Spondylosis Treatment

If you receive a spondylosis diagnosis, our care team creates a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and lifestyle. We also offer access to innovative clinical trials that can provide access to promising new spine treatments not yet available to the public.

Our spinal experts are committed to providing superior outcomes. We strive to relieve pain and restore function to the affected parts of your body while preventing permanent damage to the spinal cord or nerves whenever possible.

Treatment plans vary depending on the type and severity of symptoms. Your health care team may use one or more of the methods below to treat and manage spondylosis.

Over-the-Counter & Prescription Medication

Pain relievers you can buy without a prescription, also known as over the counter (OTC) medication, can reduce pain and swelling from mild spondylosis. Your doctor may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or aspirin for a short period of time for symptom relief. Nonprescription pain relievers are not intended for long-term use. Only take them for the amount of time your doctor recommends.

Your doctor may prescribe medication if OTC medications don’t adequately relieve your arthritis pain or inflammation. Muscle relaxers can ease muscle spasms in the neck. Oral corticosteroids such as prednisone may be prescribed to help reduce inflammation and pain. Antiseizure medications can reduce pain from damaged nerves.

Physical Therapy & Strengthening Exercises

Your doctor may suggest you work with a physical therapist for a nonsurgical approach to reduce your pain and restore function. Rehabilitation therapies commonly used to treat spine conditions include strengthening, flexibility exercises and stretching, gentle massage and hot/cold compresses.

For cervical spondylosis in the upper spine, wearing a soft collar or brace around your neck for short periods of time can allow your neck to rest. Wear it only for the amount of time your doctor prescribes. Wearing a brace longer than recommended can weaken muscles and increase stiffness.

Depending on the severity of your condition, cervical spinal traction may be used to provide space in the spine to treat pinched nerves.

Our physical therapists can help get you back to your everyday routine and the activities you enjoy.

Learn more about spondylosis exercises > 

Injection-Based Treatments

One or more therapies may be performed by injection (administered with a needle) to address nerve pain and reduce inflammation, including:

• Facet and medial branch blocks – Facet joint injections are the most common type of injection treatment for chronic pain from spondylosis. These are injections of local anesthesia directly into a joint in the spine (facet block) or near a nerve outside the joint (medial branch block).
• Epidural steroid injections (ESI) – These directly treat irritated nerve roots with injected steroids.
• Facet rhizotomy – This procedure reduces osteoarthritis pain with an electrothermal needle inserted into a joint to deaden irritated nerves with heat.

Surgical Procedures

Surgery for spondylosis is recommended if standard treatments aren’t enough to relieve symptoms, or if you experience increased neurological symptoms such as weakness in the arms or legs. 

Houston Methodist board-certified spine surgeons use the most advanced surgical techniques available. They have the expertise needed to successfully perform delicate procedures such as:

 

• Microdiscectomy – Also known as minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), this relieves pressure on the nerves through small incisions using special equipment, avoiding potential complications of open surgery.
• Radiofrequency ablation – This minimally invasive, image-guided procedure treats lower back pain using a high-frequency electrical current to eliminate bone spurs creating nerve pressure.
• Cervical microscopic foraminotomy – This minimally invasive procedure enlarges the space through which a nerve root exits the spinal cord, known as the neural foramen, in the cervical spine.
• Laminectomy  – This removes the lamina (part of the vertebral bone) to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and address neurological symptoms. This can occur on the cervical (upper), thoracic (middle) or lumbar (lower) part of the spine.
• Lumbar microscopic discectomy – This procedure removes bone spurs and arthritis in the lumbar spine that is pressing on a spinal nerve.
• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) – This procedure removes bone spurs and arthritis, and it decompresses the nerves in the cervical spine. ACDF is performed through the front of the neck.
• Posterior cervical fusion (PCF) – Bones in the back of the cervical spine are fused to relieve pressure and provide stability.
• Cervical laminoplasty  – This relieves pressure on the nerves in the cervical spine by cutting the lamina on both sides of the affected vertebrae.

 

Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive approaches to reduce surgery risk, speed recovery and help you return to your daily activities sooner. Recovery time can vary, and your surgeon will let you know what to expect. We’re here to guide you every step of the way through treatment and recovery.

 

Across Houston, our patients have access to our expert neck, back and spine specialists so that you can get the best possible care personalized for your needs — without traveling far from home. Explore our footprint of locations in the greater Houston area and suburbs below.