I'm guessing that it shouldn't make that much difference for osteoarthritis. Technically OA affects only the facet joints, not the vertebrae and discs, although sometimes you will find them all lumped together as arthritis. If anything, restoring normal height and motion to a spinal segment should prevent or delay any onset of OA. Calcium is not for OA, it's for osteoporosis.
As for osteoporosis, that's a good question. It is suggested here in Canada that women get a bone density scan every couple of years, and if there are any concerns, we are usually invited first to take calcium supplements, and if that doesn't help, to take a prescription med like Forteo or Fosamax, and yes, it is for the rest of our lives.
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Cervie trying to avoid 3-level fusion
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