The main difference is cause: Spondylosis is age-related wear-and-tear (osteoarthritis of the spine) causing bone spurs and degeneration, with pain worsening with activity, while Spondylitis is inflammatory arthritis (often autoimmune) causing inflammation and potential spinal fusion, with pain improving after rest and movement. Spondylosis involves structural breakdown; spondylitis involves inflammation.
Stiffness and reduced range of motion are common symptoms of spondylosis. In contrast, spondylitis symptoms typically cause pain and stiffness in the lower back and hips, which may radiate to the buttocks or thighs. The pain is often worse after periods of inactivity and improves with movement and exercise.
Early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis might include back pain and stiffness, especially in the lower back and hips. These symptoms may be worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity. Neck pain and fatigue also are common. Other symptoms include vision changes or eye pain, skin rashes and stomach pain.
Causes of Cervical Spondylosis
Sensation below the neck may be decreased. The neck may be painful and become less flexible. Reflexes in the legs typically become exaggerated, sometimes causing muscles to contract involuntarily (called spasms). Coughing, sneezing, and other movements of the neck may worsen symptoms.
For patients with knee pain, there is a probability of lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, so a complete examination of the spine and knee is required.
Cortisone injected around the nerves or in the outermost part of the spinal canal (epidural space) can decrease swelling, as well as pain. Cortisone injections are likely to decrease pain and numbness, but not weakness of the legs. Patients should not receive cortisone injections more than a few times per year.
The muscles around your knees are connected to the nerves in your lower spine so if these nerves are irritated or compressed, your knees may be affected by symptoms such as intermittent back pain, hamstring tightness, weakness in the hips or quads, and the development of bunions on your feet.
With the appropriate adaptations and driving techniques, even someone with a completely fused neck can drive safely. You may well find an increase in pain and stiffness during prolonged periods of driving. So, on long journeys it is important to make frequent stops to stretch.
The altered brain regions mainly included the primary visual cortex, the default mode network, and the sensorimotor area, which may be associated with cervical spondylosis patients' symptoms of sensory deficits, blurred vision, cognitive impairment, and motor dysfunction.
Cervical spondylosis usually doesn't lead to disability. But sometimes these changes in the spine can cause the spinal cord or nerve roots attached to it to become compressed. This can cause your legs or hands to feel weak or clumsy.
Discoloration and Thickening. In some cases, your nails might change color or get thicker, particularly if you're affected by both ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasis. The color can range from yellow and light brown to white, depending on the cause.
Muscle Strain or Sprain
Overexertion, improper lifting, or sudden movements can strain the muscles or ligaments in the lower back. This can lead to localized pain and swelling in the lower back above the buttocks.
These rashes can appear as raised bumps, scaly patches, or blisters. Sensitivity to touch. Touching the affected area may elicit tenderness or discomfort. Spreading or changing shape.
Spondylosis refers to spinal degeneration, while spondylitis involves inflammation related to autoimmune diseases. In rare cases, the inflammation from spondylitis may develop after or alongside spondylosis. They may also affect similar areas of the spine, but they have different causes and mechanisms.
A diagnosis of AS can usually be confirmed if an X-ray shows inflammation of the sacroiliac joints (sacroiliitis) and you have at least 1 of the following: at least 3 months of lower back pain that gets better with exercise and doesn't improve with rest. limited movement in your lower back (lumbar spine)
The prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in ankylosing spondylitis ranges from 4% to 59%. 7, 8, 9, 10 TMJ symptoms include pain, stiffness, and limited jaw movement.
Cervical spondylosis with arthritic osteophytes may produce extramural mechanical compression to the vertebral artery, particularly when the neck is rotated or extended, resulting in vertebrobasilar insufficiency4,5,6, which increases the risk of SSNHL because of the reduced labyrinthine arterial blood supply to the ...
Early Multiple Sclerosis (MS) eye symptoms often involve optic neuritis, causing pain with eye movement, blurred vision (especially in one eye), loss of color vision (colors seem faded), temporary blindness, or blind spots, often accompanied by flashing lights. Double vision (diplopia) and involuntary rapid eye movements (nystagmus) are also common, as damage to the optic nerve or brainstem disrupts vision signals. These symptoms can come and go but warrant a prompt medical check-up.
Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, can affect the skin, organs, joints, and eyes. Eye-related symptoms can include blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches, light sensitivity, and eye soreness, reflecting the disease's systemic nature.
Surgery will be recommended when there is spinal cord injury due to degenerative disease from bone spurs, and/or herniated discs in the cervical spine. Cervical spondylosis with spinal cord injury requires surgical treatment.
July 18, 2025
A new peer-reviewed study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology suggests that ivarmacitinib, a new medication known as a selective JAK1 inhibitor, may be a promising treatment for people with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
Spondylosis is one of the many conditions that qualify for disability if it has significantly advanced in severity.
Compression of the nerves at the L4-L5 region frequently causes pain that radiates from the lower back and shoots down into the buttocks, hips, and legs. This sometimes manifests as sciatica — a sharp, burning pain following the path of the sciatic nerve.
The #1 mistake making bad knees worse is excessive rest or inactivity, which weakens supporting muscles, leading to stiffness and instability, creating a vicious cycle of pain and dysfunction, even though it feels counterintuitive; the solution involves controlled movement and strengthening exercises (like walking, swimming) to support the joint. Other major mistakes include wearing unsupportive shoes, carrying excess weight, and performing movements that involve twisting.
Hip Impingement
An impingement can happen when the hip bone and its joints are too close together and are often the result of labral tears or hip osteoarthritis. Pain can then travel from your hip to the front of your thigh and down to your knee.