Spondylosis

Spondylosis Is a Descriptive Term As with many other terms to describe spinal problems, spondylosis is more of a descriptive term than it is a clinical diagnosis. Literally it can be translated to mean that one has both pain and spine degeneration, regardless of what is causing the pain or where the degeneration is occurring. Watch: For example: • The patient may have pain from • There could be • The pain could be caused by These examples are only a few of the many possible contributors to a patient's pain. See Dr. David DeWitt is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at the NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin, where he specializes in spine surgery. He has more than 15 years of experience evaluating and treating spine diseases and trauma. Pagination Next Page: Pages: • 1 • • • Share on Facebook • Share on Pinterest • Share on Twitter • Subscribe to our newsletter • Print this article • Email this article This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions. © 1999-2023 Veritas Health, LLC. All rights reserved. Veritas Health, LLC, 520 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350, Deerfield, IL, 60015

• • Wear and tear on the joints and disks of the spine that cause neck and back pain and stiffness • • Symptoms include neck or back pain, decreased flexibility and range of motion of back and neck • • Treatment includes activity modification, medications, massage, compresses, physical therapy, spinal injections, surgery • • Involves orthopaedics & rehabilitation, spine surgery, neurology, physical medicine & rehabilitation Neck or back pain that develops as we age may be a sign of spondylosis, a degenerative condition that affects the spine. Spondylosis is a normal, age-related condition. In fact, an estimated 90% of adults aged 60 years or older have this condition. However, most people with spondylosis are generally asymptomatic and don’t experience significant pain or other issues related to these arthritic changes. As we age, the joints and disks of the spine may start to wear out, which can cause pain and stiffness in the neck and back. In addition, associated bone spurs and disk herniation can potentially lead to nerve compression in the spine, which can cause symptoms of pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms or legs. Spondylosis affects men and women equally, but it is more common in certain individuals, including athletes, people who do heavy physical labor for a living, and smokers. Even though spondylosis doesn’t necessarily cause symptoms, there are safe and effective treatment options available for patients who do experience pain or neurologic changes relate...

Picture of Cervical Spondylosis • The word spondylosis comes from the Greek word for vertebrae. • Spondylosis refers to degenerative changes in the spine such as • Spondylosis changes in the spine are frequently referred to as • Spondylosis can occur in the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper and mid back), or lumbar spine (low back). Lumbar spondylosis and cervical spondylosis are the most common. • Thoracic spondylosis frequently does not cause symptoms. • Lumbosacral spondylosis is spondylosis that affects both the lumbar spine and the sacral spine (below the lumbar spine, in the midline between the buttocks). • Multilevel spondylosis means that these changes affect multiple vertebrae in the spine. • There are several medical terms that sound similar to and are often confused with spondylosis including the following: • Spondylitis is inflammation of one or more vertebrae, such as in • Spondylolysis is the incomplete development and formation of the connecting part of the vertebra, the pars interarticularis. This defect predisposes to spondylolisthesis (see below) because of spinal instability. • Spondylolisthesis is the forward or backward displacement of the body of one vertebra in relation to an adjacent vertebra. For example, anterior spondylolisthesis of L4 on L5 means that the fourth lumbar vertebra has slipped forward on the fifth lumbar vertebra. As a result, the spine is not normally aligned. If the displaced vertebrae shift with the movement of the spi...

Spondylosis is a type of arthritis spurred by wear and tear to the spine. It happens when discs and joints degenerate, when bone spurs grow on the vertebrae, or both. These changes can impair the spine’s movement and affect the nerves and other functions. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, more than Other types of spondylosis develop in different parts of the spine: • Thoracic spondylosis affects the middle of the spine. • Lumbar spondylosis affects the lower back. • Multilevel spondylosis affects more than one part of the spine. The effects of spondylosis vary among individuals, but they do not usually cause serious problems. When a person has Spinal osteoarthritis is another term for spondylosis. Osteoarthritis describes Share on Pinterest Spondylosis happens when the discs and joints of the spine degenerate with age. The spine helps give the body structure and supports most of its weight. It also carries and protects almost all of the main nerve branches that run from the brain. The spine curved, not straight, and the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar parts of the spine contain 24 bones known as vertebrae. Between these vertebrae are joints that allow the spine to move flexibly. These are called the facet joints. Also, soft, rubbery tissue called intervertebral discs separate the vertebrae. These consist of cartilage endplates and a tough exterior, the annulus fibrosus, surrounding an inner core, the nucleus pulposus. Intervertebral discs help achie...

• • • • • • • What is spondylosis? Spondylosis is another word for Although any part of the spine may be affected, spondylosis is more frequently seen in the spine’s highest and lowest sections – the cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) areas, respectively. The condition is less commonly found in the thoracic spine (middle portion), possibly because the rib cage serves to stabilize this area and make it less subject to the effects of wear and tear over time. Illustration of cross-section of spine, dorsal (back to front) and lateral (side) views, showing its vertebral sections. What are the symptoms of spondylosis? People with spondylosis experience may or may not experience pain or, indeed, any symptoms at all. Those who have no symptoms may become aware of the condition only when they are being assessed for another medical issue that calls for imaging of the spine with an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. When symptoms are present, they vary depending on the area where the condition develops and the structures that are affected, but they can include pain or limited range of motion. Individuals with spondylosis who are otherwise without pain may experience crepitus, a feeling or sound of crunching in the spine, along with a limited range of motion. This usually is not concerning for nerve or spinal cord damage. What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis? Neck pain and/or stiffness are common symptoms. In cases where spondylotic changes to the spine put pressure on adjacent nerve...

Overview Cervical spondylosis is a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal disks in your neck. As the disks dehydrate and shrink, signs of osteoarthritis develop, including bony projections along the edges of bones (bone spurs). Cervical spondylosis is very common and worsens with age. More than 85% of people older than age 60 are affected by cervical spondylosis. Symptoms Most people experience no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they typically include pain and stiffness in the neck. Sometimes, cervical spondylosis results in a narrowing of the spinal canal within the bones of the spine (the vertebrae). The spinal canal is the space inside the vertebrae that the spinal cord and the nerve roots pass through to reach the rest of the body. If the spinal cord or nerve roots become pinched, you might experience: • Tingling, numbness and weakness in the arms, hands, legs or feet • Lack of coordination and difficulty walking • Loss of bladder or bowel control When to see a doctor Seek medical attention if you notice a sudden onset of numbness or weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Cervical spondylosis Cervical spondylosis is the degeneration of the bones and disks in the neck. This condition can lead to a variety of problems, including herniated disks and bone spurs. As people age, the structures that make up the backbone and neck gradually develop wear and tear. These changes can include: • Dehydrated disks. Disks act like cushions between th...

Spondylolysis is a small crack between two vertebrae (the bones in your spine). Spondylolysis usually causes lower back pain. Most people don’t need surgery to treat it. Rest, medication and physical therapy are most successful when started early, so visit a healthcare provider if you or your child have back pain. Overview What is spondylolysis? “Spondylolysis” is the medical term for a small crack ( Healthcare providers sometimes refer to spondylolysis as pars defect or pars fractures because it affects your pars interarticularis — the tiny ridges of bone that link your vertebrae together. Spondylolysis most commonly affects your lower back ( How common is spondylolysis? Experts estimate that spondylolysis affects less than 10% of Americans each year. It’s more common in kids and teens, especially children who play contact sports. Symptoms and Causes What are the symptoms of spondylolysis? Lower back pain is the most common spondylosis symptom. The pain usually: • Spreads (radiates) from your lower back into your • Feels like a • Gets worse during physical activity and improves with rest or when you’re less active. Some people with spondylolysis never experience symptoms. These people may only learn they have it when they have an imaging test for another reason later on. What causes spondylolysis? Damage to part of your vertebrae called the pars interarticularis causes spondylolysis. The pars interarticularis are thin pieces of bone that link your vertebrae directly above...

Cervical spondylosis is the natural wearing down of cartilage, disks, ligaments and bones in your neck. Main symptoms include neck pain or stiffness. Physical therapy; ice, heat, massage; soft collar and drugs are first-to-be-tried approaches. More severe cases, such as herniated disk, bone spurs or pinched nerves, are treated with injections or surgery. Overview Cervical spondylosis affects one or more of the first seven vertebrae (and related parts) of the spine. What is cervical spondylosis? Cervical spondylosis is a general term for age-related wear and tear in the cervical spine (neck) that can lead to neck pain, neck stiffness and other symptoms. Sometimes this condition is called arthritis or osteoarthritis of the neck. What are the parts of the cervical spine? Your entire spine is made up of 24 vertebrae (bones of the spine). The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae that begin at the base of the skull. Running through an opening of the entire vertebral column are the spinal cord and its nerves. The spinal cord and nerves carry messages between the brain and rest of body, including muscles and organs. Between each vertebrae are disks. The disks act like the body’s shock absorbers. The disks are made of flexible but strong connective tissue filled with a gel-like material. Disks are like “jelly-filled, cushy doughnuts” between each vertebrae. There are three joints between each pair of vertebrae. The front joint is called the intervertebral disk. Two joints in ...

This article needs additional citations for Please help Find sources: · · · · ( August 2014) ( Spondylosis is the degeneration of the Spondylosis Thoracic spondylosis When the space between two adjacent vertebrae narrows, compression of a nerve root emerging from the spóndylos, "a vertebra", in plural "vertebrae – the backbone". Signs and symptoms Cervical spondylosis In cervical spondylosis, a patient may be presented with dull neck pain with neck stiffness in the initial stages of the disease. As the disease progresses, symptoms related to In cervical radiculopathy, there would be numbness, tingling, or burning pain at the skin area supplied by the spinal nerve, shooting pain along the course of the spinal nerve, or weakness or absent In cervical myelopathy, almost always involves both the upper and lower limbs. A person may experience difficult gait or limb stiffness in the early stages of the disease. Lumbar spondylosis Since the spinal cord ends at L1 or L2 vertebral levels, the job of nerve transmission is continued by spinal nerves for the remaining part of the vertebral canal. Degenerative process of spondylosis such as disc bulging, osteophyte formation, and hypertrophy of the superior articular process all contributes to the narrowing of the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen, leading to compression of these spinal nerves that results in radiculopathy-related symptoms. Narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal causes a clinical condition known as Complications A ...