Degenerative Disc Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

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– December 15, 2009Posted in: Spinal Arthritis

Degenerative Disc Disease

is the narrowing of the normal disc space between the adjacent vertebrae. Vertebrae is the bony canal in which spinal cord rests.

The degeneration can happen in any level of the spine. The disc degeneration in the spine of neck is referred as cervical disc disease or spondylosis. Disc degeneration in the middle of the spine is referred as thoracic disc disease. The lumbar spine disc degeneration is called as lumbago. Each condition has its own causes, symptoms and consequences.

What is Vertebrae:

Vertebrae is the bony canal that is designed to protect the spine. Humans have 33 vertebrae including the five that are fused to form the sacrum. By time one reaches adulthood, these vertebrae are fused to 24. They are classified by the region: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar and 5 sacral.

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease:

Here are few common symptoms of degenerative disc disease:

  • Pain that is very bad to worse.
  • Difficulty in walking
  • Pain gets worsen while sitting than standing
  • Pain is relieved by laying down or changing the position
  • Severe intermittent pain in the back
  • Numbness and tingling sensation in hands and feet.
  • Weak leg muscles

Diagnosis of degenerative disc disease:

Medical history and physical examination are the primary steps for diagnosis of degenerative disc disorder. Some of the sophisticated medical techniques that give the complete picture of the degeneration of the disc are:

  • Electromyography (EMG)
  • X-rays
  • CT Scan
  • MRI Scan
  • Bone scan
  • Discography

Treatment of degenerative disc disease:

Surgical and non-surgical treatments for degenerative disc disorder.

Non-surgical treatments

include applying heat, applying ice packs, medications, physiotherapy, steroid injections and chiropractic manipulation.

Surgical treatments

include spinal fusion surgery and artificial disc replacement.