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Degenerative Disk Syndrome

Degenerative disk syndrome, or degenerative disk disease (DDD), is not nearly as bad as it sounds. In fact, DDD is a rather common back problem. Most people with the syndrome will suffer a twisting injury to their spinal column that affects one or more disks, the jellylike cushions between the spine's vertebrae. According to the website Spine Health, about 30% of middle-aged people suffer from the syndrome. What's more, most people will have some sort of spinal degradation by the age of 60.

  1. Significance

    • The vertebrae are the individual bones that lock together in stacking fashion to form the human spinal column. The disks are soft and squishy round pillows between each vertebra, preventing the hard bones from touching one another. Without the shock-absorbing disks, the spine couldn't twist and flex. DDD can occur anywhere along the spinal column, though it tends to show up in the neck and lower back.

    Three More Problems

    • According to WebMD, DDD can present in three other key ways: as a herniated disk, osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. With a herniated disk, one of the spine's disks bulges abnormally or becomes ruptured, usually from injury. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that surrounds the vertebrae breaks down, usually with age, causing the spine to compress. Spinal stenosis refers to a contraction of the spinal column that narrows the space between the spinal cord and column.

    Causes

    • The spine, like many other parts of the body, wears down with age. There's a decrease in the amount of fluid between the vertebra and disks. Also, tiny fissures can develop in the the disk's external layer and soft material can ooze out. The disk may then rupture, break up into tiny pieces or bulge.

    Symptoms

    • Pain along the spine is the most prominent DDD symptom. The pain tends to emanate from the lower back and is especially sharp in the seated position.

    Treatment

    • Most DDD patients can attain significant relief without surgery by utilizing anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers. Exercise along with physical therapy can be highly effective. Disk surgery is considered only as a final option.

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