Even though the most prevalent and obvious degenerative disc disease causes are related to the aging process, there are many other risk factors that contribute to the development of the condition. For instance, it is known that degenerative disc disease (DDD) frequently is a source of back and neck pain among people in their 30s and 40s. One common thread among many of these people is past participation in contact sports such as football or hockey during their formative years. People whose spinal anatomy has been exposed to that kind of stress and strain earlier in life may find that the intervertebral discs and other anatomical components of the spine are more likely to break down prematurely.

How Degenerative Disc Disease Causes Symptoms

The intervertebral discs are spongy wedges of cartilage and protein that cushion adjacent vertebral bodies in the spine. Discs are made up of two main sections – a gel-like center called the nucleus pulposus, and a layered outer wall known as the annulus fibrosus. The onset of DDD causes these anatomical components to break down in the following ways:

– Nucleus pulposus – The gel-like substance in the center of the disc begins to lose water content over time, reducing the height of the disc. This places more stress on the adjacent vertebral bodies, as well as on the joints where the vertebrae meet and move.

– Annulus fibrosus – The collagen fibers of the outer wall begin to lose elasticity over time, causing it to become weak and brittle. Disc height is further diminished. Eventually, the wall may begin to lose its shape and extend beyond its normal boundary (a bulging disc). Tears may develop, allowing nucleus material to leak (a herniated disc).

As a disc loses height and greater stress is placed on the vertebral (facet) joints, the body may respond to the loss of spinal stability by producing excess growths of bone known as osteophytes. These osteophytes, or bone spurs, and bulging or herniated discs are the primary culprits in symptomatic degenerative disc disease. Basically asymptomatic in and of themselves, if a bone spur or ruptured disc material makes contact with a nearby nerve root, it can produce symptoms that include localized pain, radiating pain, tingling, numbness, and/or muscle weakness in the extremities. Local pain also may be felt if part of the nucleus pulposus, which contains several inflammatory substances, makes contact with, and irritates, nerves in the disc’s outer wall.

Who Gets Degenerative Disc Disease?

While everyone ages – and thereby experiences – some form of disc deterioration, not everyone develops chronic symptoms related to degenerative disc disease. Who, then, is most susceptible? It is difficult to predict who will develop the condition and who won’t, but several potential risk factors have been identified.

These risk factors include a family history of the condition, a past traumatic injury to the spine, carrying additional body weight, smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products, and working in a job that requires repetitive back or neck movement. Diabetics also may be more at-risk for developing DDD.

In the presence of chronic back or neck pain, the only way to know for certain whether degenerative disc disease causes the symptoms is to receive a comprehensive diagnosis from a healthcare provider. Treatment typically entails symptom management using conservative methods such as nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), stretching, and other non-surgical techniques.

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.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of degenerative disc disease and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/degenerative_disc_disease/

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: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Degenerative disc disease