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Degenerative Disc Disease Risk Factors

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) has two main risk factors: an aging body, or traumatic injury. Excessive wear on the back and neck may also be a risk factor – for example, people who are involved in a lot of athletic activities, or those who work in jobs requiring heavy lifting, may suffer from spine degeneration sooner rather than later. The term “degenerative disc disease” is actually a misnomer; DDD isn’t a disease in the sense that chicken pox or influenza are diseases. Rather, it is the gradual deterioration of the spongy intervertebral discs that separate and cushion the spine’s bony vertebrae. This deterioration can occur as a natural part of the aging process, or it can be triggered by a spinal injury, such as a compression fracture.

Disc Anatomy

Intervertebral discs consist of a tough, fibrous outer wall (the annulus fibrosus) and a gel-like center (the nucleus pulposus). The pliable discs fit snugly between the vertebral bodies, serving a connective function and allowing for flexion, bending, twisting and extension. Discs consist of collagen and proteins, but are mostly water. As the body ages, the discs begin to lose their ability to retain water. When the discs dry out, they lose their height, robbing the spine of its flexibility. Or, as the fluid content diminishes, the outer wall can become brittle and weaken. When this happens, nucleus material can force a portion of the disc wall out of its normal boundary (a bulging disc) or tears can develop, allowing nucleus material to seep into the spinal canal (a herniated disc). These issues are common in people with degenerative disc disease.

Symptoms Associated with DDD

Not all herniated or bulging discs exhibit symptoms. However, when a protruding disc wall or extruded nucleus material presses on the spinal cord or irritates a nerve root, symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness can occur. Most of the time, these symptoms can be managed using pain medication, physical therapy, massage, behavior modification or a combination of these or other conservative methods of treatment. Only when chronic pain persists despite weeks or months of conservative treatment might surgery become an option.

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Minimally Invasive Alternative

Rather than settle for highly invasive, extremely disruptive traditional open back surgery for degenerative disc disease, tens of thousands of patients have found relief at Laser Spine Institute. Contact?us today?to learn how a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure performed endoscopically can help you rediscover your life without back pain.

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