What Is Spondylosis?
Spondylosis is a broad term for degenerative changes in the spine: disc dehydration, disc-height loss, bone spurs, facet arthritis, and ligament thickening. The old site called it spinal osteoarthritis or degenerative spine disease. Many people have imaging signs of spondylosis without severe pain, so PPSI focuses on matching imaging to symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include neck or back stiffness, aching pain, reduced range of motion, headaches from cervical facet irritation, pain after prolonged sitting or standing, or flare-ups after activity. If bone spurs or disc changes narrow nerve space, symptoms may include arm or leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
When to Seek Care
Get evaluated if pain lasts more than a few weeks, limits daily activity, radiates into an arm or leg, or is associated with numbness or weakness. Seek urgent care for trauma, fever, unexplained weight loss, progressive weakness, balance changes, or bowel or bladder symptoms.
Diagnosis
PPSI uses a history, physical exam, neurologic testing, and imaging review. X-rays can show arthritis, disc-space narrowing, alignment, and bone spurs. MRI is useful when nerve compression, stenosis, disc herniation, or spinal cord involvement is suspected. Diagnostic blocks may help confirm facet-joint pain.
Treatment Options
Treatment may include physical therapy, posture and ergonomic changes, strength training, anti-inflammatory medication guidance, heat or ice strategies, and activity pacing. Interventional options may include facet joint injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablation, epidural steroid injections, or selective nerve-root blocks depending on the pain generator. Surgery is considered when degeneration causes severe stenosis, instability, or neurologic decline.
PPSI Care Path
We avoid treating the MRI alone. Your plan is based on where pain comes from and what function you want back: sitting, driving, walking, working, lifting, or sleeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is spondylosis normal aging?
It is common with age, but symptoms are not inevitable. Treatment depends on what structures are painful or compressing nerves.
Can it cause pinched nerves?
Yes. Bone spurs and disc collapse can narrow nerve openings and lead to radiculopathy.
What is radiofrequency ablation?
It is a pain procedure that targets small sensory nerves from arthritic facet joints after diagnostic blocks confirm the source.