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Degenerative Disc Disorder

Degenerative disc disorder is deterioration rather than a disease. Recognize it as a sign of aging and wear on the spinal discs, the shock absorbers of the spine, according to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Discs cannot repair themselves when damaged, leading to pain and impairment if left untreated. A disc cannot be "cured," but help is available.

  1. Function

    • Spinal discs "are designed to help the back stay flexible while resisting terrific forces in many different planes of motion," according to Cedars-Sinai. They cushion the vertebrae, allow the spine to flex and turn. Discs are "spacers" to keep the vertebrae from compressing the nerves running from the spine to the various parts of the body. Unstable spinal support and pain are the result of damage to spinal discs. The location of the damage dictates the type of impairment.

    Causes

    • Injury may begin the process of degeneration. Sharp impact can weaken part of the disc wall and allow the disc to bulge between the vertebrae. Dehydration causes damage to the disc, which has a water content of approximately 80 percent. Normal aging leads to some amount of deterioration. While not always debilitating, degenerative disc disease will show up in nearly everyone by age 60. Expect a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease if you have osteoarthritis in the spine.

    Diagnosis

    • Tell your physician the circumstances of any injury. Based on physical examination, she may order additional tests to identify the location and degree of degeneration. Tests may include spinal X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan and discography. Identify limits of mobility and pain triggers with range-of-motion tests.

    Treatment

    • Choose a treatment or treatments with your physician based on the extent and location of damage. Strengthen core muscles through exercise to help support the injured area. Use heat therapy to relax irritated muscles around the site. Wear a back brace for additional support. Undergo physical therapy, chiropractic or physiatric (a combination of physical medicine and rehabilitation) care. Surgical intervention, such as spinal fusion or disc replacement, is a last resort.

    Pain Management

    • Some pain relief occurs because of treatment. Methods that are more aggressive are available when needed. Begin with simple analgesic medications under your doctor's recommendation. Undergo electrotherapy as a more intense mode of pain reduction. Injections of pain relieving and anti-inflammatory medications constitute interventional pain management. Epidural steroid injections, selective nerve-root injections and directed pain injections to the facet joint or sacroiliac joint address acute pain issues. Discuss alternatives with your physician.

    Risks

    • If left untreated, degenerative disc disease can result in increased pain, numbness, stiffness, loss of function and mobility and paralysis. As the disc continues to deteriorate, pressure on nerves increases. Accommodations in movement to avoid pain may cause injury to other parts of the body.

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