Spondylosis is a general term that refers to age related changes of the spine. The term encompasses osteoarthritis of the spinal facet joints, disc space narrowing, and disc degeneration. Spondylosis is often used synonymously with the terms degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthritis.
FAQ
A diagnostic label that includes disc space narrowing, facet arthrosis (arthritis), osteophytes (bone spurs), and subchondral sclerosis (hardening of the bone beneath articular cartilage). All of these changes occur at greater frequency with age, so are simply age related changes of the spine. Spondylosis is not more prevalent in people with lower back pain compared to people without lower back pain.
Lumbar spondylosis is a term used to encompass age related changes of the lumbar spine. These changes include disc space narrowing, facet joint arthritis, bone spurs, and subchondral sclerosis. These findings on imaging increase in frequency with age. These changes are no more prevalent in people with lower back pain compared to people without lower back pain.
Age related changes of the spine without any compression of the spinal cord.
Being alive and aging. Spondylosis (disc space narrowing, facet arthrosis, bone spurs, sclerosis) is normal. The same amount of people without low back pain have spondylosis compared to people with low back pain. As humans age the spine changes. These changes are what show up on imaging (x-ray, MRI).
