Spondylosis

Spondylosis Treatment Dhaka | Non-Surgical Arthritis of Spine - AdvanCell

Spondylosis is a general term referring to age-related wear and tear affecting the spine. It's essentially osteoarthritis of the spine, involving the degeneration of the intervertebral discs, facet joints, and the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes). While a natural part of aging, spondylosis can lead to chronic pain, stiffness, reduced flexibility, and in some cases, severe nerve compression, significantly impacting your ability to move and enjoy life.

At AdvanCell in Dhaka, we understand the chronic nature of spondylosis and its varying impact on individuals. Our expert physiotherapists specialize in comprehensive, non-surgical management to accurately assess your condition, alleviate your symptoms, improve spinal mechanics, restore functional mobility, and empower you with strategies for long-term comfort and independence.

What is Spondylosis? Understanding Spinal Degeneration

Spondylosis is not a single disease but an umbrella term that describes the degenerative changes that occur in the spine over time. These changes typically involve:

• Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD): The intervertebral discs, which act as cushions between the vertebrae, lose their water content, flatten, and may develop cracks. This leads to a narrowing of the space between vertebrae.

• Facet Joint Arthritis: The small joints at the back of each vertebra (facet joints) that allow for spinal movement also undergo wear and tear. Their cartilage can break down, leading to inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

• Bone Spurs (Osteophytes): In response to disc degeneration and increased stress on joints, the body may form extra bony growths (spurs) along the edges of the vertebrae and facet joints. These spurs can contribute to stiffness and, more critically, may narrow the spaces where nerves exit the spine.

• Thickening Ligaments: The ligaments that support the spine can also thicken and become less flexible with age, further contributing to stiffness and potential nerve impingement.

Impact and Potential Complications: Spondylosis primarily causes localized pain and stiffness in the affected region. However, in more advanced cases, it can lead to:

• Spinal Stenosis: A narrowing of the spinal canal or the nerve root openings (foramina), which can compress the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots.

• Radiculopathy: Nerve compression that results in pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness radiating into the arms/hands (cervical radiculopathy from neck spondylosis) or legs/feet (lumbar radiculopathy/sciatica from lower back spondylosis).

• Myelopathy: (Less common but more serious) Compression of the spinal cord itself, typically in the neck (cervical myelopathy), leading to balance problems, weakness, coordination difficulties, and sometimes bladder/bowel issues.

Common Locations: While spondylosis can occur anywhere along the spine, it is most prevalent in the:

• Cervical Spondylosis (Neck): Pain, stiffness, headaches, radiating arm pain.

• Lumbar Spondylosis (Lower Back): Lower back pain, stiffness, radiating leg pain (sciatica).

• Thoracic Spondylosis (Mid-Back): Less common, but can cause mid-back pain and stiffness.

Who Benefits from Our Spondylosis Management Programs? Do You Need Help?

Physiotherapy is often the most effective non-surgical treatment for managing the symptoms of spondylosis. You could significantly benefit from our specialized programs if you are:

• Diagnosed with Spondylosis, Osteoarthritis of the Spine, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Spinal Stenosis, or Radiculopathy.

• Experiencing chronic or intermittent pain and stiffness in your neck, mid-back, or lower back.

• Struggling with reduced flexibility, especially morning stiffness.

• Having radiating pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

• Finding it difficult to sit, stand, walk, or perform specific movements without discomfort.

• Seeking effective non-surgical solutions to manage your symptoms and improve your functional abilities.

• Looking to maintain your independence and prevent further functional decline.

AdvanCell's Approach to Spondylosis Management

At AdvanCell, we understand that while spondylosis involves irreversible degenerative changes, its painful and limiting effects are often highly manageable through targeted physiotherapy. Our comprehensive, non-surgical approach focuses on:

• Accurate Assessment: Precisely identifying the affected spinal segments, the specific structures causing your pain (discs, joints, nerves), and how your posture and movement patterns contribute.

• Pain Reduction: Alleviating discomfort and inflammation caused by mechanical stress and nerve irritation.

• Nerve Decompression: Utilizing techniques to create space and reduce pressure on compressed nerves (where applicable).

• Improving Spinal Mechanics: Optimizing joint movement, muscle balance, and overall spinal alignment to reduce stress on degenerated areas.

• Functional Restoration: Enhancing your ability to perform daily activities, work, and recreational pursuits with greater ease and less pain.

• Empowerment through Education: Providing you with the knowledge and self-management strategies for long-term spinal health and prevention of flare-ups.

How We Help: Our Spondylosis Rehabilitation Programs Include

Our personalized physiotherapy programs integrate a range of advanced techniques and modalities tailored to your specific condition and symptoms:

1. Comprehensive Assessment:

• Detailed History: Understanding your pain patterns, neurological symptoms, aggravating and relieving factors, and how spondylosis impacts your daily life, work, and sleep.

• Thorough Physical Examination: Evaluating your posture, gait, spinal alignment, range of motion, muscle strength, sensation, reflexes, and performing specific orthopedic and neurological tests to identify the primary pain generators and any nerve involvement.

• Review of Imaging: Analyzing X-rays, MRI, or CT scans (if available) to confirm the extent of degenerative changes, disc narrowing, bone spur formation, and nerve root/spinal cord compression.

2. Pain & Inflammation Management:

• Therapeutic Modalities:

• Laser Therapy (LLLT/PBMT): For targeted reduction of inflammation, pain relief, and acceleration of tissue healing in affected spinal structures.

• Ultrasound Therapy: Delivers deep heat and mechanical effects to reduce muscle spasm, improve local circulation, and aid tissue healing.

• IFT (Interferential Therapy) & TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): Electrical stimulation for effective pain control and muscle relaxation.

• Heat & Cold Therapy: Applied strategically to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation (heat), or reduce acute inflammation and swelling (cold).

• Manual Therapy:

• Soft Tissue Massage/Release: To alleviate muscle spasms, tension, and trigger points that often accompany spinal degeneration.

• Gentle Joint Mobilization: To restore and maintain optimal movement in stiff spinal joints, both at and adjacent to the affected levels, to improve overall spinal mechanics. Aggressive manipulation on unstable or acutely inflamed segments is carefully avoided.

3. Nerve Decompression (for Radiculopathy/Spinal Stenosis):

• Spinal Traction Therapy (Cervical or Lumbar): Mechanical or manual traction can gently stretch the spine, creating temporary space between vertebrae. This can help decompress nerve roots and provide significant relief for radiating pain, numbness, and tingling.

• Specific Directional Movements (McKenzie Method Principles): Identifying specific movements and postures that can centralize pain (move it away from the limb and back to the spine) and reduce nerve irritation by optimizing spinal alignment.

• Nerve Glides/Flossing: Gentle exercises designed to help irritated or compressed nerves move more freely within their pathways.

4. Therapeutic Exercise Progression (The Cornerstone of Long-Term Relief):

• Core & Spinal Stabilization Exercises: Crucial for building and maintaining a strong, stable foundation for your spine. Strengthening deep abdominal and back muscles helps to reduce stress on degenerated discs and joints.

• Spinal Mobility & Flexibility Exercises: Gentle, controlled exercises to maintain and improve the available range of motion in your spine, focusing on pain-free movement and correcting compensatory patterns.

• Strengthening Exercises: Targeted strengthening of muscles that support the spine (e.g., back extensors, glutes, hip flexors, shoulder stabilizers) to improve posture, reduce load on affected areas, and enhance functional strength.

• Postural Correction & Ergonomics: Comprehensive education and practical exercises for optimal spinal alignment during all daily activities, including sitting, standing, lifting, and sleeping. This is vital for preventing further strain.

• Balance and Gait Training: If spondylosis has affected your balance or walking (e.g., in cervical myelopathy), specific exercises to improve stability and coordination.

5. Advanced Targeted Therapies:

• Dry Needling / Wet Needling (Trigger Point Injections): For precisely targeting and deactivating stubborn muscle knots and trigger points that frequently develop in muscles compensating for chronic spinal pain.

6. Patient Education & Self-Management:

• Thorough understanding of spondylosis, its progression, and effective strategies for managing symptoms at home.

• Instruction on safe body mechanics for all daily activities to minimize spinal stress.

• Emphasis on the importance of consistency with your prescribed home exercise program.

• Lifestyle advice, including weight management, maintaining an active lifestyle, stress reduction techniques, and optimal sleep positions.

7. Long-term Prevention & Maintenance:

• Developing a sustainable exercise routine to maintain strength, flexibility, and overall spinal health.

• Guidance on modifying activities to prevent flare-ups and accommodate spinal changes.

• Collaboration with and referral to orthopedic surgeons or neurosurgeons if severe myelopathy is suspected or if conservative therapy is insufficient for severe radiculopathy/stenosis.

Benefits of Physiotherapy for Spondylosis at AdvanCell:

• Significant Pain Reduction: Alleviate chronic and acute pain caused by disc and joint degeneration.

• Improved Mobility & Flexibility: Combat stiffness and regain functional range of motion in your spine.

• Increased Strength & Spinal Stability: Build a strong core and supporting muscles to protect your discs and joints.

• Relief of Nerve Symptoms: Reduce radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your limbs.

• Better Posture & Body Mechanics: Learn to move in ways that minimize stress on your spine and prevent further degeneration.

• Reduced Reliance on Medication: Through effective non-pharmacological pain management strategies.

• Maintained Functional Independence: Continue to perform daily activities, work, and hobbies with greater ease and less discomfort.

• Improved Quality of Life: Live more comfortably and actively despite a degenerative condition.

• Avoiding or Delaying Surgery: For many individuals, comprehensive physiotherapy can provide lasting relief, making invasive surgical procedures unnecessary.

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