No one gets a pass on degenerative disc disease (DDD). By age 40, nearly everyone has it to some degree, whether they have symptoms or not, and it worsens as time goes on. It also worsens when you have another spinal condition at the same time, such as spinal stenosis, spinal curvatures, osteoporosis, arthritis, or spondylitis.
Although DDD affects more women than men, anyone can develop it, and obesity, regardless of gender, is a huge risk factor.
Our LA Pain Doctor team specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic conditions like DDD and can help you determine the culprit behind your pain.
Healthy, young vertebral discs are thick and spongy, with a tough exterior and gel-like center. You have one disc between each bony vertebra in your spine to protect the bones and joints from grinding against one another. They also allow you to bend and twist freely.
As you age, your discs lose fluid, dehydrate, deteriorate, and flatten. This natural degeneration, combined with constant pressure and/or repeated injuries, causes the center of the disc to collapse. Without the full height of your discs, your vertebrae move closer to one another and become misaligned.
When your bones rub against each other, bone spurs develop and creep into the spinal canal space, narrowing your spine (spinal stenosis) and causing pain, numbness, and tingling.
Degenerated discs can rupture or bulge and press on sensitive nearby nerves. They also lose their ability to absorb shock, making your vertebrae vulnerable to fractures. Here are some signs you might have DDD:
Although rare, DDD can also cause bowel and bladder incontinence.
If you live long enough, disc degeneration is inevitable, but you can slow its progression and keep it at bay for as long as possible by living a healthy, active lifestyle. Here are some good habits to develop if you want to stave off DDD:
Our LA Pain Doctor team can help you develop an exercise routine and nutrition plan that fits your health and fitness level and improves your DDD symptoms.
For minor pain associated with DDD, over-the-counter pain relievers may be all you need.
We always recommend the most conservative treatments before resorting to surgery. We may recommend:
However, if the pain is so severe it results in loss of function, you may need surgery.
If you’re struggling with degenerative disc disease, call LA Pain Doctor in Metairie, LaPlace, Harvey, Hammond, and Luling, Louisiana, or request an appointment online and discover how our pain management specialists can relieve your DDD symptoms so you can get back to living pain-free.
