What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Your spine is made up of a column of bones called the vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a gel-filled disc that acts as a shock absorber, keeping your vertebrae from rubbing together. These disks are made up of about 80% water that slowly lose water with age, and with it their ability to act as shock absorbers.
Degenerative disc disease, also known as spondylosis, is a spinal condition caused by the breakdown of your intervertebral discs. As you age, your spine begins to show signs of wear and tear as your discs dry out and shrink. When your discs “degenerate”, they lose their flexibility and ability to cushion your spine. These discs do not have a good blood supply, so once injured, they cannot repair themselves.
Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease
Age-related changes can lead to arthritis, disc herniation, or spinal stenosis, which can put pressure on your spinal cord and nerves and may cause back pain. Other age-related changes include:
- Discs drying out and shrinking.
- Small tears in the annulus.
- Disc space getting smaller.
- Bone spurs growing.
- Spinal canal narrowing.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
The symptoms of degenerative disc disease vary from person to person. Many people with deterioration have no pain, while others experience pain so intense that it interferes with daily activities. Although this condition can affect people starting as early as their twenties, people in their sixties or above are more likely to less back pain caused by deteriorated discs.
Pain often starts in one of three ways:
- A major injury followed by sudden and unexpected pain.
- A trivial injury followed by sudden back pain.
- Pain that starts gradually and gets progressively worse.
Usually, the pain begins in the lower back, and may be felt in one of both of your legs and buttocks – sometimes known as sciatica. It’s often described as pressure or burning pain. You may also feel numbness or tingling in your leg and foot.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease
When you first experience pain, consult your family doctor. Your doctor will take a complete medical history to understand your symptoms, any prior injuries, or conditions, and determine whether any lifestyle habits are causing the pain. Next, a physical exam is performed to determine the source of the pain and test for any muscle numbness or weakness. Your doctor may order imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI scan.
Several treatments can help relieve the pain. Each treatment offers benefits, but each has limitations. Usually, your healthcare provider will recommend noninvasive treatment options first, including:
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Steroid injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
Many patients respond well to these noninvasive treatments, and do not require surgery to treat their degenerative disc disease. However, if you have tried these treatments and they do not provide pain relief, surgery may be a good option. Your surgeon may use a few types of spinal decompression surgery:
- Diskectomy – removing part of a spinal disk to relieve pressure on your nerves.
- Foraminotomy – expanding the opening for your nerve roots by removing tissue and bone.
- Laminectomy – taking a small portion of bone from your lower spine.
- Osteophyte removal – removing bone spurs.
- Spinal fusion – connecting two or more vertebrae to improve stability.
Most people who have surgery for degenerative disc disease experience long-term pain relief. It is important to follow your provider’s instructions to keep your back strong and healthy. Degenerated discs can increase your risk of developing other spinal conditions, including:
- Osteoarthritis
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
Talk with your healthcare provider to see what treatment plan is best to treat your degenerative disc disease.