Degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is often called degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the spine, is a common disorder of the lower spine. Disc degeneration can lead to disorders such as spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal that houses the spinal cord and nerve roots; can be lumbar or cervical), spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of the disc and vertebra), and retrolisthesis (backward slippage of the disc and vertebra). Actually, DDD is not a disease but, rather, a degenerative condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the victim's quality of life. Disc degeneration is a normal part of aging and is generally not a problem by itself. However, for certain individuals, a degenerated disc can cause pain, such as when bone spurs grow adjacent to the discs and pinch or put pressure on the nearby nerve roots or spinal canal. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) is a detailed description of known diseases and injuries. ... The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... The Diseases Database is a free website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions, symptoms, and medications. ... Intervertebral discs lie in between adjacent vertebrae in the spine. ... The vertebral column seen from the side Different regions (curvatures) of the vertebral column The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ... Spinal stenosis is a medical condition where the spinal canal narrows and pinches the spinal cord and nerves, usually due to disc herniation or a tumour. ... Categories: Medicine stubs | Orthopedics ... Categories: Medicine stubs | Orthopedics ... Bone spur - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Causes

Aging is the most common cause of disc degeneration. As the body ages, the discs in the spine dehydrate, or dry out, and lose their ability to act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. The bones and ligaments that make up the spine also become less flexible and thicken. Unlike muscles, there is minimal blood supply to the discs so they lack the ability to heal or repair themselves. Repetitive stress injury (RSI) and/or several injuries over time that involve the same disc can also increase the likelihood of disc degeneration as may a poor body mass index. However, an active lifestyle that combines regular light exercise and a good diet can help to repair or prolong the life of the disc. Repetitive strain injury, also called repetitive stress injury or typing injury, is an occupational overuse syndrome affecting the tendons and nerves. ... An example of a body mass index chart Body mass index (BMI) or Quetelet Index is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. ...

Symptoms

With symptomatic degenerative disc disease, chronic low back pain sometimes radiates to the hips, or there is an aching pain in the buttocks or thighs while walking; sporadic tingling or weakness through the knees may also be evident. Similar pain may be felt or may increase while sitting, bending, lifting, and twisting. While the degeneration of the disc will likely progress as a natural part of the aging process, symptoms such as low back pain often decrease over time. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Bones of the Hip In anatomy, the hip is the bony projection of the femur, known as the greater trochanter, and the overlying muscle and fat. ... Look up Pain in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The buttocks (anatomical nates, clunium, gluteus, regio glutealis) are rounded portions of the anatomy located on the posterior of the pelvic region of the apes, humans and many other bipeds or quadrupeds. ... Diagram of the human thigh bone In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and buttocks and the knee. ... Category: ... Paresthesia (paraesthesia in British) is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin with no apparent physical cause, more generally known as the feeling of pins and needles. ... Weakness is the inability to exert force with ones muscles to the degree that would be expected given the individuals general physical condition. ...

Understanding disc pain

It is not clear why some degenerative discs are painful and some are not. After an injury, some discs become painful because of inflammation. Some people have nerve endings that penetrate more deeply into the annulus fibrosus, or outer layer of the disc, than others, making the disc more susceptible to becoming a source of pain. Pain that radiates down the leg, known as sciatica or lumbago, is the result of the nerve root encountering the inner disc material, or the nucleus pulposus, an inflammatory substance that also puts pressure on the nerve. These conditions can cause symptoms such as severe leg pain, difficulty standing and walking, and weakness or numbness in the legs. Degenerative disc disease can lead to a chronic debilitating condition and can have a serious negative impact on a person's quality of life. When pain from degenerative disc disease is severe, traditional nonoperative treatment is often ineffective. Sciatica is a pain in the leg consequent to irritation of the sciatic nerve. ... Lumbago is a term used to[ refer to the symptom of low back pain. ...

Treatment options

Often, degenerative disc disease can be successfully treated without surgery. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chiropractic treatments, or spinal injections often provide adequate relief of these troubling symptoms. Glucosamine and Vitamin C supplements can also help with the repair of discs. Surgery may be recommended if the conservative treatment options do not provide relief within 2 to 3 months. If leg or back pain limits normal activity, if there is weakness or numbness in the legs, if it is difficult to walk or stand, or if medication or physical therapy are ineffective, surgery may be necessary, most often spinal fusion. Artificial disc replacement may be an option in treating DDD under certain conditions. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs a mitral valve replacement at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. ... This article concerns the health profession. ... Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs, are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects - they reduce pain, fever and inflammation. ... Chiropractic is a complementary and alternative health care profession which focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, their effects on the nervous system, and on general health. ... Spinal fusion is a surgical technique used to combine two vertebrae. ... Artificial disc replacement is a medical procedure in which degenerated discs in the spine are replaced with artificial ones. ...

Osteopathic treatment treats various aspects of the degenerative process returning the back to optimal functioning. The treatment involves gentle stretches and manipulation to the facet joints of the spine. Relaxation techniques to the resultant muscle spasm. The osteopath will not just treat the degenerated area but treat the whole spine.

References

• Information provided by What is Degenerative Disc Disease? online

Further reading

• Burkus JK, et al. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion using rhBMP-2 with tapered interbody cages. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2002;15:337-349.
• Burkus JK, et al. Clinical and radiographic outcomes of anterior lumbar interbody fusion using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. Spine. 2002;27:2396-2408.

Naming

Degenerative disc disease is also spelled Degenerative disk disease. Other terms sometimes used interchangeablly with degenerativ disc disease include: "bulging disc", "degenerated disc", or "mechanical low back pain".

See also

• Low back pain
• Spinal disc herniation
• Intervertebral disc

Low back pain can be either an acute or chronic disabling condition. ... It has been suggested that Slipped disc and Lumbar disc herniation be merged into this article or section. ... Intervertebral discs lie in between adjacent vertebrae in the spine. ...

External links

• Degenerative Disc Disease and Low Back Pain
• Degenerative disc disease - non-surgical treatment options
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Degenerative Disc Disease Health Hub