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At Advanced Neurosurgery in Reno and Carson City, Nevada, we often see arthritis and spinal stenosis occur together. Our elite team of fellowship-trained, board-certified surgeons understands the complex relationship between the two conditions, and we're here to shed some light on the topic.
Understanding the conditions
When discussed alongside spinal stenosis, arthritis in the spine usually means osteoarthritis. It's known as the “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis because it typically happens as cartilage (the slick coating over the bones) breaks down over time. Over 33 million American adults have osteoarthritis today, and nearly 90% of them are 45 or older.
Your spinal canal houses and protects the spinal cord and nerve roots. Over time, osteoarthritis can cause changes that narrow this space, triggering spinal stenosis. Nearly 7% of people over 50 have spinal stenosis.
How arthritis changes the spinal canal
Over the years, the soft, cushion-like discs between the spinal vertebrae (bones) gradually lose moisture and thin out. These discs normally serve as shock absorbers, so when they shrink, more of the body’s weight shifts onto the vertebrae.
Specifically, it puts pressure on the facet joints, the small joints at the back of the spine that guide movements like bending and twisting. The extra pressure starts breaking down the cartilage on the facet joints. When you lose the protective surface, your bones rub against each other, creating friction and inflammation.
The body tries to repair this joint damage by building extra bone, creating projections called bone spurs. These bone spurs can extend into the spinal canal, reducing the space available for the nerves.
Beyond cartilage damage, the joint capsule itself can thicken, creating synovial cysts that project into the spinal canal. The ligamentum flavum, a band of tissue spanning the back of the spinal canal, can also thicken in response to osteoarthritis, making it fold inward and causing additional narrowing.
The end result: frustrating symptoms
Each of these changes may not seem dramatic on its own, but together they can crowd the limited space inside the spinal canal and compress the delicate nerves in your spine.
This nerve compression, coupled with the bone-on-bone arthritis damage, can cause:
- Neck or lower back pain
- Pain that lessens when leaning forward
- Tingling in the legs, arms, or buttocks
- Numbness in the legs, arms, or buttocks
- Cramping in the legs, arms, or buttocks
- Arm or leg weakness
- Balance problems
In severe cases, bladder and bowel function may suffer.
Does everyone with arthritis get spinal stenosis?
Not necessarily. The degree of narrowing and the way nerves respond can vary greatly from person to person. However, for those who do develop stenosis, the symptoms can significantly affect daily activities, from walking and standing to simply enjoying normal routines.
While these changes are often part of the natural aging process, treatments such as physical therapy, medications, regenerative medicine, and minimally invasive spine surgery can dramatically reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
If pain is slowing you down, you don't have to suffer long-term. Call Advanced Neurosurgery at 775-312-8120 to schedule your consultation in Reno or Carson City.