Most people think of arthritis as swollen knuckles or achy knees. But the spine is one of the most common places arthritis develops. Issues such as back pain or neck pain that starts gradually, stiffness that's worse in the morning, or tingling that shoots down your arm or leg could trace back to arthritis in your spine.
At The Spine Institute of Southeast Texas, board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Thomas Jones II, MD, works with patients across Pearland, Houston, and Lake Jackson, Texas, who are struggling with arthritis-related spine conditions. Here's what you should know about spinal arthritis and what you can do about it.
Your spine is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae, stacked on top of one another and connected by joints, discs, and ligaments. Like any joint in your body, these structures can deteriorate over time. Arthritis occurs when those joints break down and develop ongoing inflammation.
There are two main types of arthritis that affect the spine.
OA is a wear-and-tear condition that breaks down the smooth cushioning between your vertebrae (cartilage). As that cartilage wears away, bones start rubbing together. Your body tries to compensate by growing bone spurs, which can press on nearby nerves and narrow the spinal canal.
Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis fall into this category. Instead of wear, the immune system attacks the joints. Over time, chronic inflammation can erode joint tissue and, in some cases, cause vertebrae to fuse. That fusion limits movement and can lead to lasting changes in posture.
Arthritis doesn't just cause pain at the joint itself. It sets off a chain of changes that can affect the nerves running through and around your spine. Here's what that can look like.
As bone spurs grow and ligaments thicken, the canal that houses your spinal cord can narrow. This is called spinal stenosis. The condition can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in your arms or legs, and these symptoms often get worse when you stand or walk.
The discs between the bones of your spine work like built-in shock absorbers, helping your back handle everyday movement and impact. Arthritis can cause these discs to wear down faster than normal. As they thin out and lose flexibility, the spine becomes less stable, which increases the chance that nearby nerves may become pinched or compressed.
When bone spurs or a narrowed canal press on a spinal nerve root, pain, tingling, or weakness can travel along the nerve's path. A problem in your neck can cause symptoms in your arm or hand. An issue in your lower back can radiate into your hip, leg, or foot. This pattern, called radiculopathy, is a key sign that nerve compression is involved.
Arthritis often develops slowly in the spine, and it's easy to chalk up early symptoms to normal aging. Common signs include:
Symptoms that travel into your limbs or affect your balance deserve prompt attention. They may mean a nerve is under significant pressure.
Dr. Jones begins with a conservative approach to spine care. For most patients, that starts with a personalized plan that can include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, activity changes, and image-guided injections to reduce inflammation and nerve irritation.
The goal is to ease pain, improve movement, and slow joint breakdown. When those treatments don't provide enough relief, or when nerve compression threatens your long-term function, minimally invasive spine surgery may be the right next step.
Dr. Jones uses advanced techniques that address the source of the problem through smaller incisions, reducing risk and supporting a faster recovery.
Spinal arthritis is a progressive condition, but it's treatable. Most patients can get relief and stay active with the right plan in place.
If you're dealing with persistent back or neck pain, or abnormal sensations, contact The Spine Institute of Southeast Texas. Call 713-987-7760 to schedule an evaluation with our team and start on the path toward relief.
