What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back and neck pain. But, despite the name, it is not actually a diease. It is rather a condition in which natural, age-related wear and tear on spinal discs causes pain, instability, and other symptoms.
A crash course on the spine
Before we dig too deep, let’s review the basics of your spine. Your spine is made up of 24 bones, called vertebrae. Muscles and ligaments connect these bones together into a structure called the spinal column. The many muscles that connect to the spinal column help support the upright posture of the spine and allow for movement. The spinal column is what gives the body form and function. It also holds and protects the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that sends and receive signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
What is a spinal disc?
In between each vertebra is a soft, gel-like cushion called an intervertebral disc. The discs act as shock absorbers to protect the spine from everyday stress and pressure. Pressure on the body comes from anything such as sitting, walking, bending, and normal day-to-day activities. The discs also prevent the bones from rubbing against each other.
What is degenerative disc disease?
Degenerative disc disease occurs when the intervertebral discs start losing fluid. In a healthy, young adult, the discs consist of up to 90 percent fluid. As a person ages, the fluid content decreases, making the discs thinner and stiffer. As a result, the discs become less effective as a shock absorber, which can result in pain and other problems.
While normally the result of aging, younger people can experience degnerative disc disease as well. Spinal injuries can accelarate the degenerative process of your discs at an earlier time. Active individuals, particlarly those that participate in strenuous and/or high-impact sports and activities, are at an increased risk.
What are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease?
There are a wide range of potential symptoms assocaited with degenerative disc disease. Most of them affect the back and neck, and can include:
- Pain that is worse when sitting. While seated, the discs of the lower back have three times more load on them than when standing.
- Pain that gets worse when bending, lifting or twisting.
- Feeling better while walking or even running than when sitting or standing for long periods of time.
- Feeling better changing positions or lying down.
- Periods of severe pain that come and go. These can last a few days to a few months before getting better. They can range from nagging pain to disabling pain. Pain can affect the low back, buttocks, thighs or the neck, depending on where the affected disc is, radiating to the arms and hands.
- Numbness and tingling in the extremities.
- Weakness in the leg muscles or foot drop, a possible sign of damage to the nerve root.
What are the risk factors of degenerative disc disease?
While age-related wear and tear is the primary culprit in the development of degenerative disc disease, there are other lifestyle factors that can contribute further.
- An acute or sudden injury, such as a fall
- Obesity
- Strenuous physical work
- Tobacco smoking
How is degenerative disc disease treated?
While there is no cure for degenerative disc disease, there are many therapy options that can help control symptoms. The chronic pain experts at Twin Cities Pain Clinic specialize in a variety of treatments to help manage the pain caused my degenerative disc disease, including:
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Intrathecal pumps
- Epidural steroid injections
- Medication management
If you are experiencing any sort of back or neck pain, it doesn’t hurt to consult with a professional to get it checked out. Normal wear and tear is bound to happen, but over time it can get worse and lead to other issues if not treated correctly. So get checked out and get ahead of degenerative disc disease
