Most people's spinal discs degenerate over time. By the age of 35, approximately 30% of people will show evidence of disc degeneration at one or more levels. By the age of 60, more than 90% of people will show evidence of some disc degeneration. Degeneration itself is normal, and does not necessarily cause pain.
As we get older, the discs start to dry out and no longer cushion the bones. Without the cushioning of the discs, the nerve roots or spinal cord (or both) start to get pinched or pressured. This condition is called aging degeneration or disc degeneration.
Degenerative spine conditions involve the gradual loss of normal structure and function of the spine over time. They are usually caused by aging, but may also be the result of tumors, infections or arthritis. Pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots caused by degeneration can be caused by: Slipped or herniated discs.
The most common symptoms of degenerative disk disease are neck pain and back pain. You may experience pain that: Comes and goes, lasting for weeks or months at a time. Leads to numbness or tingling in your arms or legs.
The Four Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease
They can result in pain, degenerative scoliosis, and loss of mobility. These four stages are the Dysfunction Stage, the Dehydration Stage, the Stabilization Stage, and the Collapsing Stage.
Walking can help treat degenerative disc disease since it's a mild form of physical therapy, which is good for your spine and joints. The pain of degenerative disc disease could be in your lower back or the neck.
Pain with movement
The number one most common early sign of degenerative disc disease is a pain in the spine. This discomfort may be brought on by activity, or may seemingly have no cause. In particular, many patients with degenerative disc disease experience more pain during movements that involve twisting or bending.
Degenerative Disc Disease doesn't improve over time and, unfortunately, there is no cure. If you're experiencing symptoms, don't ignore them. There's no need to suffer, especially when there are many pain management treatments and minimally invasive procedures that can exponentially increase your quality of life.
People with degenerative disk disease should avoid slouching and a sedentary lifestyle. They should also refrain from exercise or activities that are high impact or involve heavy lifting. Many people experience lower back pain due to degenerative disk disease.
Excessive weight: Obese people are more likely to have symptoms of degenerative disc disease. Heavy physical work: Labor such as repeated heavy lifting may put excess stress and strain on your discs. A family history of back or spine disorders increases your risk for degenerative disc disease.
Can you live a normal life with degenerative disc disease? The answer is yes, even it forces you to be out of work for an extended amount of time. Do not give up. There are many methods of pain relief that you can do at home that can help you live a normal life.
Treatment may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, or both, special exercises, medications, losing weight, and surgery. Medical options include injecting the joints next to the damaged disc with steroids and a local anesthetic. These are called facet joint injections.
Once a disc is injured, it cannot repair itself, and a spiral of degeneration can set in with three stages that appear to occur over 20 to 30 years: Acute pain makes normal movement of the back difficult. The bone where the injury occurred becomes relatively unstable.
The following are the three most common reasons for back pain after age 50: Degenerative conditions of your discs and joints, which can cause lack of moisture and shock absorption. Spondylolisthesis, a condition where one vertebrae slips out of place and touches the bone below it.
Try walking, water aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and stretching. Lifting heavy weights or running marathons might not be a good idea if you have significant disc degeneration or many DDD symptoms. Instead, your goal should be regular, moderate exercise, which will help strengthen your muscles, bones, and joints.
Approximately 40% of adults over age 40 have at least one degenerated vertebral disc. By age 80, 80% of them do. Disc degeneration is considered a normal part of aging, just as skin wrinkles and gray hair are.
MRI Scan. An MRI scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed two- and three-dimensional images of the discs as well as the nerves and spinal cord, which pass through the spinal canal. Doctors examine MRI scans for evidence of disc degeneration and to determine if any nerves are pinched between bones.
The phrase "degenerative changes" in the spine refers to osteoarthritis of the spine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Doctors may also refer to it as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis in the spine most commonly occurs in the neck and lower back.
The degenerative process of the spinal disc may start gradually or suddenly, but progresses over 2 to 3 decades from severe and at times even disabling bouts of pain to a state in which the spine is restabilized and the pain is diminished.
Chiropractic treatment for degenerative disc disease can reduce inflammation in the spinal tissues, improve the range of motion of the spine, and relieve muscle tension. Chiropractic treatments can also reduce pressure on the spine, specifically the spinal discs, to promote healing.
Supplements Recommended for Spine Health
For example, supplements for degenerative disc disease, like a herniated disc, include glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, manganese ascorbate and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM).
You can't completely stop disc deterioration. But you can slow down degenerative disc disease and prevent the painful problems caused by the problem, such as pinched nerves, facet joint arthritis, herniated discs, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis.