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.
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