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A glossary is provided at the end of this booklet to explain the medical terms which are printed in bold type in the text, but a number of expressions are worth special mention.

Spondylosis
Translated literally, this word means ‘disease of a vertebra’ and could include any of the conditions discussed above. By convention, the term is reserved for the degenerative (wear-and-tear) changes discussed in detail in this booklet. Doctors themselves are not always very accurate with their terminology, particularly when talking to patients. The word spondylitis is often used instead of spondylosis, although strictly this word refers to inflammation of the spine. Inflammation of the small joints between adjacent vertebrae does indeed occur as part of the overall degenerative change, but is seldom the only problem. For the same reason the term ‘arthritis’ is inappropriate for describing spondylosis. Although doctors often mention arthritis in an attempt to reassure patients that the disease is not sinister, this well-meant gesture can backfire because the word often conjures up visions of a severe deformity affecting all joints. The term ‘localised arthritis’, the result of intervertebral disc disease, is perhaps more appropriate and reassuring.

Acute and chronic
In everyday use these words are often used to indicate that pain is severe and unpleasant. In medical terminology they have a more specific meaning: 

• Acute means that symptoms have developed fairly suddenly and last a
  short time.
• Chronic means that a condition has been present for some time.
  
  

For example, degenerative changes in the spine may be chronic, having been developing over several years. Symptoms caused by such changes may, on the other hand, be acute, having been present for only a short time.

Slipped disc
This term produces visions of a disc having become displaced from its normal position between two vertebrae. People sometimes assume that surgery, or other forms of treatment such as manipulation, put the disc back in place. They are often concerned that the disc will become displaced again. In fact what happens is that only part of the disc bulges, but it may then trap a nerve. In most cases this bulge gradually shrinks over a period of time, the nerve is released and the problem resolves naturally. Surgery, when performed, removes the bulging part of the disc, relieving the pressure on the trapped nerve.

Spinal stenosis
This term refers to a general narrowing of the spinal canal over several segments causing pressure on the nerves in that region. The problem develops gradually over several years. The structural changes which occur cause a different pattern of symptoms from other forms of spinal degenerative disease. Older people tend to be affected most often. They have little discomfort at rest but problems develop when they begin to walk. This condition tends to be progressive, rather than fluctuating.