A swellable, resilient interspinous implant is provided that includes a swellable polymeric medium, said polymeric medium being dispersed throughout the implant, the implant being dimensioned and configured to fit between two spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae and buttress the space between the two adjacent vertebrae. In embodiments, the implant has a first configuration of reduced size such that it can be inserted into the patient in a minimally invasive manner. Once inserted to an application point within the patient, the implant expands in size to dynamically maintain the adjacent spinous processes in beneficial alignment. Also provided is a method of making a swellable, resilient interspinous implant as described herein. Also provided is a method of treating a degenerative condition of a spine which includes creating an incision and inserting, through the incision, between two spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae, a swellable, resilient interspinous implant as described herein.