What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease is a disease that causes the cushioning in your spine to wear away. This cushiony material is called a spinal disc, and it works to absorb shock when you move, twist, jump, or bend. Naturally, your spinal disc will begin to wear away as you age. Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease but a condition that develops gradually over time. Almost all adults over the age of 40 will begin to experience some level of spinal disc degeneration.
What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease will occur naturally and gradually as we age. With that being said, not everyone who experiences degenerative disc disease will also experience symptoms like pain in the neck and back. The main cause of degenerative disc disease is aging, but other causes can include the repetition of daily activities and sports injuries. Painful degenerative disc disease may be caused by dry out, when the core of the spinal discs naturally loses water and becomes thinner, leading to less shock absorption. Other causes can be tears or cracks in the spinal discs located close to the spinal nerves.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
Many individuals diagnosed with degenerative disc disease will not experience any symptoms or will experience pain that comes and goes, lasting for weeks or months at a time and in between. Additional symptoms can include:
- Radiating pain
- Tingling or numbness in arms or legs
- Worsened pain when sitting, bending, or lifting
- Weakness in arms or legs
- Difficulty walking
How is Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosed?
When diagnosing your degenerative disc disease, your physician will usually start by asking you about your symptoms, including pain, duration of pain, what activities cause pain, other symptoms, and if you have had any recent injuries. In addition to a physical exam, imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs may be used to diagnose your degenerative disc disease.
How is Degenerative Disc Disease Treated?
To treat your degenerative disc disease, SpineCare of NY will start with a minimally invasive approach, which can include physical therapy, medications, and injections. In the event of severe degenerative disc disease, surgery may be the best option for experiencing relief. Procedures like total disc replacements, fusions, or decompressive surgeries can help restore spine function and alleviate symptoms.
Schedule a Consultation
At SpineCare of NY, we are committed to restoring our patients’ spinal function and quality of life. We engage in continuing research to ensure we are using the most up-to-date techniques in an attempt to get it right the first time. If you are suffering from, or believe you are suffering from, degenerative disc disease, schedule a consultation with the experts at SpineCare of NY today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
When does Degenerative Disc Disease start?
Why does Degenerative Disc Disease cause pain?
Will Degenerative Disc Disease get better?
Who treats Degenerative Disc Disease?
How does Degenerative Disc Disease progress?
How is Degenerative Disc Disease diagnosed?
What can you do to relieve Degenerative Disc Disease pain?
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