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What Is Spondylosis?

You may have heard your doctor talk about the term spondylosis, which is a confusing condition to understand because the word is used in many different ways. On top of its assortment of meanings, the terms are often associated with words like spondylitis. The term “spondyl” is the Greek word for vertebrae. Because of this, in medicine, many different conditions relating to the spine begin with the word “spondyl” causing confusion. To begin addressing the meaning of spondylosis, it is a term that refers to degenerative changes in the spine by aging. This can be from a variety of problems ranging from bone spurs, degenerative disc, facet joint syndrome, and osteoarthritis.

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Articles of Interest

Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is a term that encompasses a wide range of progressive degenerative changes that affect all the components of the cervical spine (i.e., intervertebral discs, facet joints, joints of Luschka, ligamenta flava, and laminae). It is a natural process of aging and presents in the majority of people after the fifth decade of life.

Spine Anatomy and Osteoarthritis

Because of the interdependence of all spinal structures, it is common for one degenerative spinal condition, such as arthritis, to be accompanied by other degenerative changes in the spine. For example, a patient with painful symptoms from osteoarthritis may also present with radiculopathy or leg pain from lumbar degenerated discs and spinal stenosis.

Spondy-WHAT? Demystifying 3 Spine Conditions that Sound Alike

The similarities between spondylitis, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis end with the first seven letters. Learn how to tell the difference.

Spondylosis

Degeneration of the spine is most commonly caused by normal wear and tear, which is why it is far more common for people over age 60 to have symptoms of spondylosis. However, degeneration can begin as early as age 30, and there are many cases of lumbar symptoms appearing by age 40. This degeneration can be associated with several other phenomena, such as spinal stenosis (abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal), osteoarthritis of the spinal joints, or degenerative disc disease, in which the disc dries out (becomes dehydrated) and loses functionality.

Spondylosis (Spinal Arthritis) and Facet Joint Syndrome

At each level in our spine, there is a single disc separating the bones (vertebrae) in front of the spinal canal, and a pair of joints called facet joints joining the bones together behind the spinal canal. As we age, the spinal discs and facet joints can wear out and degenerate. Disc degeneration is the terrm used to describe the wearing out of the discs. Spondylosis is the term used to describe degeneration and arthritis of the facet joints. Degeneration of the spine is a normal aging process, and in most cases spinal arthritis does not cause significant symptoms. However, for some people, arthritic facet joints can cause significant pain. Back or neck pain resulting from arthritic or inflamed facet joints is a condition called “facet joint syndrome”.

Spondylosis in People

The primary cause of Spondylosis is the day-to-day overuse of the spine throughout time. When this condition occurs, the joints and discs deteriorate as bone spurs grow on the vertebrae. These changes that develop in the spine affect the spine's movement, the surrounding nerves, and various other functions. It can affect not just the neck, but any region of the spine,

Spondylosis vs. spondylitis vs. Spondylolisthesis – Will spinal decompression work?

Nonsurgical spinal decompression can help alleviate pressure on the affected area and provide much-needed stabilization...

Spondylosis – Osteoarthritis of the Spine

Spondylosis refers to a stiffening of the spine, degenerative changes in the vertebrae from age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal disks. As the disks dehydrate and shrink, signs of osteoarthritis develop, including bony projections along the edges of bones (bone spurs).

Spondylosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

In cases of the spinal spondylosis, some individuals could experience cervical spondylosis dizziness, stiffness, chronic & severe pain in the neck region. However, in some cases, people having cervical spondylosis have also reported carrying on normal day-to-day activities with minimal or no symptoms.

Time is Brain, Time is Testicle, Time is…Spine?

Cervical myelopathy is a syndrome of spinal cord dysfunction caused by compression of the spinal cord. Cervical myelopathy is most commonly caused by degenerative disease of the spine (spondylosis), but other etiologies include mass effect (tumor or abscess), trauma, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and congenital stenosis.

Understanding Spondylosis Symptoms and Treatments

Spondylosis, which is often referred to as spinal osteoarthritis, is a degenerative disorder that affects the soft tissues and bones of the spine. Spondylosis is a highly individualized condition. Aging is the primary cause; however, factors such as weight, musculoskeletal injuries, occupations, genetics, and tobacco use play key roles in the disorder’s development and progression.

What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis?

Most of you would've heard the term spondylosis. This is one of the terms that pops up in our radar whenever we hear of any kind of neck pain or back pain in an adult or elderly person. Strictly speaking, spondylosis is a broad term. It is not just one disease or one diagnosis, but it basically refers to a series or a combination of changes that happen in our spine as we age. These changes can happen in the bone, in the disc, and can also happen in the joints between the bones.

What Is Spinal Osteoarthritis (Facet Joint Arthritis)?

This osteoarthritic process usually occurs slowly, over years. The resulting pain, stiffness, and other symptoms may come and go or be constantly present. Spinal osteoarthritis can also cause referred and/or radiating pain, such as headaches caused by osteoarthritis in the neck or foot tingling caused by osteoarthritis in the lower back.

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Yale Medicine

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.