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What Causes Pain And Stiffness In The Back In An Elderly Person?
Question: I am a 71 year old female
I experienced lower back pain last year but now it seems to have changed
When I sleep I can only sleep on my right side my left side hurts
When I get up I am very stiff in the back when that loosens up I experience pain in both legs all day long that inhibits my walking, I occasionally loose my balance and I walk very slowly
I am wondering if this is a sign of arthritis in the hips. I already have been to
D I have arthritis in both my knees. My legs feel as if I have a bad charley house all day long and it is quite painful
I experienced lower back pain last year but now it seems to have changed
When I sleep I can only sleep on my right side my left side hurts
When I get up I am very stiff in the back when that loosens up I experience pain in both legs all day long that inhibits my walking, I occasionally loose my balance and I walk very slowly
I am wondering if this is a sign of arthritis in the hips. I already have been to
D I have arthritis in both my knees. My legs feel as if I have a bad charley house all day long and it is quite painful
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from your description, more than arthritis of the hips, the first thing to be considered should be arthritis of the spine. By that I mean spinal arthritic changes like bulging discs and bony spurs causing narrowing of the spinal canal compressing the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
Such narrowing (stenosis) may cause weakness and pain in the lower limbs when walking when in the lumbar region as well as balance issues, pain and spasticity when there is cord compression in the neck.
So I really think you should have a neurological consult to check for other neurological signs like altered reflexes, altered muscle strength, spasticity etc and spinal imaging possibly of the entire spine.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from your description, more than arthritis of the hips, the first thing to be considered should be arthritis of the spine. By that I mean spinal arthritic changes like bulging discs and bony spurs causing narrowing of the spinal canal compressing the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
Such narrowing (stenosis) may cause weakness and pain in the lower limbs when walking when in the lumbar region as well as balance issues, pain and spasticity when there is cord compression in the neck.
So I really think you should have a neurological consult to check for other neurological signs like altered reflexes, altered muscle strength, spasticity etc and spinal imaging possibly of the entire spine.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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