About Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease

As people get older, so do their bones. They age just like every other part of the human body, and they need care in order to stay healthy and function at their optimum level. Degenerative disc disease affects many people. It can be crippling and can make it very difficult to live a normal life. Cervical spine degenerative disc disease makes it difficult to do everyday, normal things due to decreased movement ability. There is treatment for this medical condition, but how much help and how much mobility each patient gets back is questionable.

What Are the Discs in the Cervical Spine?

• The intervertebral discs are the pillow-like cushions that sit between the vertebrae. They are responsible for the movement of the back and are what allows the spine to move in its many directions. They fit between the vertebrae and are fluid-filled sacks. They absorb shock, just like the shocks on an automobile. They are the flexible part of the spine and help it move in all the different directions it is intended to.

What is Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease?

• Cervical spine degenerative disc disease means that the intervertebral portion of the spine becomes weak and degenerative. Over the years, the spine takes a lot of abuse. Although this condition has been seen in young people, by the time most people are older, their discs have weakened and may have even broken down. The discs lose their elasticity as well as their flexibility, which means that the back will not be able to bend and move normally. The discs also can lose their shock absorbency, which means that the slightest movements of the back can be excruciatingly painful. Essentially, the spine becomes bone-on-bone.

Signs of Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease

• Not all cases of cervical spine degenerative disc disease show signs, or symptoms, right away. For those who do experience symptoms, the most popular complaints are pain with movement, numbness in the extremities affected, tingling, weakness in the extremities affected such as the arms and legs, balance problems, burning in the extremities, and possible loss of bladder or sphincter control. There also can be sensory loss in the affected limbs and fingers, meaning they feel numb and cannot feel what they touch.

Diagnosis of Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease

• Usually, the gradual lack of movement and pain cause a patient to see her physician. If the doctor suspects disc disease, he will likely order an X-ray. If there is severe degeneration of the spine, it should be picked up on X-ray film. If not, the doctor will order either a CT scan or an MRI, or both. He will check movement of the spine, as well as get a full history. If you are an elderly person, your doctor may suspect degenerative disc disease right away.

Treatments for Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease

• The most common form of treatment for cervical spine disc disease is surgery. Usually, if the disc is deflated and no longer acting as a normal disc should, the patient will be prescribed muscle relaxers and pain medication, along with traction. This is where the body is placed in a device that slowly pulls the spine apart in hopes that the discs will no longer be disc-on-disc. The hope is that the traction will create space between them. If this does not work, your doctor may try to insert an artificial disc. This requires surgery. Spinal fusion is another surgical procedure that usually leaves the patient less mobile.

Warnings Regarding Cervical Spine Degenerative Disc Disease

• You should never take back pain lightly. If you begin to have back pain that you have never had before, see a doctor right away. What may seem like a minimal problem could be a big problem in the making, especially if numbness or tingling in a limb is present. If you are not happy with the results of your doctor's visit, get a second opinion, especially if he wants to operate right away. Back pain can be a slight problem or it can be a significant problem, so it is never a good idea to diagnose yourself.