Spondylitis is a group of inflammatory conditions that affect the joints in your spine. Spondylosis isn’t due to inflammation but rather the wear and tear of your spine.
Spondylitis and spondylosis are two conditions that cause arthritis-related pain and stiffness. But they have different causes and tend to affect different populations.
This article will take a look at the similarities and differences.
Spondylitis, also known as spondyloarthritis, is a group of conditions in which you experience inflammation in your spine or joints. “Spondylo” means spine, and “arthro” means joints.
Spondyloarthritis also causes enthesitis, which is inflammation at the points where your tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules insert into your bone.
Doctors and healthcare professionals categorize spondyloarthritis as either axial or peripheral. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) primarily affects your spine and sacroiliac joints, which connect your pelvis and spine. Peripheral spondyloarthritis affects joints outside your spine.
There are several subtypes of axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis.
| Axial spondyloarthritis | Peripheral spondyloarthritis |
|---|---|
| • ankylosing spondylitis (AS) • nonradiographic axSpA | • psoriatic spondylitis • enteropathic arthritis • reactive arthritis • undifferentiated spondyloarthritis |
The American College of Rheumatology notes that ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the most common of the conditions.
Although anyone can develop spondylitis, it usually develops in younger adults. For example, symptoms of AS typically start between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. Though rare, children can also develop spondylitis.
Spondylosis, also known as spinal osteoarthritis, refers to age-related wear and tear of your spine. This can happen when your disks and joints degenerate, causing reduced spinal movement. It can also occur due to an injury, such as blunt force trauma to your spine.
Although it’s a type of arthritis, it’s not an inflammatory condition.
Based on which part of your spine it affects, doctors categorize spondylosis as:
Spondylosis mostly affects older adults. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons estimates that more than 85% of people older than 60 years of age have cervical spondylosis.
Which is more common — spondylitis or spondylosis?
About 3.2 million U.S. adults have spondylitis, according to the Spondylitis Association of America. A
Spondylosis is much more common. A 2018 study found that more than half of people ages 40 to 59 years old already showed signs of moderate to severe spinal osteoarthritis.
It’s unclear what causes spondylitis, though it may be a combination of genetics and environment. For example, scientists have linked
Some conditions may increase your risk of specific types of spondylitis. For example:
- About 1 in 5 people with psoriatic arthritis develop psoriatic spondylitis.
- Inflammatory bowel disease may contribute to the development of enteropathic arthritis.
- Reactive arthritis typically develops after a gastrointestinal or sexually transmitted infection.
Degeneration of spinal disks (vertebra) and facet joints causes spondylosis. Over time, your disks may weaken and dry out, making them more likely to collapse and lose their cushioning characteristics.
Your facet joints experience increased pressure and start degenerating. You may also have cartilage wear, the part that protects your joints.
Other risk factors for spondylosis
- obesity
- being assigned female at birth
- a family history
Who’s most likely to get spondylitis or spondylosis?
Spondylosis is more common in older adults, while spondylitis typically develops in younger adults.
Spondylitis can also run in families. You may be more likely to develop it if you carry the HLA-B27 gene. In the United States, both the gene and AS are most common in white people and are least common in Black people.
AS may be more common in people assigned male at birth. But assigned sex doesn’t seem to affect the prevalence of nonradiographic axSpA.
Spondylitis and spondylosis often have similar symptoms. Common symptoms include:
- pain
- stiffness
- fatigue
Spondylitis causes inflammation, which can result in swelling, a change in skin color, and warm joints.
Different types of spondylitis may affect your other body systems. Depending on the type, you may also experience:
- swelling of your fingers and toes (dactylitis)
- eye inflammation (uveitis)
- enthesitis
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
With thoracic or lumbar spondylosis, pain may radiate down to your legs.
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, medical professionals may perform a physical exam and suggest undergoing an X-ray and MRI exam if you have symptoms of osteoarthritis. The imaging tests can determine the severity of your condition, as they can indicate the level of damage.
An X-ray can also show damage from AS. But you’ll need an MRI to see the damage from axSpA.
Spondylitis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, and spondylolysis
Conditions that affect your spine have similar names, which can be confusing. Here are two other conditions you may come across:
Spondylolisthesis is when one of your vertebrae slips forward. It can be painful, making it difficult to walk or run. People may also experience weakness or numbness.
A doctor may prescribe medication to help relieve pain from spondylosis. Options include:
Other treatments
A doctor may also suggest using a soft collar or a cervical pillow to help relieve neck pain from cervical spondylosis.
Healthcare professionals may recommend similar treatments for people with spondylitis. These
- NSAIDs
- antirheumatic drugs
- corticosteroids, though rarely due to side effects
- surgery, in the case of severe joint damage
Your outlook with spondylosis will depend on your symptoms and the severity of your condition. Some people may experience severe disability, while others don’t have any symptoms at all.
As for spondylitis, home remedies may help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. You may consider:
- exercising regularly
- maintaining a moderate weight
- quitting smoking if you do
For people with severe spondylitis, surgery
Spondylitis and spondylosis both affect your spine but have different causes and tend to affect different populations.
Spondylitis is an umbrella term for a group of inflammatory conditions that affect your spine and joints. The most common is AS. Symptoms typically develop in early adulthood.
Spondylosis is osteoarthritis of your spine due to wear and tear. It’s more common for older adults to experience pain from spondylosis.
Medication, physical therapy, and exercise may help improve symptoms of either condition.
Consider the following table to help you distinguish between the two conditions:
| Spondylitis | Spondylosis | |
|---|---|---|
| Causes | combination of genetics and environment | disk degeneration |
| Prevalence | rare, affecting less than 1% of the population | common, affecting most older adults |
| Onset | typically develops in early adulthood | develops throughout lifetime, but symptoms tend to appear in older adults |
| Unique symptoms | depends on the type, but can include swelling, gastrointestinal symptoms, or eye inflammation | headaches, leg pain |