Spondylosis is the term used to refer to degeneration of the spinal column. This article focuses specifically on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of spondylosis in the lumbar area of the spine.
When we talk about spondylosis, we are not referring to a specific disease, but to the degeneration of the spine, which can result in various conditions or diseases that cause back pain. In the case of lumbar spondylosis, it occurs between the L1 and S1 vertebrae.
Why does the lumbar spine degenerate? What are the main symptoms? What are the treatment options? In the following, our medical team provides answers to these questions.
Causes of lumbar spondylosis
The main cause of degeneration of the spine is the natural aging process. As we age, the bones of the spine suffer wear and tear, so spondylosis is much more common after the age of 50 to 60.
This wear and tear from aging tends to especially impact the intervertebral discs, which are located between the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers, providing flexibility to carry out movements such as walking, running or jumping, among others.
In addition to age, there are also other possible causes related to habits and lifestyle that can favor the appearance of spondylosis:
- Poor postural hygiene
- Excess weight or obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive high impact exercise
It is also true that certain genetic abnormalities can be a risk factor in the development of spondylosis.
Symptoms of lumbar spondylosis
The most notable symptom of lumbar spondylosis is pain. This can occur in a localized way, in the lumbar area, or radiate to the lower extremities. If the pain is radiating, it is most likely because there is compression of a nerve.
In this case, there may be a lumbar disc herniation that compresses the nerve root or some of the nerves in the area, such as the sciatic nerve. In addition to leg pain, there may other symptoms such as muscle weakness or a sensation of pins and needles or numbness in the legs.
When the degeneration is severe or in a fairly advanced stage, or if the pain it causes is very severe, in addition to the other symptoms mentioned, the patient’s mobility may be reduced to a degree that makes it difficult to carry out the normal activities of daily life.
However, lumbar spondylosis can lead to more than one condition of the spine, so there can be a variety of symptoms.
Treatments for lumbar spondylosis
Because spondylosis of the lumbar spine is a degenerative condition, there is no permanent cure for it, however there are various treatment options that can slow the process, reduce the symptoms, and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Conservative treatment options
At Instituto Clavel, once the diagnosis is made and whenever possible, we opt for conservative treatments to reduce low back pain, such as medication or physical therapy that targets this area of the spine. Our FisioSpine center serves this purpose by offering specialized passive and active physical therapy to improve the health and mobility of the spine.
Please check out this video with the Director of FisioSpine, Iria Rabell, demonstrating some of the exercises that can help relieve pain in the lower back and improve mobility.
In this process, the implication of the patient is very important, as they should make an effort to correct any possible bad daily habits, such as poor posture at work, or not getting enough exercise. Our professionals will provide guidelines for changing your lifestyle to improve the effects of spondylosis and prevent it from getting worse.
Pain management treatments
In those cases in which the pain does not improve with the treatment options mentioned in the previous section, we can try more powerful alternatives for addressing pain, such as infiltrations or lumbar rhizolysis.
Epidural infiltration is a minimally invasive procedure in which anti-inflammatory steroid medication is injected directly into the epidural space of the spinal canal to relieve low back pain.
Lumbar rhizolysis is another minimally invasive technique that is based on causing controlled damage to the pain-transmitting nerve fibers in the area. This procedure can also be used in the cervical spine to treat neck pain.
Find out more about rhizolysis
Surgery
When spondylosis or degeneration of the spine has caused a pathology like disc herniation, and the symptoms are not alleviated by the previously described treatments, or when the condition is very advanced, the patient’s best option may be surgery.
The type of surgery recommended, and the techniques used, will depend on each case. However, at Instituto Clavel, whenever possible for the specific patient’s case, we try to use minimally invasive options such as artificial disc replacement through the anterior approach, which reduces risks, shortens the patient’s recovery time, and yields better results.
In addition, the vast majority of our surgeries are performed using neuronavigation and intraoperative monitoring, which tracks the patient's condition in real time throughout the procedure, making the surgery as safe as possible.
If you would like more information or need medical advice, don’t hesitate to contact us here
Categories: Spine treatments, Spine pathologies, Back pain