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• Degenerative Disc Disease & Arthritis

Degenerative Disc Disease & Arthritis

Degenerative disc disease and arthritis are both common by-products of the natural aging process and are often the source of back and neck pain. As we get older, our spinal anatomy undergoes changes. The soft intervertebral discs that act as shock absorbers in the spine lose protein and water content, making them weaker and thinner. The vertebral joints that give our spine its flexibility gradually deteriorate, causing irritation and bone spurs. This is all normal, largely unavoidable, and usually manageable – regardless of the location on the spine.

Degenerative disc disease is inherently asymptomatic. Patients experience discomfort only in the event that the degenerated disc – which has herniated, ruptured, or thinned – extrudes from its natural position and applies pressure or pinches the neighboring nerve structure. Or, tiny bits of a thinning disc can break off and irritate nerve tissue. The compression of these nerves is what causes a patient discomfort and requires treatment.

Arthritis of the spine typically accompanies degenerative disc disease, and refers to the inflammation, pain, and swelling of joints in the spinal structure (called facet joints). This arthritis leads to the breakdown of the cartilage between the vertebral facet joints which can lead to bone spurs, spinal stenosis, pain, and stiffness.

Common symptoms of degenerative disc disease and arthritis overlap, including:

• Back and neck pain
• Radiating pain (radiculopathy)
• Sciatica
• Muscle weakness, stiffness or soreness
• Loss of mobility and flexibility
• Tingling or numbness in the extremities
• More

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Typically, these conditions only require conservative pain management, consisting of physical therapy, hot or cold packs, and pain medication. Occasionally, however, the symptoms of spine degeneration can be extreme enough to warrant surgical consideration. If this is the case, a number of minimally invasive, endoscopic spine procedures are available to help the patient find meaningful pain relief.

At Laser Spine Institute (LSI), our award-winning team of spinal surgeons use state-of-the-art, gentle laser techniques to address degenerative disc disorders and spinal arthritis so our patients can have a more fully functional life. To learn more about endoscopic spine surgery and for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact LSI today.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.