Spondylosis in the cervical spine (neck) can cause headache. Symptoms of spondylosis include localized pain in the area of spondylosis, usually in the back or neck. These findings include decrease in the disc space, bony spur formation at the upper or lower portions of the vertebrae, and calcium deposition where the vertebrae have been affected by degenerative inflammation. Because of the pain, the local area of the spine may attempt to splint itself, resulting in regional tenderness, muscle spasm, and trigger points.Ĭharacteristic findings of spondylosis can be visualized with X-ray tests. If new nerves or blood vessels are stimulated to grow from the pressure, chronic pain can result. Also, disc herniations can push on the ligaments in the spine and cause pain. Even if they are not large enough to directly pinch a nerve, bulging discs can cause local inflammation and cause the nerves in the spine to become more sensitive, increasing pain. Nerve compression is caused by bulging discs and bone spurs on the facet joints, causing narrowing of the holes where the nerve roots exit the spinal canal (foraminal stenosis). Pinched nerves in the neck can cause pain in the neck or shoulders and headache. In some people, spondylosis causes back pain and neck pain due to nerve compression (pinched nerves). In fact, lumbar spondylosis (spondylosis in the low back) is present in 27%-37% of people without symptoms. Many people with spondylosis on X-ray do not have any symptoms. Sciatica can be associated with spondylosis because the degenerative changes in the spine predispose to disc herniation and subsequent nerve compression.
Sciatica is a specific type of radiculopathy (compression or irritation of nerves as they leave the spinal column). Sciatica often occurs when a herniated disc puts pressure on the sciatic nerve as it exits the spinal canal in the low back. Sciatica is pain shooting down the sciatic nerve as it runs from the low back down the buttock and the leg, either on one side or both sides.Pressure on the spinal cord and nerves due to limited space can cause symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling. This narrowing of the spinal canal limits the amount of space for the spinal cord and nerves. Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal.Spondylosis deformans is growth of bone spurs (osteophytes) or bony bridges around a degenerating intervertebral disc in the spine.Dynamic shifting of the vertebrae is visualized with X-rays of the spine performed with patients flexing (bending forward) and then extending (bending backward) their back. If the displaced vertebrae shift with movement of the spine, this is referred to as dynamic spondylolisthesis. As a result, the spine is not normally aligned. For example, anterior spondylolisthesis of L4 on L5 means that the fourth lumbar vertebra has slipped forward on the fifth lumbar vertebra. Spondylolisthesis is forward or backward displacement of the body of one vertebrae in relation to an adjacent vertebra.This defect predisposes to spondylolisthesis (see below) because of spinal instability. Spondylolysis is incomplete development and formation of the connecting part of the vertebra, the pars interarticularis.This is a very different process than spondylosis because spondylosis is degenerative while spondylitis is inflammatory. Spondylitis is inflammation of one or more vertebrae, such as in ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory form of arthritis of the spine.There are several medical terms that sound similar to and are often confused with spondylosis including the following:.Multilevel spondylosis means that these changes affect multiple vertebrae in the spine.Lumbosacral spondylosis is spondylosis that affects both the lumbar spine and the sacral spine (below the lumbar spine, in the midline between the buttocks).Thoracic spondylosis frequently does not cause symptoms.Lumbar spondylosis and cervical spondylosis are the most common. Spondylosis can occur in the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper and mid back), or lumbar spine (low back).For example, the phrase "spondylosis of the lumbar spine" means degenerative changes such as osteoarthritis of the vertebral joints and degenerating intervertebral discs (degenerative disc disease) in the low back.
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