Lumbar Spondylosis

Lumbar Spondylosis

Arthritis is a common ailment that affects people all over the world.

Osteoarthritis comes about due to normal wear and tear of the joint tissues that occurs as we grow older. This condition mostly affects people of the older generation.

When osteoarthritis affects the spine, then it is called Spondylosis.

Spondylosis can occur at different levels of the spine – both cervical and lumbar. Let us look at lumbar Spondylosis. Lumbar Spondylosis affects the lower back, subsequently leading to pain and stiffness.

Causes of Lumbar Spondylosis

The major cause of lumbar Spondylosis is aging. As we age, the tissues in the lower back start degenerating. The major focus is the vertebrae and intervertebral discs that work as shock absorbers within the spine. So, age is a risk factor when it comes to development of lumbar Spondylosis.

The condition isn’t common in the young generation because they have the power to keep the vertebrae flexible and damp, thus they can sit stand, sit and move around without any issue. But with growing age the tissues and bones become weaker, which makes 80 percent of the old people victims of Spondylosis. Another common cause of lumbar Spondylosis is injury. Trauma makes your back susceptible to Spondylosis.

The spine is vulnerable and can only support a certain weight. The fact remains that when you are overweight or if you constantly lift heavy weights, you end up placing excess loads on the joints. The lumbar region supports most of the weight putting you at risk of developing Spondylosis.

Unfortunately, Spondylosis can be as a result of family history or heredity. If there are members of the family that suffer from this condition, then chances are that you might develop it soon.

Poor posture and prolonged sitting might also cause the problem. Due to this, too much pressure is placed on the lumbar vertebrae especially when you sit in the same position over long periods of time. This can lead to Spondylosis.

To this end, the condition is more common in people that work on the computer day by day, drive over long distances or farmers who handle large loads each day.

The Manifestation

Due to the nature of the condition, Spondylosis can compress your nerves and influence the structure of the spine, leading to motor disorders. This process is dangerous.

Lumbar Spondylosis manifests as pain in the lower part of the back, though in most instances the symptoms don’t show at all. The solution is to consult a doctor and get an X-ray report as well as a CT scan for the spine.

When to Take Spondylosis Seriously

You need to take the condition seriously in the following instances:

  • You have been treated before and applying treatment as directed by the doctor yet the pain doesn’t decrease.
  • The scans show that there is dysfunction in the spinal as well as nerve structure that are accompanied by weakness in your extremities.
  • Poor bladder control.
  • Partial or complete lack of sensation in your neck and rear part of the body.
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The Ultimate Diagnosis

Diagnosis of the condition is done using radiology checkups that include CT scan, X-ray and MRI scans. The aim is to check the disc problems in detail. The findings are the ones that will dictate the direction of treatment.

Treatment

As far as medication goes, there is no medicine to correct the degeneration. You need to take medications for the pain or to reduce the level of inflammation.

Prevention is always better than cure, which is why you need to avoid anything that aggravates the issue.

Conclusion

Lumbar Spondylosis is a debilitating condition that needs urgent attention. Make sure you visit the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

References and Further Reading

1. Lumbar spondylosis: clinical presentation and treatment approaches
2. Lumbar Spondylosis
3. Spondylosis

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