Spondylosis is a broad term for age-related wear and tear (osteoarthritis) of the spine — including disc degeneration, facet arthropathy, and bone spurs (osteophytes).
Key Statistics
- >85% of adults over age 60 show radiographic evidence of cervical or lumbar spondylosis
- Lumbar spondylosis is among the top 3 causes of disability worldwide (Global Burden of Disease)
- Cervical spondylosis is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults >55
- Annual U.S. healthcare cost of degenerative spine disease: >$100 billion
Symptoms
- Neck or back pain and stiffness, worse in the morning or after activity
- Reduced range of motion
- Radiating pain to arms or legs (with foraminal stenosis)
- Numbness, tingling, weakness
- Gait disturbance or hand clumsiness in cervical myelopathy
Treatment
- Conservative: PT, NSAIDs, activity modification, weight management
- Epidural and facet injections
- Radiofrequency ablation for facet-mediated pain
- Laminectomy / foraminotomy for symptomatic stenosis
- Spinal fusion or disc arthroplasty for instability or refractory symptoms
Common Symptoms
- Chronic neck or back pain
- Morning stiffness
- Radiating arm/leg pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Reduced flexibility
- Headaches (cervical)
Treatment Options
Physical therapy
Epidural / facet injections
Radiofrequency ablation coordination
Decompression surgery
Fusion or disc replacement
Dr. Jerry Walters II
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
Providing expert spondylosis (spinal arthritis) treatment at Nova Brain and Spine of GA in Hampton, Georgia. Serving patients throughout Southern Georgia and the Atlanta metro area.