DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

                                         

Have you been told you have degenerative disc disease? Do you know what it is?

Disc degeneration is the primary cause of disability, especially in older people. Sufferers understand how painful it is. Every movement seems to make it worse.

 What is Degenerative Discs Disease?

    Degenerative Discs Disease, known as DDD, is one of the most misunderstood causes of low back and neck pain. Most people over 30 are already had some degree of DDD but do not show or cause distress or any other symptoms. However, as the discs degenerate, the possibility of those problems becomes greater. Degenerative Discs Disease is usually just a result of normal wear and tears on the spine over time. However, injuries can hasten the degeneration. DDD varies in its nature and severity.

 Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease can affect in any part of the spine. It mostly happens in the cervical Spine or Lumbar Spine. Aging causes the discs to lose fluid. They will then collapse and sometimes crack. That’s because our body’s capacity to repair itself becomes weak.

As we grow older the disc dries out and doesn't absorb shocks as well; it reduces the space between the vertebrae; it affects the structure of our spine. This is why some people become shorter as they age.

Another cause is Injuries which can cause swelling, soreness, and instability, and can result in low back pain.

 Symptoms of Degenerative Disk Disease

     Degenerative disc disease often causes no symptoms at the onset. However, when symptoms happen, it occasionally intensifies for a few days or more. It includes pain that comes and goes and can be severe.

     A person can feel the pain anywhere from the neck down to the legs, and it gets worse when bending over, sitting, twisting, lift anything.  Other symptoms also stay the same over time.

When to see a doctor

If DDD symptoms such as fever with back pain, bowel/ or bladder dysfunction, unexplained and fast weight loss, or severe stomach pain occur and become persistent – see a doctor immediately. These symptoms are suggestive of more severe conditions and should receive immediate medical attention.

 Treatment

The treatment focuses on minimizing pain, stabilizing the spine, and improving or even maintaining the ability to move our body.

The surgical procedure is not necessary for treating degenerative disc disease but is somehow recommended if the spine is unstable or when pain cannot be relieved by other means.

 For many people suffering from this disease, changing positions, walking, and running can help ease the pain. The most effective way is to lay down because this removes all the weight and pressure from the problem area.

 Prevention

     There are cases of advanced degeneration which, in some instances, can become real problems, but it does not cover all people with such a condition. Combinations of pain management techniques, physical therapy, and some skills to control the symptoms will greatly help.

     Learning more about DDD is very important. The more you learn, the more you can manage and less fear it. No matter what severe pain we are facing, taking the right measures is the only solution. We can’t let anxiety rule our life, we need to be courageous enough to look for the best treatment.