If you have been offered surgery because of arthritis, a second opinion is a wise idea.
Patients may often see the term, arthritis of the spine, but there are many other terms that are synonymous with this. These include spondylosis, disc degeneration or degenerative disc disease. Arthritis of the spine can affect any portion of the spine but most commonly the neck and lower back. Patients often present with neck pain and/or back pain. The patient should note this is a normal age-related change that occurs in the spine, and surgery is rarely recommended strictly for this purpose. If you have been offered surgery because of arthritis, a second opinion is a wise idea.