Lumbar Spondylosis

Lumbar Spondylosis

Spondylosis is a deterioration that affect the lumbar spine but can also affect the cervical and thoracic spine. As the body goes through changes, normally from old age, the spine degenerates. The margin between discs in the lumbar vertebrae becomes constricted which can bring about tingling, numbness, and pain that appear to emit out from the area. These indicators are the reaction of force on the nerves as they leave the spinal cord.

If the degeneration is permitted to advance, it can cause insufficient space of the spinal canal. With this limited space, it can produce impingement of the spinal canal which can create an unsteady walk, deficient bladder control and other serious nerve problems. With Lumbar Spondylosis, osteophytes form which is excess bone growth that is mainly seen around the anterior, lateral, and less often at the posterior side of the superior and inferior borders of the vertebral bodies.

Generally Spondylosis is identified with a manual exam and x-rays of the spine. Sometimes a neurological exam is performed to establish if there are problems in the spinal canal that might be caused by spondylosis.

Treatment can be determined once the doctor evaluates how seriousness of the spondylosis and the patients age. There are several treatments that can be used to control the pain such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acupuncture, osteopathic manipulative medicine, trigger-point therapy, massage, chiropractic and osteopathic care. Surgery can be performed to take out the osteophytes or occasionally sections of the intervertebral disc are routinely removed to try and ease the compression on the adjoining nerve roots and possibly the spinal cord. If a patients age is in question it may not be worth it the risk of surgery.