Most people with spondylosis experience mild symptoms, like pain and stiffness in the neck.

Pressure on nerves inside your spinal column can cause tingling and numbness in other areas of the body, like your hands. The location of these sensations will depend on where the degeneration has occurred along your spine.

Spondylosis can also cause dizziness and feeling unbalanced or wobbly.

In some more serious cases, people may experience difficulty with coordination or walking as well as slower reflexes and bladder or bowel incontinence.

The most common cause for spondylosis is age. Throughout life, our spines experience a great deal of wear and tear and as we age, our spinal discs go through the natural process of dehydration, which causes more friction between the vertebrae and increases your risk of spondylosis.

Genetics may also play a factor, as can lifestyle choices like smoking, as this can weaken your bones and damage your spinal tissue.

Neck injuries and repetitive overhead work may also cause spondylosis, due to the pressure it puts on your neck.

The best way to identify and treat spondylosis is by combining holistic treatment (osteopathy, chiropractic and naturopathy) with conventional medicine.

During your initial assessment, our osteopaths or chiropractors will assess your spine to determine whether further medical investigation by a doctor is needed for diagnosis, or if medical imaging is necessary before treatment. Once we’ve confirmed a diagnosis, our osteopaths and chiropractors will work with you to develop a treatment plan that’s specific to your needs.

Our osteopathy and chiropractic team offer long-term support by reducing the pressure on nerves, muscles and joints which is caused by spondylosis. They will use techniques like soft tissue release, joint mobilisation and stretching in order to relieve your symptoms. These therapeutic techniques have a high success rate when treating the stiffness, pain and discomfort caused by spondylosis. In addition, you may be given an active recovery plan by your practitioner, with exercises to stretch and strengthen the affected areas.

Our naturopaths can also provide you with dietary and lifestyle recommendations, as well as nutritional and herbal supplements to support your healing. They will investigate the causes for inflammation, which lead to degeneration of the spine as well as checking your nutritional profile and recommending the right nutrients to nourish your bones, like calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and K.

For a comprehensive and therapeutic approach to treating spondylosis, come to IMI. Our osteopaths, chiropractors and naturopaths can help treat your symptoms with a personalised plan tailored to your needs.