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Degenerative Disc Pain

Degenerative disc pain is a common side-effect of nerve compression in the back and neck. Over time, the spongy discs that rest between each vertebra in the spine are prone to normal wear and tear, and as the discs degenerate, there is an increased risk of disc herniation, thinning, and other problems. Degenerative disc pain is a result of the abnormal disc pinching or irritating the local nerve structure, which can occur at any level of the spine.

The specific types of degenerative disc pain vary from patient to patient, depending on the pathology of the problem. Degenerative discs can be asymptomatic if the affected discs are not compressing nerves, but if they are, the degeneration can be responsible for local pain and radiating pain (including sciatica), as well as numbness, tingling, muscle weakness and stiffness. Correctly identifying the source of the pain is integral to managing the symptoms. Typically, a doctor will complete a physical examination and medical background, and then confirm the presence of degenerative disc disease with an MRI or CT scan.

Treatment of degenerative disc pain typically begins with a conservative course of action, including:

• Rest
• Physical therapy or stretching exercises
• The application of heat and/or ice
• Pain medication
• Epidural steroid injections
• More

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If a patient has not sufficiently responded to this treatment plan or the symptoms have become debilitating, a doctor may suggest a surgical option. If this is the case, the patient has several procedures to choose from. Traditionally, degenerative disc symptoms have been surgically treated with an open back procedure, like disc removal and spinal fusion. These surgeries, however, are massively intrusive, painful, and require a lengthy recovery period before the patient can return to his or her regular life.

One alternative to traditional open back surgery lies in the state-of-the-art field of endoscopic spine surgery. At Laser Spine Institute (LSI), our award-winning staff of surgeons can address degenerative disc pain with minimally invasive, laser-guided procedures. Unlike traditional surgery, our procedures are done on an outpatient basis, which means a quicker recovery, less pain, and less cost for our patients. 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.