Degenerative disc disease is defined as damage that develops in a disc due to the natural breakdown of the spine. This condition is commonly found in the lumbar spine (lower back) because this section of the spine is responsible for supporting the weight of the body as well as the body’s movement and range of motion. Because of this constant pressure, the discs in the spine can break down over the years, leading to the development of degenerative disc disease.

The types of degenerative disc diseases include a herniated disc, bulging disc, protruding disc, annular tear and spondylolisthesis. All of these conditions listed are associated with the breakdown of a spinal disc due to the wear of the spine over several years. To learn about the signs of degenerative disc disease, as well as the methods available for treating this condition, read the following article.

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease

A damaged disc is not symptomatic on its own. In fact, many adults have experienced a mild version of degenerative disc disease and have never noticed it. Symptoms and pain only arise when a piece of the damaged disc presses against a nearby nerve root. When this happens, the following symptoms can occur:

• Pain
• Tingling
• Weakness
• Numbness
• Limited mobility

In severe cases, loss of bowel or bladder control may also occur, which requires immediate medical attention. The pain associated with this condition can travel along the entire nerve pathway and into the arms or legs. For instance, a herniated disc in the lower back may cause pain and muscle weakness in the leg or foot.

Taking steps toward a treatment for degenerative disc disease

For many patients, the first step toward pain relief is to schedule an appointment with your doctor to diagnose your condition. Once your condition is diagnosed, he or she can recommend several treatment options based on the cause, severity and location of your symptoms as well as your medical history and lifestyle.

The first round of treatment will often be conservative therapy, which includes any type of nonsurgical treatment option to reduce the pressure on the pinched nerve and block the pain signals from reaching your brain. These treatment methods include pain medication, chiropractic care, physical therapy, weight management, low-impact exercises, stretching and yoga.

These conservative treatments are often effective in pain relief, though sometimes it takes several weeks or months before any lasting relief is experienced. If you’ve finished your regimen of conservative treatment and you are still experiencing degenerative disc disease symptoms, contact USA Spine Care to learn how we can help you find relief through our minimally invasive spine surgery.

As a clinically appropriate alternative to open neck or back surgery,^ our minimally invasive stabilization surgery can treat degenerative disc disease by removing the disc and replacing it with an artificial disc or bone graft. This allows our patients to maintain a more natural range of motion after surgery compared to the intervertebral fusion cage used during traditional spinal fusion.

In some cases where the disc is not severely damaged, a small portion can be removed to reduce pressure on the nerve without having to stabilize the spine. This is called a decompression or discectomy surgery and is the most common method of treating a damaged disc in the spine. To learn if you are a potential candidate for our degenerative disc disease surgery, ask us for a free MRI review* today.

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