Lumbar spondylosis describes the degeneration of the spine in the lower back or lumbar region. This condition is generally naturally occurring due to age and wear of the spine over time. While most cases of lumbar spondylosis show no symptoms, some advanced cases of spondylosis may cause other spine conditions that result in back pain and limited mobility. Because of the degenerative nature of spondylosis, there are several spine conditions that can develop as a result of the spinal components breaking down.

If you are experiencing chronic lower back pain or difficulty sitting and standing for extended periods of time, you should consult your doctor to determine the cause of your symptoms. There are several treatment options available to help patients with spondylosis find pain relief and regain mobility in the lower back.

Lumbar spondylosis as a common condition

Before you can fully understand the implications of spondylosis, you must first understand the basic anatomy and function of the spine. The spine is comprised of several small bones (vertebrae) stacked on top of each other. In between each vertebra is a sponge-like disc and joint that allows the vertebrae to bend and move without rubbing against each other. Immediately outside of the vertebrae, discs and joints, are nerve roots. These nerve roots send signals to the muscles in the arms, legs, hands and feet.

The lumbar is the lower back portion of the spine. Its main function is to support and stabilize the majority of the body’s weight. Over time, as the body undergoes repetitive lifting and twisting motions, accompanied usually by weight gain, the vertebrae in the lumbar spine becomes compressed and places pressure on the discs and joints. This continual compression can cause the joints and discs to gradually deteriorate, leading to several related spine conditions, such as:

• Ruptured discs
• Bulging discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Bone spurs
• Herniated discs

These conditions can compress a nerve root in the spinal cord and cause local pain in the lower back and radiating pain in the extremities. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to review your back pain.

Treatment options for lumbar spondylosis

If you are diagnosed with lumbar spondylosis and other related spine conditions, you can seek pain relief from several types of treatment options, including conservative and surgical methods.

Most cases of mild spondylosis respond well to conservative forms of treatment. The most common forms of conservative treatment for spondylosis include:

• Chiropractic care
• Physical therapy
• Exercises and stretches
• Yoga
• Pain medication
• Steroid epidural

Most methods of conservative treatment can be combined to increase pain relief. However, you should always consult your doctor before increasing or combining any treatment methods to ensure that your safety and health is never compromised. If you do not find relief from conservative methods of treatment, you might consider a surgical treatment option to ease your spondylosis and other related spine conditions.

At USA Spine Care, we offer minimally invasive decompression surgery and minimally invasive stabilization surgery to help treat spondylosis. We provide a no-cost MRI review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for our minimally invasive spine surgery.

Our surgical procedures are safer and effective alternatives to traditional open back surgery^. We’ve helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from back pain since 2005. Contact us today so we can help you treat your spondylosis and take a step toward recapturing your life.

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