Spondylosis

The main cause of Spondylosis is a person’s increasing age which can affect the spine and cause problems. More degeneration or wear and tear of the spine causes Spondylosis.  Some other reasons for Spondylosis are:

The main cause of Spondylosis is a person’s increasing age which can affect the spine and cause problems. More degeneration or wear and tear of the spine causes Spondylosis.  Some other reasons for Spondylosis are:

• Degenerative disc– Age causes degenerative discs and gradually ageing can impact the movement of the vertebra. With this, the disc loses its ability to handle the back movement.  The thin disc loses its protective covering and causes inflammation in the spinal nerves. 

• Wrong spine movements- The excessive movements of the spine cause changes and reduce the growth of small bony elements in it. This can increase the causes of Spondylosis with ageing. 

• Genetic causes– Medical research suggests that Spondylosis can be caused by genetic inheritance.  This will trigger the wear and tear of the spinal disc and cause Spondylosis with neck or back pain. 

• Improper lifestyle- Another reason is that an improper lifestyle can cause Spondylosis.  For instance, smoking impacts the water in the disc and causes more wear to the spine. 

• Improper body postures– Wrong body postures like looking overhead or downwards like staring at computer screens for multiple hours can cause Spondylosis. 
• Heavy-lifting– People who do more heavy-lifting exercises are more at risk to cause Spondylosis.  Even bus and truck drivers experience daily vibrations too.

Different people experience varied kinds of symptoms of the degenerative disc. The symptoms depend on the area of impact, its nearby nerves, severity and the kind of Spondylosis.  Some people notice no symptoms, while others can feel chronic pain or tenderness. Some other symptoms of Spondylosis are:

• Headache
• No control or less control of bladder
• Pain in the neck, shoulder, and lower back
• Weakness in body
• Stiffness
• Numbness
• Tingling sensation in arms and legs
• Popping feeling in the spine
• Lack of balance 
• Poor body coordination
• Muscle pain
• Muscle spasm
• Difficulty in walking 
• Mild pain to chronic pain

It is important to get an accurate diagnosis of Spondylosis for its treatment. So, the different imaging tests for Spondylosis are:

• Physical examination– A spine specialist begins the diagnosis process with a simple physical examination. A medical specialist observes the body posture, movement, physical condition, and possible causes for pain. If they identify any curvature, Muscle spasm, or numbness they can suggest other imaging tests
• X-ray– X-ray or X-radiation uses high-energy electromagnetic radiation to get images of bones and joints. It is a simple and initial way to get quick images of the spine. 
• MR scan- The magnetic resonance scan helps to get a detailed image of the spinal cord. Also, it helps to view the nearby nerves to understand the causes if there is Spondylosis. It helps to detect any compressed nerve too.
• CT- scan- Computed tomography uses a mix of x-ray and computer technology to get detailed images from inside the spine. It can get the images of bones, muscles, fat, and blood vessels to diagnose Spondylosis.

If the diagnosis recognizes the presence of Spondylosis,  the following treatment depending on their case can be suggested. 

• Pain relief medication- To treat mild or chronic pain of Spondylosis,  a doctor can suggest some pain relief medicines like Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, topical creams, a steroid medication, or muscle relaxers. However,  strong pain relief medication or steroid injections can cause side effects that can need to be discussed with a doctor. 
• Lifestyle changes– Since, lifestyle impacts Spondylosis, it is important to make some lifestyle changes that can be suggested by a physiotherapist.  They can suggest some posture changes to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. Also, they can recommend some special support like a specific chair or mattress. 
• Physiotherapy– A physiotherapy treatment can help to improve the mobility, flexibility, and strength of the spine. At the same time, it can reduce the pain and prevent more damage. It may help to reduce the wear and tear of the spine.
• Surgery– The doctors can suggest surgery in case of severe symptoms.  It is an option when no other treatments work and the kind of surgery depends on the problem and its location. It can remove a damaged disc with an artificial replacement or remove some piece of bone affecting the spine.

There are few low energy exercises for Spondylosis,  but it needs to be performed after consultation with a physiotherapist.  They are:

• Shoulder forward raise– The person needs to keep their arm down by their side and lift both the shoulders. Next, they need to hold it in the position and slowly lift one arm straight forming a 90-degree angle. The same needs to be repeated with the other arm. It can be continued with alternative hands multiple times.
• Neck bend– It is a simple exercise where the person needs to bend their head sideways. Firstly, the person needs to keep their head up straight and gently bend on any one side. After holding it for 10 seconds, they need to repeat it on the other side. Then the head can come back to the center and this exercise can be repeated 10 times. 
• Neck and shoulder stretch- The person needs to keep their hand on the lap. Next, they need to bend their neck to the other side and hold it down with the opposite hand. Then they can gradually pull and stop if there is any feeling of pain. 

It can be difficult to perform daily activities while suffering from Spondylosis which can be painful and problematic. But, the right treatment from DynaFisio, a leading physiotherapy clinic in Gurgaon can improve living with Spondylosis. Our expert practitioners and advanced medical facilities offer unmatched treatment to the patients, helping them lead a pain-free life.