Degenerative Disc Disease in Neck

Degenerative disk disease is a form of arthritis that affects the vertebra in the neck. This can be a painful condition that can limit your range of motion and restrict your ability to participate in activities. There are treatment options available to you and steps you can take to manage your symptoms.

Identification

• Degenerative disk disease, or DDD, is a condition where the disks between the vertebra in the spine lose fluid and break down. This can lead to arthritis, herniated disks or spinal stenosis.

Causes

• Degenerative disk disease is a natural part of aging. Many people have this condition and have no symptoms. However, in some people this condition is more serious and leads to pressure on the nerves. DDD can also occur as the result of an injury.

Symptoms

• Pain, stiffness and loss of mobility in the neck are the most common symptoms. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person depending on the amount of disk damage that has occurred and if the condition is irritating the nerves. DDD in the neck will lead to symptoms in the neck and arms.

Complications

• If there is too much pressure on the nerves, you may experience numbness and tingling in the neck, arms and hands. This can lead to difficulty with arm and hand coordination and handling objects.

Treatment

• Treatment includes exercise to help maintain strength and mobility. Pain medications can be used, if needed. In severe cases surgery may be required to remove the damage and pressure on the nerves.