What is the Difference Between Spinal Stenosis and Spondylosis

The key difference between spinal stenosis and spondylosis is that spinal stenosis is a spinal condition that causes the narrowing of the spaces of the spine, while spondylosis is a spinal condition that causes the loss of normal structure and function of the spine.

Spinal stenosis and spondylosis are two spinal conditions. Spinal conditions involve a wide range of conditions, including degenerative spine conditions, traumatic spine conditions, infectious spine conditions, neoplastic spine conditions, and spinal deformities. Moreover, these conditions can be treated by spinal surgeons through respective surgeries.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Spinal Stenosis  
3. What is Spondylosis
4. Similarities – Spinal Stenosis and Spondylosis
5. Spinal Stenosis vs Spondylosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Spinal Stenosis vs Spondylosis

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a spinal condition that causes the narrowing of the spaces of the spine. This condition can compress the spinal cord and nerve roots of existing vertebrae. The causes of spinal stenosis include bone overgrowth/ arthritic spurs and bulging disks/herniated disks. Spinal stenosis can occur anywhere along the spine. But it most commonly occurs in the two areas of the spine: the lower back (limber spinal stenosis) and the neck (cervical spinal stenosis). The common symptoms of spinal stenosis include pain in the lower back, sciatica, a heavy feeling in the leg, weakness in the leg or foot, pain that worsens while standing for long periods of time, walking or walking downhill, pain that lessens while leaning, bending forward, walking uphill, or sitting, loss of bladder or bowel control, neck pain, numbness or tingling in arm, hand, leg or foot, balance problems, loss of function in hands, having problems in writing or buttoning shirts and pain, numbness, and tingling or weakness in abdomen.

Moreover, spinal growth can be diagnosed through physical examination, X-ray, MRI CT scan, and myelogram. Furthermore, treatment options for spinal stenosis may include self-help remedies (apply heat, cold, and exercises), oral medications (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, steroid injections, decompression procedure and surgeries (laminectomy, foraminotomy, spinal fusion, etc.).

What is Spondylosis?

Spondylosis is a spinal condition that causes the loss of normal structure and function of the spine. Spondylosis is caused by repetitive and excessive use, aging, and trauma. The symptoms of this condition may include neck pain, weakness in arms, dysphagia, pain by forward flexion and hyperextension, morning pain and stiffness, pain while doing any activity, pain due to sitting for prolonged periods of time and pain that increases while doing repetitive movements such as lifting and bending.

Moreover, the diagnosis of spondylosis is made through physical examination, X-ray, MRI, and CT scans. Furthermore, treatment options for spondylosis may include exercises, physical therapy, medications (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), steroid injections, alternative medicines (acupuncture and therapeutic massage), and surgery (discectomy and fusion surgery).

What are the Similarities Between Spinal Stenosis and Spondylosis?

• Spinal stenosis and spondylosis are two spinal conditions
• Both conditions may affect the quality of lifestyle.
• Both conditions may have similar symptoms like pain, weakness, numbness, tingling in arms, hands, etc.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
• They are treated through physical therapy and respective surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Spinal Stenosis and Spondylosis?

Spinal stenosis is a spinal condition that causes the narrowing of the spaces of the spine, while spondylosis is a spinal condition that causes the loss of normal structure and function of the spine. Thus, this is the key difference between spinal stenosis and spondylosis. Furthermore, spinal stenosis is a degenerative spine condition, while spondylosis is a spinal deformity.

The below infographic presents the differences between spinal stenosis and spondylosis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Spinal Stenosis vs Spondylosis

Spinal stenosis and spondylosis are two spinal conditions that may affect the quality of lifestyle. Spinal stenosis causes the narrowing of the spaces of the spine, while spondylosis causes the loss of normal structure and function of the spine. So, this summarizes the difference between spinal stenosis and spondylosis.

Reference:

1. “Spinal Stenosis.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 17 Dec. 2021.
2. “Spondylosis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment: HSS.” Hospital for Special Surgery.

Image Courtesy:

1. “LumbarSpinalStenosis case1 2 7” By Jmarchn – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Lateral X-ray of lumbar spine spondylosis” By Nevit Dilmen, crop and annotation by Mikael Häggström, M.D. (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia