stages. Early recognition of these signs is extremely important so that you can see a doctor and get timely diagnosis and treatment, prevent complications and improve your quality of life.
