Common Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) produces little or no symptoms by itself. Mild localized symptoms may arise from inflammation in the disc itself. This level of symptoms is easily treated with rest and an acetaminophen tablet. More intense localized pain is most likely not caused by DDD but rather osteoarthritis of the spine. Moderate to severe symptoms often radiate and require medical attention. They only arise when DDD causes changes which encroach and place pressure upon neural tissue. Degenerative disc disease symptoms are often directly related to the extent of disc height lost in the degenerative process, the amount of distortion found in a bulging disc, or the volume of herniated disc material in the case of disc herniation. Loss of disc height means that the intervertebral foramen through which spinal nerves travel is small. The traversing spinal nerve is trapped. The tighter the entrapment, the stronger the symptoms are. Bulging disc and/or herniated disc material also reduces the diameter of the central vertebral foramen in which the spinal cord lies, or the intervertebral foramen as just discussed. Again, the greater the entrapment, the stronger the symptoms become. As a degenerating disc loses its ability to absorb stress and provide support, other parts of the spine become overloaded, leading to irritation, inflammation, fatigue, muscle spasms, and back pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease Pain
The amount of pain from degenerative disc disease can vary from irritating to severely debilitating. Most patients suffer some underlying steady state chronic low back pain with intermittent episodes of severe pain. Usually, sitting worsens the pain more than standing. Bending, twisting, and lifting generally worsen the pain. Lying down reduces it by relieving the strain on the disc space.
In addition to an aching painful back, degenerative disc disease symptoms may also include numbness and tingling in the legs if the disc degeneration is located in the lower spine. Pain in the neck, shoulder blades, arms, and hands as well as numbness and tingling in the shoulder and arms may be present when a degenerating disc is located in the cervical spine. Thoracic, or mid-back, pain radiates around the rib cage and occasionally into the abdomen.
In addition to an aching painful back, degenerative disc disease symptoms may also include numbness and tingling in the legs if the disc degeneration is located in the lower spine. Pain in the neck, shoulder blades, arms, and hands as well as numbness and tingling in the shoulder and arms may be present when a degenerating disc is located in the cervical spine. Thoracic, or mid-back, pain radiates around the rib cage and occasionally into the abdomen.
Next Steps
After proper diagnosis by a physician, treatment should begin conservatively. However, in some cases, patients do not respond to conservative treatment and surgery is prescribed. It is reasonable to determine the least invasive efficacious surgical treatment possible. Please investigate the minimally invasive procedures performed at Laser Spine Institute. LSI offers efficacious procedures with shorter convalescent period and lower risk when compared with traditional open spine surgery of all types. Contact us today for a complimentary review of your MRI or CT scan, and to receive more information about LSI.
