What is spondylosis - 3 natural treatment options

Veröffentlicht am: October 29, 2024
Dr. med. Wolfgang Bachmann
Dr. med. Wolfgang Bachmann

General practitioner

Many people have no idea what the name "spondylosis" means, yet it is a very common degenerative disease.

So far, there is no cure, but there are some natural treatment options available to sufferers. Fortunately, you can reduce the risk of spondylosis simply by being aware of the causes, symptoms and risk factors of the disease.

Spondylosis is an age-related disease that causes devastating damage to your spine. Physiotherapists and chiropractors agree: spondylosis can significantly limit your options and quality of life.

A doctor or chiropractor can make a diagnosis of "spondylosis" if there is visible deterioration in your spine. Imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs can then be used to precisely visualize the damage and draw up a treatment plan. In many cases, those affected can stop the deterioration or even heal from it without taking any medication or undergoing surgery. However, every case is different.

Contents

What is spondylosis?

Research shows that 80 percent of all people over the age of 40 show signs of spondylosis on X-rays. Doctors suspect that many cases are due to a genetic predisposition and injuries. However, other causes should always be seriously considered.

The term "spondylosis" is used to describe various signs of wear and tear of the intervertebral discs in the spine. These are mostly age-related and not life-threatening, but can result in a whole range of physical, mental or emotional consequences that can also or even more severely affect an individual's well-being. Spondylosis usually worsens with age. So far there is no cure, but there are some treatment options. However, it is important to take preventive or treatment measures as early as possible.

There are usually three different types of spondylosis. Each depends on the location of the wear and tear. However, signs of wear and tear can occur in more than one region of the body at the same time.

The main types of spondylosis are:

1. cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is concentrated in the neck area and is usually characterized by the following symptoms:

  • Numbness and/or tingling in arms, legs, hands and feet
  • Difficulty standing upright or walking
  • Poor coordination skills
  • Pain
  • Difficulty controlling bladder and bowel emptying

Interestingly, many people with cervical spondylosis do not experience any symptoms.

2. thoracic spondylosis

Thoracic spondylosis is concentrated in the upper and middle back and is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Stiffness
  • Weakness
  • Problems standing and/or walking
  • Pain
  • Poor coordination skills
  • Impaired sense of balance
  • Numbness and/or tingling in the legs, feet and toes
  • Poor posture

Thoracic spondylosis occurs quite frequently, especially in people who regularly strain their back over a long period of time.

3. lumbar spondylosis

Lumbar spondylosis occurs in the lower back and is associated with similar symptoms to the previous two types, including numbness, tingling and coordination difficulties. It most commonly affects people who spend a lot of time sitting or standing, although it can occur regardless of lifestyle or working conditions.

Spondylosis

Main causes of spondylosis

All three forms often occur in the course of natural degeneration of the spinal discs, but can also be caused by prolonged pressure or progressive wear and tear of the spine or musculoskeletal system.

The 4 main causes of spondylosis are:

  • Age: With increasing age, the cartilage between the individual vertebrae wears away. It is not yet known why this happens.
  • Genetic factors: Scientists have recently discovered that some people are genetically predisposed to developing spondylosis and other musculoskeletal conditions.
  • Injuries: Chiropractors around the world deal with numerous spondylosis patients every year who have contracted the condition as a result of an injury. In such cases, the disease can usually be prevented or slowed down. This requires regular chiropractic treatments and a healthy diet.
  • Lifestyle: Certain behaviors promote the development of spondylosis. We will discuss these in the rest of this guide.

First of all, however, it is important to know that in many cases untreated spondylosis leads to sensitive bone spurs or osteophytes. These spurs form along the spine and restrict the patient's freedom of movement, cause severe pain and, in rare cases, can lead to paralysis.

Prevention of spondylosis: Know the risk factors

It is undisputed that the risk of spondylosis increases with age, regardless of personal lifestyle. However, some behaviors promote faster wear and tear of the spine. Your medical history can also contribute to an increased risk. See a chiropractor regularly if you have a family history of arthritis or other musculoskeletal conditions.

The most important risk factors for spondylosis are similar to those for other musculoskeletal disorders.

These include, among others:

  • Poor nutrition: Without a sufficient supply of bone-strengthening vitamins and minerals such as calcium or magnesium, your body cannot withstand age-related signs of wear and tear for long.
  • Poor posture: Our posture affects many areas, including the health of our spine. Persistent poor posture can lead to minor injuries, pain and limited range of motion. This can all contribute to the development of spondylosis.
  • Tobacco consumption: Smoking not only damages your lungs, but also removes calcium from your bones. If too much calcium is removed, cervical, thoracic and/or lumbar spondylosis is almost inevitable.
  • Injuries: Some injuries can contribute to the development of rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis and, later on, spondylosis, especially if these injuries have occurred to the spine or have not been treated for too long.
  • Weight: Your weight has a major impact on the health and functionality of your spine. Obesity is a common cause of spondylosis, especially (but not exclusively) in seniors.

3 Natural treatment options for spondylosis

The bad news is that in some people, spondylosis is so aggressive that it can only be treated with invasive means. Those affected can then only resort to unnatural means:

  • Cortisone injections
  • Prescription drugs for muscle relaxation
  • Over-the-counter painkillers
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Electrical stimulation

Fortunately, in milder cases, spondylosis can be treated holistically and completely without medication. Your chiropractor will discuss the various options with you. These include:

  • Heat and/or cold packs (periodically)
  • Gentle stretching
  • Targeted exercises
  • Pull
  • Lifestyle adjustments
  • Nutrition and sport

Carefully monitored physiotherapy techniques can prevent injuries in the future and also shorten recovery time and relieve pain. Carefully administered treatment helps to protect the soft tissue in the spine and can significantly reduce the risk of spondylosis, even at an advanced age. In addition, these natural treatment options can provide relief:

1. chiropractic applications

An experienced chiropractor can relieve the spine with practiced movements and thus take unnecessary pressure off the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. This is usually done completely painlessly in his practice without any further recovery time.

2. chiropractic massages

Chiropractic is more than just "cracking bones" and freeing pinched nerves. Targeted massage can do wonders for a misaligned spine and literally reduce the risk of spondylosis to near zero, as long as these treatments are done regularly and are accompanied by a healthy lifestyle.

3. rest and relaxation

Sometimes it simply takes rest and relaxation to prevent spondylosis and/or alleviate unpleasant side effects. Never underestimate the positive effect of taking time for yourself.

None of the three different forms (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) is life-threatening. However, the symptoms can significantly reduce your quality of life. Natural treatments are designed to help patients who do not want to take harmful pharmaceuticals or undergo dangerous surgeries. Many of the methods mentioned here require little to no supportive medication, but can often be supplemented with painkillers.

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Spondylosis at a glance

This disease of the spine worsens with increasing age. Spondylosis affects one or more different sections of the spine:

  • the upper area (cervical)
  • the middle area (thoracic)
  • or the lower (lumbar)

Each individual form has its own typical symptoms, but some are similar. Spondylosis is preventable in many cases, but there is currently no cure.

Regular chiropractic treatments help to prevent and/or treat the symptoms. Using natural remedies without the use of conventional medication, sufferers can alleviate their pain and other symptoms of this degenerative condition. However, if the disease is severe, stronger measures are required, such as traction, injections or surgery. Discuss your various options with your doctor, alternative practitioner or chiropractor in advance.

Take a look at the risk factors that contribute to the development of spondylosis. This is the best way to prevent symptoms or enable early detection of the disease. With the help of an experienced chiropractor, a healthy diet and a responsible lifestyle, you should be able to live a long, healthy and happy life without developing spondylosis. However, if you feel that something is wrong with your neck or back, you should have a thorough examination by an orthopedist or chiropractor.

Remember, not all people actually develop symptoms. You should therefore have yourself checked regularly as a precaution.

 

Sources (in English): 

Wang, C., Tian, F., Zhou, Y., He, W. & Cai, Z. (2016, January). The incidence of cervical spondylosis decreases with aging in the elderly, and increases with aging in the young and adult population: a hospital-based clinical analysis. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 11:47-53, doi: 10.2147/CIA.S93118

Iwanami, A. & Toyama, Y. (2014, October). [Cervical spondylosis]. Nihon rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine, 72(10):1755-60

Tetreault, L., Goldstein, C. L., Arnold, P., Harrop, J., Hilibrand, A., Nouri, A. & Fehlings, M. G. (2015, October). Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Spectrum of Related Disorders Affecting the Aging Spine. Neurosurgery, 77 Suppl 4:S51-67, doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000000951