What Is Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is also called DDD, degeneration of the intervertebral disc. It is Osteoarthritis of the spine, usually in the neck or lower back. It is very common with more than 3 million US cases per year. Treatments can help, but this condition can’t be cured. It does require a medical diagnosis through lab tests and/or imaging. DDD can be chronic last for years or be lifelong. This is a condition of the discs between vertebrae with loss of cushioning, fragmentation and herniation related to aging. There may be no symptoms. In some cases, the spine loses flexibility and bone spurs may pinch a nerve root, causing pain or weakness. Consult a doctor for medical advice.
Symptoms
- Bone spurs may pinch a nerve root, causing pain or weakness
- Muscle spasms
- Nerve injury
- Pain areas: in the legs, thighs, and buttocks that worsens with standing, lower back, or neck
- Physical deformity
- Sensory: pins and needles or reduced sensation of touch
- Spine loses flexibility
- Stiffness
- There may be no symptoms
Treatment
- Aerobic activity for 20-30 minutes 5 days a week improves cardiovascular health
- Annuloplasty
- Chiropractic treatment
- Discectomy
- Epidural steroid injection
- Facetectomy
- Foraminotomy
- Heating pad
- Ibuprofen
- Intervertebral disc annuloplasty
- Intervertebral disc arthroplasty
- Laminectomy
- Laminoplasty
- Laminotomy
- Naproxen
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- Physical therapy
- Spinal fusion
- Spinal surgery
