Spondylosis, a degenerative condition involving one or more vertebral joints, can affect the lumbar (lower), thoracic (middle), or cervical (upper) parts of the spine. Lumbar spondylosis is usually caused by osteoarthritis or bone spurs resulting from aging, and can also result from injury. Usually it has no symptoms, but can cause back pain and stiffness.
Identification
All spinal discs, including those of the five vertebrae in the lumbar area, tend to narrow with age, and the ligaments surrounding the discs thicken and may even become calcified, so the normal material loses its elasticity. This increases stress and pressure on the vertebrae, and may also cause a decrease in the person's height. Spondylosis can cause disk bulges and herniations, which can be very painful, as well as osteophytes.
Significance
Osteophytes, which are vertebral bony growths, are commonly called bone spurs, although they actually are smooth and not spiky as the name would suggest. They are very common in people over 60, as the body creates osteophytes to increase surface area after a joint has been damaged by arthritis or another condition. Bone spurs can cause pain if they are rubbing against nerves. They are more often seen in cervical spondylosis.
Considerations
Over 80 percent of the United States population older than 55 have some degree of lumbar spondylosis, as evidenced by radiographic images, according to a 2003 article from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Usually there are no symptoms, and the condition is discovered because of x-rays or magnetic resonance imaging being conducted for other reasons. Most studies cannot find a consistent relationship to any factor other than aging, including physical activity, body shape, alcohol intake, or smoking.
Effects
When symptoms do occur, they usually involve morning stiffness or pain, or pain when bending or lifting. Sitting for a long time also can cause stiffness. Sometimes the pain becomes a chronic source of distress, or an acute episode such as a herniated disc occurs, and then people seek treatment.
Prevention/Solution
Physicians prefer conservative treatment for lumbar spondylosis. Treatment begins with weight loss if the patient is overweight, and painkillers such as ibuprofen or a prescription medication. Physical therapy may be conducted over many weeks, along with home exercises focusing on stretching. The doctor may recommend injections of repository methylprednisolone, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. Physicians only recommend surgery for lumbar spondylosis when there is continuous debilitating pain or spinal cord compression. Many are now beginning with a minimally-invasive laser endoscopic surgery, and avoiding open-back surgery and artificial disc replacements.
Tags: also cause, bone spurs
