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Spinal discs, which lie between the vertebrae, act as shock absorbers for the vertebrae in your spine. These discs allow you to move your back and neck, as well as flex, bend and turn your body. Disc degeneration is due to the natural wear and tear of these shock absorbing discs, resulting in aches and pains in your back and neck.
Suffering from symptoms of degenerative disc disease? Take the first step by using our interactive assessment tool to diagnose your pain.
As you age, spinal discs lose their sponge-like nature, which causes them to be less flexible and unable to absorb shock. As the spinal discs lose fluid and dry out, additional stress is put on the surrounding vertebrae.
Degenerative disc disease pain is most commonly felt in the lower back or neck, however, symptoms can manifest throughout the body. As the disc degenerates, the vertebrae begin closing in, getting closer and closer together, oftentimes pinching nearby nerves, signaling pain in the legs and arms.
It is important to note that while most individuals over the age of 60 have some level or form of degenerative disc disease, not all cases result in pain. Other common symptoms of degenerative disc disease include:
If you think you are experiencing the painful symptoms of degenerative disc disease, start your diagnosis with our confidential interactive tool.
Because degenerative disc disease is usually associated with aging, treatment often begins with a conservative, non-surgical approach to manage the pain and build strength in related muscles.
A non-surgical approach to treating degenerative disc disease can involve a combination of:
While these treatments can help with temporary relief from the painful symptoms of degenerative disc disease, once these treatments have been exhausted, surgery may be necessary for long-term relief.
Artificial disc replacement is one of the most common surgeries for degenerative disc disease. This minimally invasive procedure can be completed in approximately two hours.
Other common surgeries that treat degenerative disc disease are:
If left untreated, degenerative disc disease can lead to a a variety of other painful conditions, such as herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and osteoarthritis.
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