| Re: I have a question Please
spondylosis is a fancy word for spinal osteoarthritis. it is a degenerative disease that may cause loss of normal spinal structure and function. Mostly aging is the primary cause, but things like accidents etc, can cause damage and speed that process in young people. this is an easy word to lookup and there are lots of good sites to learn about your spine.
24 vertebrae make up our spine. There are two facet joints between the vertebrae of each spinal segment along the spinal column. The segments are numbered, you know like C4, C5, etc. C's for the cervical neck, T's for the Thoracic, L's for the lumbar,
The facet joints and disc space form a unit near each vertebrae. A facet joint has two bony surfaces with cartilage between them and ligaments surrounding it. Synovial fluid lubricates the joints as is the case with any joint. Facet Arthropathy is degenerative arthritis affecting the facet joints. Arthritis in the facet joints can develop from:
wear and tear (decreases space between vertebrae causing facet joints to rub together)
previous back injury
fractures
torn ligaments
disc problems
Due to the additional stress caused by these circumstances on the facet and ligaments can deteriorate.
Finally you asked about uncovertebral hypertrophy. The uncovertebral joints are structures only present in the neck. They are small joints on each side of the vertebra that can become enlarged with wear and tear arthritis. This added width can cause compression of the exiting nerve root
Hope this helps. I tried to relay what I have been taught about my disease.
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