Severe spondylosis is a medical term that indicates the presence of advanced spinal degeneration in the cervical (neck), thoracic (middle back) or lumbar (lower back) spinal segments. Spondylosis isn’t a condition as much as it is a word used to help explain the presence of neck or back pain as people get older. Severe spondylosis may lead to specific conditions such as herniated discs, arthritic joints, bone spurs and other common results of spinal deterioration. Treating the painful symptoms of these conditions requires an accurate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan.

Symptoms

Spine degeneration can result in a number of symptoms, depending on the location of the degeneration and type of specific degenerative condition that’s present. Some of the most common symptoms typically associated with severe spondylosis include:

• Chronic, local neck or back pain
• Stiffness and pain, especially when trying to stand up
• The feeling of bone-on-bone friction
• Hunching over when standing or walking
• Pain that radiates or travels along a nerve
• Unexpected muscle weakness or fatigue
• Diminished reflexes or motor skills
• A numb feeling or tingling sensation in the extremities
• Sciatica

Treatment

Normally, if severe spondylosis is found on an MRI or CT scan, your physician will determine if a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis or another degenerative condition is causing pain. A physician will usually attempt to manage symptoms and treat mild to moderate spondylosis with a steady course of conservative, non-surgical treatment. Pain medication, physical therapy, cold packs and heat therapy are often effective recommended options.

Sometimes spondylosis is severe enough for surgery to become an option. If after several weeks of conservative treatment you are still experiencing pain from severe spondylosis, contact USA Spine Care to learn about our various minimally invasive procedures as an alternative to traditional open spine surgery. We offer minimally invasive decompression and minimally invasive stabilization surgeries that have been proven to effectively treat patients with spondylosis, without the highly invasive nature of traditional open spine surgery. Our procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, require only small incisions and spare important muscles, allowing our patients to experience a faster recovery. Contact us today to speak to one of our Spine Care Consultants.

Browse Related Resources