What you need to know about spondylosis
Spondylosis is a familiar progressive and debilitating condition of the backbone/spine. It is a wearing down of the backbone, cartilage – a covering over the bones which makes movement easier - and the soft cushions in-between the backbone which absorbs the pressure or shock on the back.
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Spondylosis may affect any part of your spine-neck, upper and lower back. The upper back, however is often less affected as compared to the neck and lower back because less movement occurs in that region.
As you grow older, the onset of spondylosis increases and may begin as early as age 40. Individuals above the age of 60 may also experience various changes in the movements pertaining to their backs.
There are natural changes which occur as you grow older and may affect the soft cushions in between the bones of the back.
The soft cushions may become less apt to withstand all the pressure and load on the back and this may lead to upper or mid back spondylosis.
In some individuals with this condition, there is an obvious outward curvature of the back which makes them appear to have a hunch on the back. This curvature is known as kyphosis.
Each individual has different working conditions and these ultimately affects the spine as one grows older.
There are various movements that the backbone assists us to make – bending to pick up objects on the floor, turning or twisting your midsection or reaching overhead to pull down an object etc.
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All these movements need to be performed with caution as it has an impact on how healthy the backbone will become when you grow older.
The various structures which protects the backbone and ensures that its normal curvature is maintained gets weaker, as you age resulting in increased stress on your backbone.
Symptoms of spondylosis
The individual with mid back spondylosis may have the following signs and symptoms:
• Pain in the mid back or upper back usually in the morning whenever you get up from bed
• Pain in the back during daily movements
• You may feel stiffness in the back which makes movement quite difficult and your daily activities challenging.
For example, movements such as turning around to reach out for objects may become quite difficult to accomplish
• Pain can be sharp or aching and is usually near to the spine on one or both sides but may spread out to the shoulder blade area or around the ribs or through the chest
• Numbness, pins and needles or tingling sensation in the hands or legs.
• Weakness in the muscles of the back, hands or legs
• Difficulty in walking
Risk factors
The common predisposing factor to the condition is age. As you grow older the integrity of your spine wanes and you become more prone to wearing of your backbone, laxity in the strong cords and weakness in the muscles holding the backbone together.
The soft cushions in between the bones also loses its moisture and may begin to bulge out of place. Other risk factors include
• A previous accident or injury to the back
• Adopting a bad posture over a prolonged period of time especially during your daily activities
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• Placing too much stress on the back as a result of certain working conditions – carrying heavy load on your back.
• Diseases which affect your backbone
• Obesity places a lot of stress on your back as your muscles has to work extra hard to keep your back bone in the correct position
Diagnosis
The individual undergoes a thorough examination of the backbone, including flexibility in movements pertaining to the neck, back and extremities.
The symptoms, balance, sensation, coordination in movements, posture, gait etc are also examined along with tests to check the severity of the condition.
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Radiological test are also conducted to confirm the diagnosis. The tests may include X-rays, MRI or CT to check for damage in the backbone and surrounding structures.
These tests show characteristic changes in and around the spine - bone outgrowths, decrease in the space between each of the small bones in the back, spinal cord etc.