Improved medical care and knowledge led to people living longer with the average age increasing globally. The downturn is that it contributed to an increase in more age-related diseases or conditions, like degenerative disc disease. In this article, we will take a closer look at this condition affecting millions of people worldwide, its causes and what can be done about it.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is a condition which can be attributed to the ageing process with its wear and tear effect on the spinal disks in your back. This causes the discs to break down and reduce their functioning as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in your spine. This occurs naturally but not everybody experience pain or discomfort, if chronic back pain is experienced, it is in all probability degenerative disc disease.
Different Types of Back Pain
There are 3 different types of back pain recognised which can be one of the following:
• Acute or short term back pain lasting typically between a few days to a couple of weeks and is generally resolved with self-care.
• Subacute back pain described as pain lasting for a period of 4 weeks up to 12 weeks before it is resolved.
• Chronic back pain is defined as persisting for 12 weeks and longer, despite treatment. About 20 per cent of people suffering from acute back pain progress into chronic back pain. Some cases respond favourably to back pain treatment.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
In some instances, disc degeneration causes no symptoms while in others the symptoms can be very severe. The specific symptoms will be determined by the location of the disc but are normally a constant or sharp pain in the neck or back. Some general symptoms include pain that:
• Is located in your upper thighs, back or buttocks.
• Improves when lying down or changing your position.
• Worsens when twisting, bending or lifting.
• Improves when walking or moving around, worsens when sitting down.
• The pain can be nagging or with flare-ups of intense pain lasting a couple of days up to several months.
• The symptoms tend to worsen with age.
• The person can also experience numbness or tingling in both, the legs or feet.
Causes
Spinal discs are damaged as people age and the following changes to the discs may cause degenerative disc disease:
• The loss of fluid in the disc rendering it less effective as a cushion or shock absorber between the vertebrae.
• The development of tiny cracks or tears in the exterior wall through which seepage of the soft inner material can take place. This can cause a ruptured or bulging disc and affected nearby nerves.
• Tiny bone spurs develop which may press against spinal nerve roots or the spinal cord.
• The cartilage cushioning the joints can break down.
• The spinal canal can become narrower.
What to do about it
The only option is to go for back pain treatment, to reduce further damage and for pain relief. Treatment can take place in several ways which include the following:
Taking of pain relievers containing aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve the pain and reduce the swelling caused by the inflammation.
Physical therapy from a registered practitioner to strengthen the muscles and increase flexibility.
Treatment with steroid injections in the back to reduce pain, swelling and the inflammation.
As a final resort back surgery to remove and replace a damaged disc or to fuse the vertebrae permanently.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is a condition which can be attributed to the ageing process with its wear and tear effect on the spinal disks in your back. This causes the discs to break down and reduce their functioning as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in your spine. This occurs naturally but not everybody experience pain or discomfort, if chronic back pain is experienced, it is in all probability degenerative disc disease.
Different Types of Back Pain
There are 3 different types of back pain recognised which can be one of the following:
• Acute or short term back pain lasting typically between a few days to a couple of weeks and is generally resolved with self-care.
• Subacute back pain described as pain lasting for a period of 4 weeks up to 12 weeks before it is resolved.
• Chronic back pain is defined as persisting for 12 weeks and longer, despite treatment. About 20 per cent of people suffering from acute back pain progress into chronic back pain. Some cases respond favourably to back pain treatment.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
In some instances, disc degeneration causes no symptoms while in others the symptoms can be very severe. The specific symptoms will be determined by the location of the disc but are normally a constant or sharp pain in the neck or back. Some general symptoms include pain that:
• Is located in your upper thighs, back or buttocks.
• Improves when lying down or changing your position.
• Worsens when twisting, bending or lifting.
• Improves when walking or moving around, worsens when sitting down.
• The pain can be nagging or with flare-ups of intense pain lasting a couple of days up to several months.
• The symptoms tend to worsen with age.
• The person can also experience numbness or tingling in both, the legs or feet.
Causes
Spinal discs are damaged as people age and the following changes to the discs may cause degenerative disc disease:
• The loss of fluid in the disc rendering it less effective as a cushion or shock absorber between the vertebrae.
• The development of tiny cracks or tears in the exterior wall through which seepage of the soft inner material can take place. This can cause a ruptured or bulging disc and affected nearby nerves.
• Tiny bone spurs develop which may press against spinal nerve roots or the spinal cord.
• The cartilage cushioning the joints can break down.
• The spinal canal can become narrower.
What to do about it
The only option is to go for back pain treatment, to reduce further damage and for pain relief. Treatment can take place in several ways which include the following:
Taking of pain relievers containing aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve the pain and reduce the swelling caused by the inflammation.
Physical therapy from a registered practitioner to strengthen the muscles and increase flexibility.
Treatment with steroid injections in the back to reduce pain, swelling and the inflammation.
As a final resort back surgery to remove and replace a damaged disc or to fuse the vertebrae permanently.