The bony growths can cause localized pain in the low back or leg pain related to nerve impingement. A herniated intervertebral disc may cause back pain associated with muscle spasms, but is more commonly severe leg pain related to pinching of the spinal nerve in the low back.
The disease can occur in any joint in the body and is most commonly symptomatic in the small joints in the hands and feet. When rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints in the spine, it is far more common for the neck (cervical spine) to be affected than for the lower back.