If you’re suffering from degenerative disc disease, your symptoms could range from mild to severe, or you may not experience any discomfort at all. Chances are, though, if you’ve been recently diagnosed with the condition, you’re likely experiencing symptoms, which is why you made an appointment with your physician in the first place. It’s also likely that you’re interested in learning how you can relieve your pain and discomfort. Only your physician can speak to your unique situation, but you can get a general idea of how degenerative disc disease is treated by reading this article.

What is Degenerative Disc Disease, Anyway?

Simply stated, degenerative disc disease is the gradual deterioration of the intervertebral discs, which are the “shock absorbers” that separate the spine’s adjacent, articulating vertebrae. The discs are tasked with absorbing the impact that is placed on the neck and back and distributing weight and pressure evenly so as not to overtax one specific area of the spine. Over time, these tasks can take a toll on the discs, and they can begin to literally break down as a result. As an individual ages, the discs can become hard, inelastic, and dehydrated, making them less adept at absorbing impact and evenly distributing pressure. This makes the discs susceptible to herniating and becoming misshapen (bulging).

What Are the Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease?

Unless a disc herniates or bulges, a patient may not experience any symptoms at all. When a patient does develop a herniated disc or bulging disc, however, symptoms can be far reaching when the damaged disc presses against a spinal nerve root. Symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness can travel along the length of the affected nerve. When a nerve is affected in the cervical spine, symptoms may appear in the head, neck, upper back, shoulders, arms, or hands. A compressed nerve in the lumbar spine can lead to discomfort in the lower back, hips, buttocks, thighs, legs, or feet.

How is Degenerative Disc Disease Treated?

The majority of patients are able to find relief through the use of conservative, nonsurgical treatments. This can include any combination of the following treatments:

– Physical therapy to strengthen the supporting muscles in the neck and back

– Over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and relieve pain

– Lifestyle modifications including losing weight, reducing alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking

– Cryotherapy (the application if ice) and thermotherapy (the application of heat) to reduce inflammation and numb pain, and relieve tension and promote healing (respectively)

Does Degenerative Disc Disease Ever Require Surgery?

In general, patients are only advised to undergo surgical treatment when nonsurgical methods have proven ineffective after several weeks or months. In the event that a physician does recommend surgery, the patient should not take the decision of whether or not to consent lightly. Surgery can present the risk for a number of complications, including infection and loss of blood. Patients would be best served to receive a second or third opinion to ensure that surgical treatment truly is necessary.

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 degenerative disc disease symptoms.

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 degenerative disc disease symptoms. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/degenerative_disc_disease/symptoms/

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 degenerative disc disease symptoms.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: degenerative disc disease symptoms