DISC-DEGENERATION
Disc Degeneration is not typically a disease, but a painful back condition that is associated with the natural process of aging. As the human body grows older, so does the spine and the spinal discs starts degenerating or breaking down just like other joints of the body. Disc degeneration is a normal and natural phenomenon of aging as the human body deals with years of use even misuse and strain. Usually, people in the age group of 40 and above suffer from this problem but in certain cases it has been seen that people as young as 20 can have the problem of disc degeneration due to other spinal disorders. In fact it is often seen that some people inherit a prematurely aging spine from the family.
HOW DOES DISC DEGENERATION OCCUR?
Disc degeneration occurs in a steady and gradual manner and its occurrence is most commonly seen in the lumbar region (lower back region) and cervical region (neck region) of the spinal column. Disc herniation can occur when the intervertebral discs dry out and are unable to cushion movements in the manner they are supposed to do, with age these discs become even more prone to problems of rupturing and bulging which facilitate the process of degeneration. Apart from this problem and injuries to the ligaments, muscles, tendons and blood vessels also speed up disc degeneration.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE
Back doctors usually get a lot of questions about degenerative disc disease that the patients usually ask. Apart from the above discussed issues as to what disc degeneration means and how it is caused, these common questions also include:
What non-surgical treatment options can help me deal with disc degeneration?
To help you get relief from pain activities like rest, light exercise as recommended by the doctor and medication (over the counter as well as prescription medications) are usually recommended.
Surgery – Will I need it?
Most of the time the problem of disc degeneration can be dealt with non-surgical treatment options. Surgery is only considered by back pain specialist when the patient shows no sign of improvement with conservative treatment. Common surgical procedures for disc degeneration include:
- Foraminotomy
- Microdiscectomy
- Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
If you’re suffering from back pain due to degenerating discs in The Woodlands, it is important that you select your back specialist carefully who has the right credentials and experience in the field of spinal problems.
Let us help you make the right decision for your spine by filling the form given above or by giving us a call at (888) 779-8716 today. We help you find the right treatment protocol in The Woodlands to fit your lifestyle and diagnosis.