Degenerative disc disease is caused in basically one of two ways. The way the majority of people acquire degenerative disc disease, or DDD, is by aging. Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease, but a natural deterioration of spinal discs that is referred to as a disease. While everyone experiences some spinal degeneration as they age, it does not cause chronic pain for the majority of people. In certain individuals, however, the discs of the spine appear to degenerate faster, and at an earlier age, than others, leading to severe pain and other symptoms. These individuals may be told they have degenerative disc disease.

The other primary cause of degenerative disc disease is by way of a traumatic injury. This type of disc damage can occur to anyone at any age. A traumatic injury in the spine may cause a rip or tear in an intervertebral disc, causing it to degenerate faster or more severely than it normally would have.

The Effects of Aging on the Human Spine

As we age, the discs that separate vertebrae in our spinal column begin to deteriorate. For people with degenerative disc disease, the deterioration seems to occur earlier in life – as early as one’s 20s – and also appears to be more extensive, causing excruciating symptoms. The intervertebral discs normally absorb nutrients from vertebral endplates above and below them. But over time, the disc’s ability to stay nourished and hydrated diminishes and the discs tend to flatten out, and the fluid inside the disc (the nucleus pulposus) turns into a more fibrous substance. As the discs flatten out and become feeble, they may tear, bulge, or herniate, which leads to back pain, neck pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

How Can Injuries Result in Degenerative Disc Disease?

Injuries, usually those related to sports, are also a chief cause of degenerative disc disease. In these injuries, a tear may occur in the annulus fibrosus, or the outer wall of the disc. Some of the fluid stored in the nucleus pulposus, or the center of the disc, may be flushed outside through the opening along the outer wall. The fluid seepage can irritate and inflame the nerves in the disc wall. Furthermore, the fluid may come into contact with the spinal cord or a nerve root, which sends symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness to other areas of the body. In addition, the lack of fluid in the disc weakens it and allows for the vertebrae above it to push down upon and flatten the disc, leading to spinal stiffness and instability.

In most cases, the disc wall will heal itself, but it forms a weaker scar tissue along the outer wall during the healing process, making additional injuries to the disc wall – and degenerative disc disease – more likely to happen. The key difference between acquiring DDD by aging and by injury is that acquiring it via an injury only affects the injured disc, while acquiring DDD with age usually affects all discs.

Additional Factors that May Encourage the Development of Degenerative Disc Disease

The spinal column is your body’s main support structure and home to the spinal cord, the hub of the central nervous system. There are many factors that can affect your spinal health and the onset of degenerative disc disease. Smoking, poor diet, and poor posture are all critical factors affecting the spine. Additionally, weight is an especially important factor. If you are overweight, it means more weight will be pushing down on your spinal column and discs. Also, something commonly overlooked that has an enormous impact on spinal health is sitting for prolonged periods of time. When standing, our legs help to support our upper body weight, removing stress on the back. However, while seated, our spine is responsible for bearing the weight of the upper body. Avoid sitting for long periods of time, or stand up and walk around for a few minutes every hour so to alleviate pressure on your spine.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of degenerative disc disease and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Degenerative disc disease