If you are researching the causes, symptoms, and treatments for your back or neck pain, you may have come across discogenic disease and its definition. The reality is that the term discogenic disease – also known as degenerative disc disease – is something of a misnomer, since it is not actually a true disease. Rather, it is a gradual deterioration of the intervertebral discs in your spine, a process that is a natural part of aging.
Causes
Even though discogenic disease is not by definition a true disease, it still is a potentially life-altering condition. When the discs in your spine dry out, become brittle, bulge, or become herniated, they can cause nerve pressure which can result in pain, weakness, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness. Nerve irritation can occur when the disc’s inner gel seeps out and comes into contact with the local nerves in the disc wall. Even worse, disc material can invade the small spaces of the spinal canal and pinch nerve roots or the spinal cord. Depending on which part of your spine the degenerative disc disease occurs in, it can make living a normal, active lifestyle extremely difficult, since your back and neck are such crucial aspects of nearly every movement your body makes.
Treatment
However, there are a variety of treatment options for discogenic disease. From non-surgical options like exercise, physical therapy, medications, and acupuncture, to surgical procedures that can help more serious cases, you have choices when it comes to treating your condition. If you’d like more information on discogenic disease, its definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment possibilities, contact Laser Spine Institute (LSI) today. We offer a variety of minimally invasive, effective, outpatient procedures to treat degenerative disc disease. In many cases, you can rediscover your life without back pain in just a matter of hours. Call today to learn more and to get a free review of your MRI or CT scan.
