Spondylosis is a general term used to describe various degenerative conditions that affect the spine. Some examples of conditions that fall under this description include degenerative disc disease, degeneration of the facet joints, as well as osteoarthritis.
Oftentimes, spondylosis is confused with other spinal conditions with similar nomenclature, such as ankylosing spondylitis, axial spondyloarthritis, and spondylolisthesis. People with ankylosing spondylitis experience inflammation and pain as a result of their spinal bones gradually fusing with each other, altering the shape of the spine and creating misalignment.
Spondylitis symptoms tend to appear in young adulthood, whereas the conditions that fall under spondylosis tends to appear later in life.
Symptoms
Spinal degeneration may not always lead to any noticeable symptoms, and for some people it may take a while after the degeneration process has started to feel any symptoms. That being said, some of the most common symptoms a person with spondylosis may experience one or more of the following:
- Rigidity, stiffness and reduced range of movement. You may find that you are not able to bend or twist your spine like you used to.
- Pain along the spine. Cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis occur more often than thoracic spondylosis, and as a result, the lower back or neck may start to hurt. The pain can occur locally, or it can spread to other parts of the body, depending on the region that is affected. For example, cervical spondylosis may lead to shoulder pain or headaches in addition to neck pain, while lumbar spondylosis may lead to leg pain in addition to lower back pain.
- You may feel that you need to put in additional effort or force your back muscles to keep your torso upright, which in turn may also lead to muscle spasms.
What Causes Degeneration of the Spine?
As we use our spine every day, the spine wears out as the years go by. Joints become less mobile, spinal discs lose some or even most of their water content and dry up, and there may also be additional growths that develop along the vertebrae. Bones also tend to become more brittle and are more prone to breaking.
Can Natural Treatments Help?
Degeneration of the spine cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be managed, and oftentimes that can be achieved with the help of natural treatments or natural remedies. Painkillers may help at first, but it is not recommended for long-term use and it can cause several side effects.
In order to keep your spine in top shape, one of the best natural remedies is to engage in physical therapy or exercise. This will help keep your muscles strong, and reduce the chance of developing injuries, strains or muscle spasms. Light exercises such as walking, Yoga, Pilates, or even stretching can do wonders for your spine.
Another type of exercises that you can do to help with pain relief are spinal decompression exercises. There are multiple ways to decompress your spine, but one of the easiest and most effective ways to do so is to use the Backrack.
Backrack Spinal Decompression Device
Author: Spinal Backrack
