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Discogenic Pain and other Symptoms

The gradual deterioration of the intervertebral discs that cushion the spine can lead to discogenic pain and other symptoms, such as muscle weakness or traveling pain in the cervical (neck), thoracic (middle back) and lumbar (lower back) spine segments. The soft, spongy discs normally separate the vertebrae in the neck and back and provide the flexibility that we require from the spine, although they are also particularly prone to damage as a result of regular wear and tear – especially in the neck and lower back.

Causes of Pain

While discogenic degenerative changes are often the source of back or neck pain, the actual cause of the discomfort can usually be traced to nerve compression. In fact, the deterioration of an intervertebral disc is only symptomatic if the disc or disc material compresses one of the nerves (or the spinal cord) in the spinal column. When a nerve becomes irritated, regular nerve function is interfered with and discogenic pain may be experienced locally, or other symptoms may be transferred along the nerve to another part of the body. This is why nerve compression can be difficult to diagnose; an irritated nerve may lead to symptoms presenting in a completely different part of the body. For example, if the ulnar nerve becomes compressed in the cervical spine, pain may travel from the cervical spine, up through the shoulders, down the arm and into the little finger.

Treatment

In general, treatment of discogenic pain and other pain-related symptoms, known collectively as radiculopathy, is attempted in one of three ways:

• Non-surgically – a combination of pain medication, targeted exercises, stretching techniques and heat therapy over several weeks is usually all this is required to manage an individual’s pain.
• Open spine surgery – for those who don’t sufficiently respond to conservative treatment, open spine surgery may be recommended to remove the all or most of the degenerated disc and accomplish nerve decompression. This usually requires the installation of hardware to stabilize the spine and the fusion of the affected vertebrae with a bone graft.
• Minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures available at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) – these revolutionary outpatient procedures feature the latest in ?effective laser technology, which allow orthopedists the ability to carefully and precisely remove the source of the nerve compression through a small incision.

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If you are considering your various treatment options for discogenic pain and other symptoms, contact the worldwide leaders in endoscopic spine procedures at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) to schedule a free MRI or CT scan review.

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