What Are the Causes of Spondylosis?

What is spondylosis?

The main causes of spondylosis are aging and osteoarthritis. Other factors can add to your risk of spondylosis.
The main causes of spondylosis are aging and osteoarthritis. Other factors can add to your risk of spondylosis.

Spondylosis is the often-painful deterioration of your spine. It is usually caused by changes in your spine triggered by age, wear-and-tear, and osteoarthritis. If you have previously injured your spine, you may be more likely to develop spondylosis.

There are three kinds of spondylosis, named for where the problems occur. Cervical spondylosis affects the top seven (C1-C7) vertebrae (bones of your spine). “Cervix” is another term for the neck. Lumbar spondylosis impacts the five vertebrae in your lower back (L1-L5). Thoracic spondylosis impacts your thoracic vertebrae (the vertebrae in the middle of your back [T1-T12]). Spondylosis in the middle of your back is rare.

Your doctor may not use the term “spondylosis” at all. Often, health professionals use more specific terms, such as lumbar spinal stenosis or cervical degenerative disc disease, especially when they have a good idea of the exact nature of your problem.

Other conditions, such as spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, have similar names derived from “spondy,” meaning spine. To avoid confusion, many doctors use terms like “spinal arthritis” to refer to spondylosis instead.

Symptoms of spondylosis

Pain is the main symptom of spondylosis. Other symptoms may depend upon where you are experiencing problems and on the type of spondylosis. See below for a description of symptoms for each type.

Cervical spondylosis symptoms

A jerky walk may be the first sign of cervical spondylosis, along with neck pain and stiffness. In this type of spondylosis, the pain can spread down your arms to your fingers, but it often comes and goes.

Numbness, weakness, and tingling are other possible symptoms, along with headaches at the base of the skull.

Thoracic spondylosis symptoms

Thoracic spondylosis causes pain in the middle of your back along with early morning stiffness. If you have thoracic spondylosis, both bending and extending your body can cause pain, as can twisting your spine.

Lumbar spondylosis symptoms

Lumbar spondylosis causes pain in your lower back that may be worse in certain positions. Often, bending makes the pain worse, while straightening up relieves it.

Besides back pain, symptoms of lumbar spondylosis can include numbness and tingling in your buttocks and legs and, in some cases, a loss of bladder or bowel control.




QUESTION

Nearly everyone has low back pain at some time during their life.
See Answer

Causes of spondylosis

The main causes of spondylosis are aging and osteoarthritis. Other factors add to your risk of spondylosis, including:

  • An occupation that stresses your spine or that requires repetitive movement
  • Obesity
  • A sedentary lifestyle
  • A family history of spine problems
  • Smoking

Three processes that impact your spine lead to spondylosis. These are:

Degeneration of the spinal discs

Discs act as shock absorbers between the bones of your spine, called vertebrae. Spinal discs have a tough outside and a softer inside. With age, your discs become thinner and don’t cushion the bones as well. The other cartilage in your spine may also wear away.

Growth of bone spurs

When your vertebrae aren’t well-cushioned by discs, they may grow bone spurs to protect themselves. Sometimes the bone spurs press on a nerve.

Damaged discs

As your spine continues to deteriorate, the discs may bulge out between your vertebrae. These damaged discs may also press on your nerves. In a few cases, a disc may rupture or herniate, causing a sudden increase in pain along with numbness, tingling, and other symptoms.

Narrowed spinal canal

The combination of all these processes can result in your spinal canal becoming narrower, causing your spinal cord to have less room. This is a condition called spinal stenosis. Crowding of your nerve tissue can cause pain.

Latest Arthritis News

Trending on MedicineNet

Tests for spondylosis

Your doctor will check for spondylosis by giving you a physical exam. Diagnostic tests can include:

Treatments for spondylosis

Because some degeneration of your spine is a natural part of aging, most doctors take a conservative approach to the treatment of spondylosis. Even if diagnostic tests show some evidence of spondylosis, it may not cause pain.

Several studies have looked at individuals with spondylosis. When they were given MRIs, from 37% to 79% of these individuals showed evidence of disc degeneration, but they did not report experiencing back pain.

If your doctor decides that treatment is necessary, they will often begin by prescribing medications such as pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Your doctor may also prescribe physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support your spine. Steroid injections are another option.

If these therapies fail, and you have pain along with weakness and numbness, your doctor may offer surgical treatment, which could involve spinal fusion, disc repair, removal of bone spurs, or other remedies.

Check Also

강남 셔츠룸 서울부장

강남 셔츠룸 매정한 나라에요 ㅋㅋㅋ 신규오픈 매장으로 설치 물품들이 많습니다. 역시 시부야 아니랄까봐 우리 나라 정서가 두 들겨야 흥이 더 나는듯 합니다. 아직 소버일때 우리 여자 예쁘니 직원들이랑 사진찍고 놀기  5~2배 정도 들었던것같아요 일환이었던 월성 원전 1호기 조기폐쇄에 대한 감사는 수위 조절이 실패해서 포기 햇엇드랫죠;; 대량 매출 가능한 입지라 확신합니다. 게임센터 규모도 장난 아니더라구요 차량…

Leave a Reply