Are you one of the astounding 80% of people who suffer from persistent back pain?
If so, we know that you’re willing to try just about anything in order to get the relief you need.
The truth, however, is that breaking free from the pain can be a serious challenge without the proper diagnosis.
Spondylosis is a condition in the back and spine that causes severe pain and disruption in your life.
Could this be what you’re suffering from? Let’s take a look at the signs of spondylosis.
What is Spondylosis?
Before we get into some of the most common signs of spondylosis, let’s first make sure you know exactly what it is.
Essentially, spondylosis is a broad medical term used to describe back pain generally caused by wear and tear during the body’s aging process. It is generally caused by osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease but is often used to describe spinal degeneration as a whole.
In a nutshell, it’s a much broader way of referring to any sort of pain and discomfort in your spine.
It can occur anywhere on your spine and you’re especially prone to dealing with this condition if you’ve remained inactive for long periods of time.
You may also have what’s known as a degenerative disc disease as a result of spondylosis. You can also get it as a result of a sports injury, or even because you’re genetically predisposed to it.
Generally, what’s going on is some sort of a degeneration in the tissues, tendons, cartilage, and even the muscles in your spine. This deterioration can happen quickly, or can happen slowly over time.
The good news?
The sooner you catch spondylosis, the better you’ll be able to treat it — and stop your spine from becoming more damaged.
So, how can you spot the major warning signs?
Read on to find out.
Common Spondylosis Symptoms
Now that you have a better understanding of what spondylosis is, let’s take a look at some of the most common lumbar spondylosis symptoms (as well as other types of the conditions.)
If you’ve noticed any of these conditions persisting, we strongly suggest that you make an appointment with a trusted spine specialist.
Pain in your Heels
You might not expect the signs of this condition to reach all the way down to your feet.
However, if you’ve noticed that the pain from your back seems to be spreading down your legs and causing you to feel a dull ache in your heels and feet, it’s time to take immediate action.
This is especially common in younger patients, who may have developed spondylosis as a result of a traumatic/sports injury.
In addition to a constant aching sensation, you may also notice that you experience a tingling or even a “pins and needles” feeling in your heels.
This is a sign that there’s a serious issue with your spine, and that you may even be at risk for bone spur development.
Persistent Neck Pain
In today’s world especially, we spend so much time hunched over the computer or typing away at our desks, that it’s easy to get what’s called “computer neck.”
While it’s essential that you take plenty of breaks and always take the time to stretch after long hours spent at a computer, sometimes, what you think is the result of your day job is actually spondylosis.
This is especially likely if you’ve noticed that after a few hours, the pain that you feel in your neck transitions into a sensation of numbness.
You may also feel severe tightness within the neck, or notice that whenever you try to stretch your neck, you experience intense pain.
This pain may stay localized within the neck, or it may quickly spread to your shoulders and upper back.
Again, this is why it’s crucial to make an appointment with a spine specialist as soon as you’re able to.
Stiffness in the Back
When you wake up in the morning, especially if you’re a bit older, it’s normal to feel a little bit of stiffness in your back and arms.
However, have you noticed that recently, these feelings of stiffness just don’t seem to go away? Have they started to limit your overall mobility, and do you feel like your muscles just weren’t as strong as they once were?
If so, then this may be one of the signs of ankylosing spondylitis.
Be aware that it may not take much time for these symptoms to travel to other parts of your back and body. Especially if you’ve noticed these sensations in your lower back, then it’s time for help.
It’s important to seek help sooner than later as patients have a much more successful outcome when treatment begins with the early symptoms. The last thing you want to deal with is for your only option to be an invasive surgery with a long recovery time.
Ready to Treat Spondylosis?
If you suspect that you are dealing with spondylosis, we know that it’s easy to feel stressed and afraid — in addition to the physical pain that you’re experiencing.
Meeting with a professional spine specialist will help you to better understand the type of spondylosis you could be dealing with. You’ll also be able to get a handle on your condition before it gets any worse.
There are lots of different treatment options available to you. Depending on the severity, you could take over-the-counter medications and pain relievers or enroll in some sort of physical therapy program.
You could also consider getting injections into your spine.
Whatever you choose, you need to be in good hands.
Get in touch with us today to start taking control of your spine health.