Typically, non-operative measures are effective in treating the symptoms associated with spondylosis. Non-operative measures include pain medications and physical therapy. However, if spondylosis has resulted in compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots, surgery may be necessary to relieve the pressure.
There should be restriction of heavy lifting; excessive bending, twisting, or stooping; and avoidance of any work or recreational activities that cause stress to the lumbar spine. Your physician will outline a rehabilitation program to return you to your activities as soon as possible.
There's no cure for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but treatment is available to help relieve the symptoms. Treatment can also help delay or prevent the process of the spine joining up (fusing) and stiffening. These treatments can also help if you have non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
There is no way to prevent cervical spondylosis as this condition is a normal, age-related deterioration (“wear and tear”) of the joint space and disks in your neck.
Lumbar Spondylosis Degeneration in the lumbar spine may cause pain in the back, buttocks, or legs, with possible numbness, and muscle weakness that may be worsened by activities such as lifting, bending, twisting, or sitting.
Causes of AS Flares
In a study on AS flares, patients reported “the main perceived triggers of flare were stress and 'overdoing it,'” Dr. Appleyard says. “Keep in mind 'stress' may mean both physical stress, such as an illness, or emotional stress. Excess fatigue may also trigger a flare.”
Cervical spondylosis is a long term condition, and symptoms are often variable from day to day. Many patients have found that managing their symptoms can help improve their quality of life. There are some things you can do to help manage this condition yourself.
Almost all people with ankylosing spondylitis can expect to lead normal and productive lives. Despite the chronic nature of the illness, only a few people with ankylosing spondylitis will become severely disabled.
Cervical spondylosis usually doesn't lead to disability. But sometimes these changes in the spine can cause the spinal cord or nerve roots attached to it to become compressed. This can cause your legs or hands to feel weak or clumsy.
It usually gets worse during exercise or other physical activity, especially those where someone leans back a lot. Spondylolysis also can cause buttock and leg pain, and tight hamstrings.
Life expectancy for people with ankylosing spondylitis is the same as that of the general population, except for patients with severe symptoms and complications. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease.
Mild cervical spondylosis might respond to: Regular exercise. Maintaining activity will help speed recovery, even if you have to temporarily modify some of your exercises because of neck pain. People who walk daily are less likely to experience neck and low back pain.
A combination of aerobic, strength-building, stretching, and balancing exercises is best. Work with a physical therapist (PT) on a safe and effective exercise plan. An anti-inflammatory diet may also help keep AS from getting worse.
The main complication of spondylosis is low back, mid back, or neck pain. Usually, the back and neck pain caused by spondylosis is not serious, but some people develop chronic pain due to their condition. It is unusual for spondylosis to cause serious neurologic dysfunction due to nerve compression.
Spondylosis is common, but it is usually not serious. Many who have it experience no pain, though it can be painful for some. Most patients with spinal osteoarthritis will not need surgery.
Walk It Off
For those who can safely exercise, Dr. Tehrani recommends low-impact activities like walking. Joint deformities, fused joints, misinformation, and fear of getting hurt can discourage some people from exercising, Tehrani says, but walking is a great way to ease into physical activity.
Stress management is important for everyone, but it's especially crucial for people with ankylosing spondylitis — a type of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine. That's because stress can exacerbate ankylosing spondylitis symptoms, including pain, according to the Spondylitis Association of America.
If left untreated, spondylolysis can progress to spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebra, weakened by fracture, slips out of alignment with the rest of the spine. The risk of spondylolysis is higher during growth spurts.
Pain and soreness in the neck, shoulders, or lower back; pain may worsen with standing (if it originates in the lower back) or moving the head (if it originates in the neck) Stiffness. Tenderness. Tingling or pins-and-needles sensation that radiates down the arms or legs.
The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) usually develop slowly over several months or years. The symptoms may come and go, and improve or get worse, over many years. AS usually first starts to develop between 18 and 40 years of age.
While you sit still for too long, such as during sleep, inflammatory chemicals accumulate in your joints, exacerbating pain and stiffness. That's why people with inflammatory back pain can wake up in agony in the middle of night and feel stiff and achy first thing in the morning.
Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic inflammatory disease with unknown etiology, and fatigue is one of the main systemic symptoms of AS.