Lumbar Spondylosis

Spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. Between any two vertebrae there is a fibro-gelatinous substance which is called disc, which helps in the mobility of the spine. There is space in the vertebrae where the spinal cord and spinal nerves can pass. The changes in the vertebrae and lumbar discs due to degenerative changes leading to symptoms ranging from pain to neurological deficits is called lumbar spondylosis.

Causes

• Normal aging process
• Exaggerated wear and tear of the disc or the joints
• Injury to the lumbar spine

Symptoms

• Sciatica
• If problems become more, they can have numbness along with pain in buttocks, back of thigh and legs upto the feet.
• Neurogenic Claudication – increase in symptoms when the patient walk for a considerable distance.
• Later stages they can have bladder and bowel problems

Diagnosis
X ray, CT scan and MRI scan will be ordered to identify the extent of spondylosis

Treatment

• Conservative treatment – Most of the patients do not requires surgery. Often rest along with pain medications, muscle relaxants and physical therapy will be helpful in treating.
• Spinal injections are requires in a small subset of patients
• Surgery – If symptoms are not relieved, or if symptoms are progressing then, Surgery is required. There are a range of surgical options depending on the pathology, like, lumbar micro-discectomy, decompressive laminectomy, lumbar stabilisation

Your surgeon will discuss surgical options and suggests you the appropriate treatment plan.