Reviewed personally by Dr. Sunkara · Written for Spondylosis & Spondylitis · Updated September 2026
Quick Answer
So, what is spondylosis? It's age-related wear and tear in the spine's joints and discs, most often in the neck or lower back, that shows up on scans as bone spurs and thinning discs. Spondylosis is extremely common after 40, and for many people it causes no pain at all.
Here's the part that surprises most patients: spondylosis isn't something that suddenly appears. It builds quietly for years as the discs lose water and height, and the joints around them grow small bone spurs, called osteophytes, to steady the spine. That's why an X-ray at 50 can look worrying while the neck feels fine. The picture on the scan and the pain you feel don't always match.
Spondylosis is most common in the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar), usually in adults over 40. It's often confused with spondylitis, an inflammatory condition like ankylosing spondylitis, which is a different disease usually managed by a rheumatologist rather than a spine surgeon. Not every problem needs a surgery, and most spondylosis never comes close.
Your X-ray or MRI report names spondylosis by where the wear sits. The neck and lower back take the most load, so those two are by far the most common. The fourth card covers spondylitis, a different disease.
Neck and back pain from worn joints usually builds slowly and settles with conservative care, so a planned visit is almost always fine. The warning signs are different: clumsy hands, unsteady walking or bladder changes can mean the spinal cord itself is being squeezed.
Seek Immediate Care If You Also Have:
01
Dr. Sunkara starts with your story: where the pain sits, when it started, and what makes it worse. A focused exam checks your range of motion, reflexes, and strength to see whether a nerve is involved.
02
An X-ray shows bone spurs and disc space narrowing, the classic signs of spondylosis. An MRI is added when nerve or spinal cord involvement is suspected, since it shows soft tissue in far more detail.
03
Most adults over 50 show some wear on a scan, so the key question is whether it matches your symptoms. Dr. Sunkara looks for that link before suggesting any treatment.
Do bone spurs on a scan mean an operation? Almost never on their own. Care starts with movement and simple measures, and steps up only if a nerve stays pinched.
A structured exercise program, posture correction, and anti-inflammatory medication that make up the first line of treatment for most people.
An injection that numbs and treats the small joints between vertebrae, useful for confirming whether they're the source of your pain and relieving it.
About Facet Joint Blocks →Steroid placed near a nerve root pinched by bone spurs or disc wear, calming the arm or leg pain that often comes with it.
About Epidural Injections →Covers options from decompression to fusion, reserved for cases with significant nerve or spinal cord compression that hasn't improved with less invasive care.
About Spine Surgery →Not in the sense of reversing the wear already on your scan, and that's a fair question to ask. This kind of wear is a normal part of aging, and the honest goal isn't erasing it. It's managing symptoms well enough that it doesn't run your life.
Worn joints do better with steady, everyday care than with rest.
STAY ACTIVE
Regular, gentle movement keeps the muscles supporting your spine strong, which matters more than resting during a flare-up.
MIND YOUR POSTURE
A slouched neck or hunched desk posture adds extra strain on already-worn joints, so an eye-level screen and supported lower back help.
SLEEP SUPPORT
A pillow that keeps your neck level with your spine, not propped up or dropped down, can ease the morning stiffness many people notice.
STRETCH REGULARLY
Simple neck and back stretches keep the spine flexible and can ease the stiffness that worn joints often bring, especially in the morning.
What stage of spondylosis does my scan show?
Is my pain coming from spondylosis, or something else?
Which exercises are safe for my neck or back right now?
Are my hands or walking showing any sign of cord pressure?
Could this be spondylitis instead, and would I need a rheumatologist?
Terms like osteophytes and disc desiccation sound alarming. A second opinion explains what they mean for you.
Spondylosis is age-related wear and tear in the spine's discs and joints, most often in the neck or lower back. It's extremely common after 40 and often causes no symptoms at all.
Share your X-ray or MRI for a second opinion, or book a consultation to find out whether that wear is really what's causing your pain.
Written & reviewed by Dr. Raveesh Sunkara, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon · Last updated September 2026 · Next review due March 2027