What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease is also called spondylosis as bone spurs develop on the margins of the degenerating discs. It is a condition that can cause back pain, neck pain, numbness or weakness in the back, as well as in the limbs and extremities. Although it’s associated with aging, the condition is often prompted by an injury of some sort, so younger adults can be affected as well.

The name of the condition can sound more ominous than it actually is. First, the word “degenerative” is only referring to the way that the disc degenerates over time. It does not necessarily mean that you will get worse and worse as time passes, the way you might with other degenerative illnesses. Second, it’s not really a disease. Even if your symptoms do get worse over time, it won’t begin directly affecting other systems or threaten your life.

Still, the condition can be painful and cause neurologic disability. It’s important to be aware of your treatment options and to talk to an experienced spine surgeon.

Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

Spinal disc degeneration is a natural part of the aging process. As you get older, you may lose some of the gel that maintains the expansion of your discs. Your discs then become less flexible. You might also experience tiny tears in the outer layers of the affected discs, which allows some of the central nucleus to leak out. This can result in bone spurs and a narrowing of the spinal canal. These may cause pain and a decrease in nerve function, which often leads to numbness and/or weakness. Since the affected discs are often in the lower back, or lumbar area, the numbness can extend down one buttock or leg, all the way down to the foot in some cases. This is one of the causes of sciatica, a nerve pain running down part or all of the leg. If the degeneration is in the cervical spine, you might experience neck or nerve pain that extends to the arms. It is not uncommon for people to develop disc degeneration in both the low back and neck.

There are some factors that can make you more likely to develop degenerative disc disease. They include:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease

Your spine doctor will take a complete medical history from you and will ask you about any injuries that might have contributed to the back pain or sciatica. Diagnostic procedures such as an x-ray, CAT scan or MRI might be done.

Usually non-surgical treatment for degenerative disc disease is the first step. This includes self-care measures such as stress reduction and keeping your spine aligned properly while sleeping, standing, sitting and working. You may have physical therapy or chiropractic care, too. Medications for degenerative disc disease include pain relievers, muscle relaxers and steroids.

In some cases, surgery is needed. This may involve a decompression of the spine, referred to as a laminectomy or may also require spinal fusion surgery, which entails fusing two or more of the vertebrae together to limit movement. Minimally invasive spinal surgery is sometimes an option; your spine surgeon can explain your options.

DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

Turn Back the Clock on Your Spine

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

Obesity

Smoking tobacco

A job that involves a lot of heavy lifting

An injury that causes damage to the disc

Diagnosis and Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease

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