Spondylosis
Pain in the Neck and Back due to Wear-and-Tear or Aging
Spondylosis describes the
wear-and-tear of joints, discs, and ligaments in the spine. Spondylosis is also known as a
degeneration (or aging) of the spine. It is a common problem,
seen in most people as they grow older. While spondylosis creates neck and back pain in some people,
others experience no symptoms at all.
Contact National Spine & Pain Centers to
schedule an appointment with an affiliated pain specialist for Spondylosis treatment today.
Facts and Information About Spondylosis
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Spondylosis may appear anywhere in the spine, but is
most common in the neck (cervical spondylosis) and low back (lumbar spondylosis), areas that are under a lot of strain.
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Spondylosis is a common condition, that
worsens with age. More than 85 percent of people older than age 60 have cervical spondylosis.
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Spondylosis
usually develops in people over 40 years of age, but it can affect younger people who suffer physical strain or an injury.
Why Spondylosis Develops
For many people, spondylosis is a
normal part of aging. For other people, spondylosis results from playing
high impact sports, strain on the job, car accidents, poor posture, or smoking.
How Spondylosis Develops
Once spondylosis starts,
a lot of changes are seen in a person’s spine. Much like a domino effect, as the joints start to wear down, other parts
of the spine (the ligaments and backbones) also start to age and change
for the worst.
Changes in the spine may include:
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Arthritic joints. The
cartilage in the small facet joints found between the backbones wears down, making movement in the spine difficult and painful. It leads to
grinding or popping when a person moves.
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Growth of bone spurs. As the facet joints wear down, the back bones start to rub together, causing
friction. This creates bone growths, called
bone spurs, that make the spine stiff and create pain when moving the neck or back.
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Stiff ligaments. Ligaments are strips of tissue that connect one bone to another bone.
In the spine,
ligaments can stiffen with age, making the neck and back less flexible.
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Pinched Nerves. Due to arthritic joints and bone spurs, the spaces where spinal nerves
exit the spine start to shrink. This can
pinch the spinal nerves, causing muscle weakness and severe pain in the
neck, shoulders, arms, back, or legs.
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Pressure on the spinal cord. Although uncommon, spondylosis can create pressure on the spinal cord.
This is a serious situation where a person starts to have
trouble walking and loses control of their bowel or bladder.
Other problems linked to Spondylosis are
disc degeneration,
spinal stenosis, and scoliosis.
How a Diagnosis of Spondylosis is Made
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A diagnosis is based on a person’s
pain pattern (where they have pain in the neck or back) and on a
neurological exam that looks for signs of nerve damage, such as weakness or loss of sensation.
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Imaging tests such as X-rays can show arthritic joints and bone spurs.
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Nerve conduction tests and MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging) give more detailed information on nerve damage.
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CT (computerized tomography) scans can show changes in the bones. They are used alongside the patients’
history and the findings of the physical exam.
Treatments for Spondylosis
For cases of spondylosis that cause only mild pain and occasional stiffness, treatment is not necessary. Home remedies, rest and over the counter medications are enough to control the pain.
For people who have
moderate or severe pain, a number of
treatments and procedures offered by a pain specialist can provide long-term relief.
80% of adults will experience back pain in their lifetime.
Take the FREE back pain risk assessment to understand your risk factors, and aid in preventing complications in
the future.
