Lumbar spondylosis is an age-related degeneration of the vertebrae and disks of the lower back. These changes are often called degenerative disk disease and osteoarthritis. The common condition is marked by the breakdown of one or more of the disks that separate the bones of the spine.

Lumbar spondylosis is a spine condition that describes the natural deterioration of the lower spine due to age and compression. While spondylosis can occur throughout the spine, the most common location of occurrence is in the lowest portion of the spine, where the lumbar spine meets the sacrum, or tailbone.

Ankylosing spondylitis is sometimes referred to as lumbar spondylitis when it affects your lower spine. It’s a type of arthritis that can lead to spinal pain and loss of mobility. Lumbar spondylitis does not have a cure, but most people can manage their symptoms with conservative treatments.