Degenerative Disk Disease

Though people call it degenerative disk disease (or degenerative disc disease), it is not a disease. It is a condition that starts when spinal disks wear out. These disks are soft, rubber-like cushions sitting between the vertebrae, which are the bones in the spinal column. They work as shock absorbers to allow you to move, bend, and twist more easily. Over time, everyone’s spinal disks start to lose strength, which is a normal part of growing older.

Symptoms and signs of Degenerative Disk Disease Neck pain and back pain are the most frequent signs of degenerative disk disease. The pain may feel like it:

• Comes and goes for weeks or months
• Spreads to your lower back and buttocks
• Pain worsens when you sit, bend, or lift

Degenerative disk pain:

• It might occur in your neck or lower back
• Might feel mild, moderate, or intense
• Might feel sharp, sore, or tight
• Could come and go at times
• It might worsen after bending, twisting, or lifting
• Could get worse over the years

What causes Degenerative Disk Disease? Ageing wears down spinal disks. Most people start experiencing some disk degeneration after turning 40. However, not everyone feels pain from it. Pain may happen if your spinal disks:

• Lose moisture: The soft center of your spinal disks contains a lot of water. As you age, this water decreases naturally. This causes discs to become thinner and less effective in absorbing shocks like they once did.
• Develop cracks or tears: Small injuries might cause tiny cracks in the disks of your spine. These tears, often near nerves, can lead to inflammation involving nearby structures. Even minor tears may cause discomfort. If the outer layer of the disk breaks open, the disk can slip or bulge out of place. This is called a herniated disk and may press against spinal nerves.

Factors increasing the chances of degenerative disk disease: Degenerative disk disease affects people who are 40 or older. Several things can raise the chances of getting this condition, such as:

• Sudden injuries like falling
• Being overweight
• Gender, since women are more prone to symptoms
• Smoking habits
• Having a job that requires heavy physical work

How do doctors identify Degenerative Disc Disease? Doctors often begin identifying degenerative disk disease (also called degenerative disc disease) by asking about your symptoms. To diagnose degenerative disk disease, your doctor may rely on imaging tools such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. These scans help your doctor see the condition and position of your discs. They may also examine you to check your:

• Nerve function.
• Pain levels.
• Strength.

How can Degenerative Disk Disease be treated? Most of the time, your doctor will suggest starting with noninvasive treatments for degenerative disk disease. These treatments might involve:

• Physical therapy: You should perform exercises designed to stretch and strengthen muscles under the guidance of a professional physical therapist.
• Medications: Individuals use drugs such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, neuromodulation medications, or steroids to manage pain and inflammation.
• Steroid injections: Doctors inject steroid medicine close to spinal nerves, joints, or disks to help lower pain and swelling.
• Radiofrequency neurotomy: Doctors apply electric currents to burn sensory nerves, stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain.

Surgery: Most people can manage degenerative disc disease without surgery. However, if you've gone through several nonsurgical treatments and still deal with ongoing pain or weakness, surgery might be worth considering. A surgeon might perform one of several kinds of spinal decompression surgery:

• Discectomy
• Foraminotomy
• Laminectomy
• Osteophyte removal
• Spinal fusion

Ways to Manage Degenerative Disk Disease Some people manage pain with remedies they can use at home. These methods might ease discomfort, but they cannot serve as a long-lasting fix for damaged disks. You could try:

• Exercise - Activities like swimming or walking
• Heat and cold treatments
• Simple stretches and gentle yoga
• Using traction