Despite the name, degenerative disc disease isn’t actually a disease. It is simply the name given when you have a damaged disc and it causes you pain.
What Are Discs?
Your back is made up of lots of small bones called vertebrae. These give your spine strength and help to support your body. The reason there are lots of small bones is to allow flexibility and movement. If it was just one bone you would be like a rod and unable to bend the top half of your body.
Moving means that the ones would grind against each other, which would be painful and dangerous to the nerves contained within the spine. That’s why you have discs. These sit between the vertebrae and cushion them, reducing shock and effectively protecting your spine.
Every disc has a tough outer coating. This is also the part that has nerves and can be painful if you tear it.
The inside of the disc is soft, more like jelly. It provides cushioning and shock absorption. However, the soft inner part of the disc is full of protein and can cause tissues to swell and become tender. If you damage your disc and this spills out it can be very painful.
If you experience this type of pain and injury it is essential to visit a qualified neurosurgeon as they can help you manage the problem.
The Future
Most people that suffer from a damaged disc will undergo the following issues in stages. This process can take as long as thirty years. Part of the issue is that the disc cannot repair itself.
Pain: An injured disc is painful and it will make it difficult to move properly.
Instability: Without the disc working properly the bones on each side will struggle and you’ll find that the joint is less stable. This means the pain will reoccur from time to time.
Restructuring: Eventually, your body will stabilize the issue and the pain will subside.
The whole process can be aided by the right exercises as this will help to build strength in your spine.
Cause Of Degenerative Disc
Age is one of the biggest causes of degenerative disc disease. This is partly because your discs dry out as you age, losing as much as 80% of their water. Your daily activities and even sport can place strain on your discs, contributing to the issue, along with injuries.
But, the biggest factor seems to be your genes, that is why it is difficult to know who will suffer from degenerative disc disease.
Symptoms To Be Aware Of
You will first notice the symptoms in your 30s or 40s and be otherwise healthy. The most common symptoms are:
- Pain when seated
- Issues when bending, lifting, or twisting
- Reduction of pain when walking or running compared to sitting or standing
- Numbness and tingling will usually start in your fingers and toes
- Weakness in your muscles and sometimes a lack of feeling
Your neurosurgeon will exam you, talk about your symptoms, and potentially do magnetic resonance imaging to confirm the condition.
You may then have painkillers prescribed, a back brace, or even surgery to fuse the spine or replace a disc.