A:
It can be difficult to tell whether a person's symptoms are due to arthritis in the lower spine or spinal stenosis. In fact, you could have both conditions.
Arthritis is joint inflammation. In the spine, the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. In this condition, the cartilage that lines the small joints between the vertebrae deteriorates. Osteoarthritis is a common cause of back pain, especially in adults over age 50.
With spinal stenosis, the space surrounding the spinal cord is narrowed. Common symptoms include back pain, leg numbness or weakness that's worse when standing or walking and better when sitting or leaning forward.
A person can be born with spinal stenosis or it may develop as the result of:
- a bulging disc
- age-related ligament thickening
- osteoarthritis
So, while osteoarthritis can cause back pain, it can also contribute to spinal stenosis (which may also cause back pain).
Your doctor will question the details about your symptoms, give you a physical examination and maybe send your for imaging studies (such as MRI) to help sort out whether you have arthritis, spinal stenosis or both.
