Receiving a spondylosis diagnosis essentially means that your physician or spine specialist has identified degeneration in your spine. While this can sound disconcerting, it’s actually completely normal. So much so, in fact, that it’s considered part of the natural aging process.

If you’ve been diagnosed with spondylosis and want to learn more about the condition and your treatment options, you’re probably best served to speak with your physician or spine specialist. That said, there is some general information with which you may want to familiarize yourself. We’ll discuss some of these tidbits in this article, but be sure to keep in mind that you should never utilize any of the treatments mentioned below (or found anywhere else on the internet, for that matter), without consulting your physician first.

Understanding the Condition

Spondylosis occurs as a result of the wear and tear we place on our necks and backs over the years. Just think for a moment about what the spine must endure: It facilitates every bend and twist that we rely on for regular movement and is responsible for supporting a large amount of our body weight. These tasks can take their toll on the spine, causing many spinal components to gradually break down. Among those affected are:

The facet joints, which are the joints that connect adjacent, articulating vertebrae. Like the other joints in our bodies, the facets are lined with collagen that provides lubrication and allows for smooth articulation. Over time, the joints’ cartilaginous lining can wear away, causing the bones to painfully grind against one another. The body may try to mitigate this bone-on-bone contact by forming an osteophyte (bone spur) to stabilize the joint. Unfortunately, this can do more harm than good since bone spurs can invade the spinal canal and impinge upon the spinal cord, spinal nerve, or spinal nerve root.

The intervertebral discs, which are tasked with cushioning our vertebrae and absorbing the impact that’s placed on the spine as we move our necks and backs. These pad-like structures are comprised of a tough outer shell (the annulus fibrosus) and a gelatinous center (the nucleus pulposus). As we age, our discs’ annuli fibrosi can become dry and brittle, making them prone to cracking and tearing. This usually coincides with the dehydration of our discs’ nuclei pulposi, which can make the intervertebral discs less adept at absorbing impact. These degenerative changes can lead to a herniated disc, which occurs when the nucleus escapes through a crack in the annulus and invades the spinal canal. The changes can also lead to a bulging disc, which occurs when the nucleus shifts out of place because the annulus has weakened to the point that it can no longer maintain the disc’s proper shape.

Treatment Options

If you’ve received a spondylosis diagnosis, your physician will likely recommend a regimen of conservative, nonsurgical treatments. This can include over-the-counter medications like naproxen, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen; or prescription drugs such as narcotic pain relievers or muscle relaxants. Your physician may also recommend physical therapy to strengthen and gently stretch the muscles and other supporting tissues in the neck, back, and abdomen. One of the most effective treatments entails lifestyle modifications, such as losing weight (only if you have excess pounds to shed), becoming more physically active, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption.

A minority of patients who receive a spondylosis diagnosis will be advised to consider surgical treatment. This course of action is typically reserved for those who have found little to no relief after utilizing conservative treatments for several weeks or months. If your physician recommends surgery, you may want to receive a second or even third opinion to make sure surgical treatment truly is your best chance for finding relief from the pain and discomfort associated with spondylosis.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures after a spondylosis diagnosis.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures after a spondylosis diagnosis. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/spondylosis/diagnosis/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures after a spondylosis diagnosis.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: spondylosis diagnosis