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Discogenic Spondylosis

Discogenic spondylosis, which is often thought of as a form of spinal osteoarthritis, refers to a degenerative condition that affects the joints of the spine. Spinal osteoarthritis is characterized by an erosion of the cartilage surrounding the facet joints of the spine, which are the hinges at the back of each vertebra that allow the spine to have a full range of motion. However, because a joint is defined as a site where two or more bones connect, the intervertebral discs can also be considered joints because they serve to connect adjacent vertebrae. And, just as spondylosis is characterized by the deterioration of facet joint cartilage, it is also characterized by the deterioration of intervertebral disc cartilage.

Neural Compression and Discogenic Spondylosis

Because spondylosis involves the degeneration of joint cartilage, the body responds to this deterioration by producing extra bone growths (osteophytes) in an attempt to reinforce the spine. However, these osteophytes (also referred to as bone spurs) which form in the facet joints and around the edges of vertebrae can compress the surrounding spinal nerves and further irritate the bones and ligaments of the spine.

The Pain of Discogenic Spondylosis

Discogenic spondylosis can occur in any region of the spine and symptoms will vary accordingly.

• Cervical spondylosis – occurs in the neck; pain may spread into the shoulders, down the arms, and into the hands. In rare cases, individuals may also experience dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing.
• Thoracic spondylosis – occurs in the middle back; the thoracic spine is relatively immobile due to its attachment to the rib cage, but “flexion” movements can trigger pain. “Flexion” involves any movement that decreases the angle of a joint, so for the spine, flexion involves bending forward, or bringing your chest towards your knees.
• Lumbar spondylosis – occurs in the lower back; especially common in the lumbar region because of how much weight this section of the spine supports, and also because the lower back is so flexible. Staying immobile for long periods of time has been known to increase the severity of lumbar discogenic pain.

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Treating Discogenic Spondylosis

If you have attempted weeks or months of non-surgical conservative treatment and still find that the pain of spondylosis is negatively affecting your quality of life, it may be time to contact Laser Spine Institute (LSI). Our minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures treat the source of discogenic pain on an outpatient basis. Contact us today for a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.