Spondylosis
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Spondylosis
Spondylosis is a general term for degeneration, or “wear and tear,” of the spine (also called arthritis or osteoarthritis). Spondylosis is very common, especially in older adults, and becomes more common with age.
Patients with spondylosis in their spine can have symptoms such as neck or back pain, muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, or pain in the arms or legs. These can all be caused by the spondylosis itself, or by a pinched nerve affecting the arm or leg. If the spondylosis affects the spinal cord directly, patients can develop numbness or weakness in the hands, problems with balance and gait, or urinary symptoms.
Many cases of spondylosis have no specific symptoms and do not require any treatment. If the spondylosis is causing symptoms, it can often be treated effectively with non-surgical options. These include:
- Diet and exercise changes
- Weight loss
- Hot/Cold compresses
- Yoga
- Acupuncture
- Medications including NSAIDs, muscle relaxers
- Steroid or anesthetic injections (performed by a doctor such as a physiatrist or pain management specialist)
Surgery is considered for selected patients who have failed these interventions and have a clear structural problem that can be corrected with surgery, such as
- Bone spurs
- Herniated discs
- Overgrown ligaments
- Spinal instability
- Cyst or Tumor
If you have spondylosis that is unrelieved by non-surgical treatments, feel free to contact my office for a consultation or imaging review.
