The initial stages of the condition may seldom produce any symptoms. In the more advanced stages, patients experience the following signs and symptoms:

• Lower back pain
• Numbness and tingling sensation in the lower back region
• Pain radiates to the lower legs
• Pinch like sensation in the affected area
• Decreased mobility

• Pain

  In the more advanced stages, patients experience the following signs and symptoms: Lower back pain Numbness and tingling sensation in the lower back region Pain radiates to the lower legs Pinch like sensation in the affected area Decreased mobility Laboratory [symptoma.com]

  Stiffness index was associated with neither radiographic lumbar spondylosis nor low back pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Weakness

  Myelopathy symptoms include weakness, numbness, and tingling. [chronicbodypain.net]

  Weakness of your shoulders and arms or loss of feeling can be signs of damage to certain nerve roots or to the spinal cord. A spine or neck x-ray may be done to look for arthritis or other changes in your spine. [nlm.nih.gov]

  […] in the leg or foot if a nerve is severely pinched Numbness, tingling and weakness can also be due to lumbar spondylosis that is injuring the spinal cord (myelopathy), for example, from a large herniated disc pushing on the spinal cord Rare but serious [pthealth.ca]

  It is abnormal pressure on spinal nerves that leads to symptoms such as pain in the legs (sciatica), numbness and tingling, weakness, difficulty walking and back pain. [doneurosurgery.com]

• Swelling

  Foraminal narrowing, annular tear of the disc, degenerative changes of the facet joints, and nerve root swelling were all better shown on the detailed protocol. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Side effects of lumbar spondylosis radiofrequency ablation include normal swelling and discomfort, but these usually subside a few days after the treatment. [paindoctor.com]

  Cold compress, on the other hand, aids in reducing tissue swelling or inflammation. [texasback.com]

• Fatigue

  We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition. Last updated: March 9, 2020 [patientslikeme.com]

  Some of the most common symptoms caused by joint deterioration and nerve compression include: Dull pain and stiffness Chronic pain in the neck and/or lower back Pain that travels along the compressed nerve Fatigue Dull pain or stiffness Muscle weakness [laserspineinstitute.com]

  People with the condition also may have fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Eye inflammation (redness and pain) occurs in some people with spondylitis. In rare cases, lung and heart problems also may develop. [webmd.com]

• Difficulty Walking

  If the spinal cord or nerve roots become pinched, you might experience: Tingling, numbness and weakness in your arms, hands, legs or feet Lack of coordination and difficulty walking Loss of bladder or bowel control When to see a doctor Seek medical attention [mayoclinic.com]

  Symptoms include pain and numbness in the limbs, a loss of coordination in the hands, imbalance and difficulty walking, and in the later stages, bladder problems. [medicalnewstoday.com]

  Common symptoms of thoracic spondylosis include: Pain and stiffness in the mid back, particularly in the morning after you get out of bed Tingling or numbness in the legs, arms, hands or feet Muscle weakness Loss of coordination or difficulty walking [laserspineinstitute.com]

• Hypotension

  분류되지 않은 신경계의 처치후 장애(Postprocedural disorders of nervous system, NEC) - G97.0 척수천자에 의한 뇌척수액 누출(Cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture) G97.1 척수 및 요추천자에 대한 기타 반응(Other reaction to spinal and lumbar puncture) G97.2 뇌실단락 형성에 따른 두개강내 저혈압(Intracranial hypotension [dic.impact.pe.kr]

  Patient 47 had postoperative hypotension and was admitted to an intensive care unit for correction of this, Patient 10 had pressure sores on her breast and airway oedema from a prolonged operation in the prone position and Patient 28 had a pseudomeningocoele [esciencecentral.org]

• Prolapse

  OBJECTIVES: To collate the scientific evidence on surgical management for lumbar-disc prolapse and degenerative lumbar spondylosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Conditions which may be covered by these SOPs Lumbar disc prolapse or herniation – An isolated lumbar disc prolapse is covered by the intervertebral disc prolapse SOP. [clik.dva.gov.au]

  Complications Prolapsed intervertebral disc : A prolapsed disc is also called as slipped disc which commonly affects the lumbar portion of the spine. [welcomecure.com]

  L4-L5 posteriocentral disc prolapsed with facet arthropathy causing neuroforaminal stenosis with L5 compressive radiculopathy, L3- L4 bulging disc. [practo.com]

  […] before the clinical onset of lumbar spondylosis at the level of the intervertebral disc prolapse; or (j) lifting loads of at least 25 kilograms while bearing weight through the lumbar spine to a cumulative total of at least 120 000 kilograms within any [comlaw.gov.au]

• Back Pain

  Stiffness index was associated with neither radiographic lumbar spondylosis nor low back pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Although KL = 2 spondylosis was not significantly associated with low back pain compared with KL = 0 or 1, KL⩾3 spondylosis was related to the pain only in women. [ard.bmj.com]

• Arthritis

  Convert to ICD-10-CM : 721.3 converts approximately to: 2015/16 ICD-10-CM M47.817 Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, lumbosacral region Approximate Synonyms Arthritis of low back Arthritis of sacrum Arthritis, low back Arthritis, sacral [icd9data.com]

  Genetics/Anatomy: Your genetic make-up plays a role in your spine arthritis. If your parents or siblings have back arthritis, there is a likelihood you will also. [orthopedicinstitutesf.com]

  What is Lumbar Spondylosis- ‘Back Arthritis’? Lumbar Spondylosis is a common cause of back pain condition as people increased age. [physioclinic.sg]

  If arthritis occurs at the facet joints, this is referred to as facet syndrome. If you suspect you are suffering from spondylosis and degenerative arthritis, give us a call at 703-709-1114 to schedule a consultation, or schedule online. [spinemd.com]

  Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine Chronic degeneration Progressive arthritis of the lumbar spinal joints As the space between the lumbar vertebrae decreases, there can be compression onto the nerve roots Arthritis can be central or lateral foramen based [accessphysiotherapy.mhmedical.com]

• Osteophyte

  Growth of new bone projecting horizontally at these margins identifies osteophytes. Most osteophytes are anterior or lateral in projection. [emedicine.medscape.com]

  Studies have reported that 85% of individuals aged 45–64 years demonstrate osteophytes within the lumbar spine. [boneandspine.com]

• Low Back Pain

  Stiffness index was associated with neither radiographic lumbar spondylosis nor low back pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Although KL = 2 spondylosis was not significantly associated with low back pain compared with KL = 0 or 1, KL⩾3 spondylosis was related to the pain only in women. [ard.bmj.com]

  […] level with low back pain, adjusting for age, BMI and stiffness index. [bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com]

• Cervical Osteoarthritis

  Doctors may use the term spondylosis in one or more of the following ways: To refer to a diagnostically confirmed degenerative disc condition, such as degenerative disc disease To describe osteoarthritis in the lumbar or cervical spine (e.g. lumbar osteoarthritis [ibackpain.com]

  osteoarthritis; Arthritis - neck; Neck arthritis; Chronic neck pain; Degenerative disk disease Fast A, Dudkiewicz I. [nlm.nih.gov]

  If you have osteoarthritis in your neck, check out this Video Series: Exercises for Cervical Spondylosis for stretches that specifically address cervical osteoarthritis. [spineuniverse.com]

• Tingling

  Ayurveda Management Pain, tingling sensation, numbness, stiffness of the spine are major symptoms of Lumbar spondylosis which is predominantly due to vitiated Vatha dosha. [charaka.org]

  Usually the patient does not feel pain during this portion of the procedure, although some patients report a tingling sensation. Generally the tingling feeling is desired, since it helps the doctor know that the placement of the needle is correct. [paindoctor.com]

  Symptoms of myelopathy include numbness, tingling, and weakness. [emedicinehealth.com]

  Signs and symptoms can include: Back pain Decreased range of motion and flexibility, either in the low back or legs, especially first thing in the morning or after periods of inactivity Stiffness or tenderness in the low back Numbness and tingling and [pthealth.ca]

  Anil M.B.B.S 9,259 satisfied customers My symptoms are neck stiffness and pain, hand tingling, back my symptoms are neck stiffness and pain, hand tingling, back pain, leg and hip pain and foot tingling and muscle spasms. [justanswer.com]

• Sciatica

  Similarly, if the lower back is affected, the patient may experience buttock pain and sciatica. Stiffness can occur after periods of inactivity or rest, such as waking up after a nap. [modernreflexology.com]

  Surgery is indicated only for complications (eg, for impingement-documented sciatica that is unresponsive to 2 days of absolute bed rest) of lumbar spondylosis. [emedicine.medscape.com]

  Cases with degenerative low back pain and sciatica were assessed before and after therapeutic interventions with combined movement examination and a battery of self-report pain and disability questionnaires. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Myelopathy

  […] wo myelopathy Sacral arthritis Sacrococcygeal spondylosis Sacrococcygeal spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy Sacrococcygeal spondylosis wo myelopathy Sacroiliac disorder Spondylosis of lumbar joint Spondylosis of lumbosacral joint Spondylosis [icd9data.com]

  […] with myelopathy, lumbar region 721.9 Spondylosis of unspecified site 721.90 Spondylosis of unspecified site, without myelopathy 721.91 Spondylosis of unspecified site, with myelopathy M47.16 Other spondylosis with myelopathy, lumbar region M47.817 Spondylosis [accessphysiotherapy.mhmedical.com]

  Surgical indications for cervical spondylotic myelopathy remain somewhat controversial, but most clinicians recommend operative therapy over conservative therapy for moderate-to-severe myelopathy. [emedicine.com]

• Paresthesia

  Paresthesias (abnormal sensations) may develop, such as numbness or tingling. As mentioned earlier, spondylosis is often associated with aging. [spineuniverse.com]

  If severe, it may cause pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots with subsequent sensory or motor disturbances, such as pain, paresthesia, imbalance, and muscle weakness in the limbs. [en.wikipedia.org]

  Paresthesias are sensations which may develop, like numbness or tingling. As mentioned earlier, spondylosis is often associated with aging. [modernreflexology.com]

  […] in the lower back and diffuses downward through the buttocks, thighs, calves, and feet Cervical Radiculopathy : Electric pain that emanates from the site of nerve compression in the neck and down through the shoulders, arms, hands, and/or fingertips Paresthesia [newyorkcityspine.com]

  A neurologic evaluation assesses the patient's symptoms including pain, numbness, paresthesias (e.g. tingling), extremity sensation and motor function, muscle spasm, weakness, and bowel/bladder changes. [physiotherapy-treatment.com]

• Confusion

  CONCLUSION: Lower thoracic degenerative spondylolisthesis is a rare disease, which may occur concomitantly with lumbar spondylosis and confuse clinicians. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  You may have heard your doctor talk about the term spondylosis, which is a confusing condition to understand because the word is used in many different ways. [braceability.com]

  Spondylosis should not be confused with spondylitis, spondylolysis, or spondylolisthesis which sound and spelt similarly. [coreconcepts.com.sg]

  In cases where there is a confusion regarding infective etiology i.e. pyogenic infections of spine, routine blood tests may be performed. [boneandspine.com]

Laboratory studies are not helpful in detection of lumbar spondylosis. Various imaging studies need to be conducted for differential diagnosis of the condition. An X-ray of the spine is done that reveals narrowing of the space between the discs. MRI studies may elucidate the spondylosis changes in static and mobile rendering [9]. A scan for the determining the bone density is also necessary.

Neurological examinations form an important part of diagnostic procedures. This test is done to assess any damage to the spinal canal. In case of any secondary complications, other tests such as electromyography and nerve conduction velocity are also required.

Treatment regime greatly depends on the extent of damage to the discs and the severity of the symptoms as well as age of the affected individual. In the preliminary stages, when mild symptoms are present, medications are administered to help relieve the pain. In addition, physiotherapy along with medications has proved to be extremely beneficial for patients suffering from lumbar spondylosis. Physiotherapy is known to improve the flexibility and strength of the spine.

In situations of nerve root impingement the patient is put on complete bed rest for at least 2 days. If the symptoms subside then the bed rest is extended for few more days. However, if no relief is experienced then surgical intervention becomes inevitable. Surgery is carried out to correct the nerve impingement and relieve the spinal canal by lumbar spine fusion procedures [10].

Lumbar supports are also given to patients suffering from lumbar spondylosis. For this, supports are designed in a manner that would restrict spine movement, provide stability and correct the deformity.

With prompt initiation of treatment, the prognosis is usually favorable. However, when lumbar spondylosis is allowed to progress, it can cause the vertebrae to gradually stiffen paving way for development of various other conditions.

Complications

Complications of lumbar spondylosis arise when treatment is not initiated in the initial stages. When the disease progresses to more advanced stages, the following complications develop:

• Onset of severe neurological problems
• Poor bladder control
• Unsteady gait
• Reduced flexibility due to severe back pain [6]
• Osteoporosis [7]
• Height reduction [8]

Lumbar spondylosis is a degenerative disease that adversely affects the spine causing narrowing of the space in between the spinal discs. Age is thought to be the greatest risk factor for this condition. As individual ages, the space between the discs narrows down. In addition, there is significant amount of degeneration taking place in the cartilage and disc which in turn contributes to narrowing down of the space.

Such events cause the vertebrae to gradually undergo wear and tear thereby exposing the nerves causing them to inflame and cause pain and discomfort. No relation so far has been noted between smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, height or weight of the individual [1].

It has been estimated that about 80% of US population develop lumbar spondylosis after the age of 40 years. However, this condition is also known to affect individuals in the age group of 20 to 29 years.

There is a strong correlation between the transforming growth factor beta 1 and lumbar spondylosis among postmenopausal Japanese women [2]. There is a higher incidence of lumbar spondylosis grade KL>2 (Kellgren-Lawrence grading) among men while grade KL>3 is equal in both sexes [3].

Lumbar spondylosis is a resultant reaction of narrowing of the space between the discs. Another theory which explains development of such a kind of condition is formation of new bone growth (osteophytes) in the areas where the anular ligament is under stress [4]. Such an event exerts pressure on the neighboring nerves giving rise to an array of associated complications. There is an associated disc space narrowing with spondylosis in degenerative bone disease of the spine [5]. If lumbar spondylosis is not treated on time it can lead to secondary complications.

Adopting certain lifestyle factors can in some way help in prevention of lumbar spondylosis. These include:

• Individuals are advised to take a careful note about their sitting posture and the lying position. It is also necessary that the bed and the chairs that are used on regular basis should not be too hard or flat.
• It is also necessary to stay healthy by exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet.
• Lastly, individuals who have developed lumbar spondylosis are advised against participating in sports or activities such as aerobics, basketball or jogging to avoid aggravating the condition.

Lumbar spondylosis is a condition characterized by development of bony growths in the lower spinal region. It is a degenerative disease of the spine. The condition is also known as spinal osteoarthritis.

Lumbar spondylosis is usually asymptomatic in nature; however some patients have reported that they experience back pain and morning stiffness as the preliminary signs of the disease. Significant number of individuals fall prey to this disease. Such a condition can strike any individual above the age of 20 years. Males and females are at an equal risk of contracting this disease condition.

Definition

Lumbar spondylosis is a degenerative disorder of the spine that narrows down the space between the discs. It is a common condition, affecting about 80% of the individuals of United States. Such a disorder commonly strikes adults as the spine degeneration takes place when the individual ages.

Cause

Age is known to be the major factor contributing to lumbar spondylosis. With advancing age, spine degeneration takes place paving for development of lumbar spondylosis. Physical stature and smoking or alcohol consumption have no relation to such degenerative spine disease.

Symptoms

Development of lower back pain is the most common sign of lumbar spondylosis. In addition, majority of the individuals also complain of stiffness in the lower back when they get up in the morning. All these give rise to decreased mobility and sensation of pinch like feeling in the lower back and legs. In some cases, pain in the lower back region can also radiate to the legs.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of lumbar spondylosis can be made by X-ray examination of the spinal canal. In addition, imaging studies such as MRI and CT scan are also carried out. Bone density tests also form an important part of diagnostic procedure.

Treatment

Mild cases of lumbar spondylosis can be treated with medications to relieve pain and physiotherapy to improve mobility by strengthening the spinal column. In severe cases of nerve impingement, the individuals are advised complete bed rest for 2 days. When the symptoms don’t resolve by bed rest then surgical intervention becomes inevitable.

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