Do you sometimes experience back pain, neck stiffness, or a shooting pain down your arms? Does this pain seem to get worse when you sit, lift weights, or get out of bed in the morning? Many people don't pay much attention to these symptoms. However, this can be a result of natural changes that occur in our spine as we age. Today, we'll talk about a condition called `Degenerative Disk Disease`. Although the name sounds like a disease, it's not really a disease, but a name given to the degeneration of the discs in our spine over time.
What is Degenerative Disk Disease?
Simply put, this is the wear and tear of the discs between the vertebrae in our spine. Think of our spine as a bunch of little pieces of bone (vertebrae) stacked on top of each other. In between these pieces of bone, like shock absorbers in a car, there are cushions. These are what we call spinal discs . They're like rubber, a little hard, but they have a jelly-like substance inside.
These discs help our spine to bend, twist, and lift weights with ease. They also absorb the shocks and vibrations that come to our spine when we run and jump, protecting our brain from damage.
Everyone's discs wear out as they age. This is a very natural thing. It's just like our skin wrinkles and our hair turns gray. But sometimes, because of this wear, those vertebrae start to rub against each other. That's when the pain starts to come.
This lump sum payment can cause further problems:
- Adult scoliosis : A sideways curvature of the spine.
- Herniated disk: Some people call this a herniated disk, a bulge, or a ruptured disk.
- Spinal stenosis : A narrowing of the spinal canal, which is the passageway through the spinal cord.
- Spondylolisthesis : One vertebra slips over another.
Which part of the spine is most affected by this condition?
Spinal stenosis mainly affects our lower back (lumbar spine) and neck (cervical spine) .
1. Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease
At the very bottom of our spine, in what we call the lumbar region, there are five large vertebrae. Doctors call them L1 to L5. Between each of these vertebrae is a disc. Most of the time (about 90%) this disc herniation occurs in the lower part of the spine. Think of someone who lifts weights all the time, or someone who sits in the same position for a long time. They are more likely to experience pain in this area.
2. Cervical Degenerative Disk Disease
This happens because of the ligaments between the seven vertebrae in our neck (cervical spine). This ligament helps with all these movements when we turn our neck up and down, when we look from side to side. When the ligaments in this area are damaged, when we turn our neck, when we look up, we can feel a sharp pain . Sometimes this pain can even go down our arms.
3. Multilevel Degenerative Disk Disease
This means that the spine is not just one place, but several vertebrae, or several levels , are affected. For example, there may be a herniated disc in both the lower back and the neck.
How common is this condition?
In fact, almost everyone starts to experience some degree of back pain after the age of 40. However, not everyone experiences symptoms, that is, pain. About 5% of adults may experience back pain due to this.
What are the symptoms of vertebral compression fractures?
The most common symptoms are neck pain and back pain. You may experience pain like this:
- It's a pain that comes and goes, not all at once. It can last for weeks or even months.
- Pain that starts in the lower back and travels down the buttocks.
- The pain increases when sitting, bending forward, or lifting a heavy object.
How does this pain feel?
This pain can be:
- It can occur in the neck or lower back.
- It can be felt mildly, moderately, or severely .
- It may feel sharp, stabbing, or constricting .
- It may appear, disappear for a while, and then appear again.
- The pain may increase after certain activities, such as bending forward, twisting, or lifting a heavy object.
- The pain may gradually increase over time.
What are the causes of vertebral compression fractures?
As we've discussed before, this type of swelling is a natural part of aging. This condition affects many people, especially after the age of 40. But not everyone experiences the pain.
You may experience pain for these reasons:
1. Dry out: The soft tissue inside our vertebrae is mostly water. As we age, this water content naturally decreases. The discs become thinner and less able to absorb shocks. Think of what happens when a sponge dries out. It's like that.
2. Tear or crack in the disc: Minor accidents, falls, and improper lifting can cause small tears or cracks in these discs. These cracks are often located near nerves. Even if this is a small tear, it can cause inflammation along with the surrounding nerves and cause pain. Sometimes, if the outer wall of the disc tears, the inner part can protrude. That's what we call a `Herniated disc`. This can also press on a nearby nerve.
What are the risk factors that contribute to this condition?
This condition is most common in people over the age of 40. However, some other factors can increase the risk of developing it:
- Accidents: Things like falls.
- Obesity: Increased body weight.
- Gender: Women are more likely to experience symptoms.
- Smoking.
- Working in a physically demanding job: For those who frequently lift heavy weights and do work that puts strain on their back.
Is there a risk of developing other medical conditions due to spinal stenosis?
Yes, worn-out discs can increase the risk of other spinal problems. Some of the most common conditions are:
- Osteoarthritis
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Pain caused by nerve root compression (Radiculopathy)
- Spondylolysis ( breakage of a part of the vertebra )
How do doctors diagnose this condition?
To diagnose this condition, your doctor will first ask you about your symptoms. They may ask questions like:
- When did the pain start?
- Where do you feel the pain?
- What kind of things do you feel the most pain doing?
- What kinds of things reduce pain?
- Was there an accident, such as a fall, before the pain started?
- Are there any other symptoms, such as numbness or loss of consciousness?
- How far can you walk?
Then, the doctor will examine you. He or she may also order imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan . These tests can give the doctor a good idea of the condition of your joints and how they are positioned.
The following things can be seen during a physical examination:
- Nerve function: A small hammer (reflex hammer) is used to tap the knee. If there is little response, the nerve may be pinched or damaged.
- Pain levels: They will touch and press on certain areas of your back and neck to see how much pain you feel.
- Strength: Checks for muscle weakness or atrophy. This can also be a sign of nerve damage or degeneration.
What are the stages of spinal fusion?
Doctors talk about four main stages when diagnosing this condition:
1. Dysfunction: Your vertebrae are starting to wear out. You may be experiencing mild symptoms.
2. Dehydration: The joints begin to dry out, losing their height and flexibility. Neck and back pain may increase during this stage.
3. Stabilization: During this stage, the spine tries to stabilize itself. This can lead to conditions like spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) and severe pain.
4. Collapse: The vertebrae in the spine become increasingly compressed, and the bones (vertebrae) in the spine begin to rub against each other. The damaged vertebrae compress nerves, causing severe pain.
How is this treated?
Often, doctors will recommend noninvasive treatment options first. Your treatment may include:
- Physical therapy: Engaging in strengthening and stretching exercises under the guidance of a trained physical therapist. This helps strengthen the muscles around the spine and reduce pain.
- Medications: Things like pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, neuromodulation medication, or steroids.
- Steroid injections: Injecting medication into your spinal cord, nerves, or joints to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Radiofrequency neurotomy: A procedure that uses electrical waves to burn the sensory nerves that carry pain, stopping pain signals from reaching the brain.
Self-care at home
Some people can find relief from pain with home remedies. While these may help relieve pain in the short term, they are not a long-term solution for people with severe pain. You can try these things:
- Physical activity: Low-impact exercises like walking and swimming can strengthen back muscles and reduce pain.
- Hot and cold therapy: Alternating ice packs and heating pads for 10-15 minutes four times a day can help reduce swelling and pain.
- Stretching: Doing gentle stretching exercises like yoga throughout the day can improve posture and reduce stress.
- Traction: Sometimes traction can help reduce symptoms and relieve tension. However, this should only be done under medical advice.
Surgery to repair the vertebrae
Most people do not need surgery for this condition. However, if you have tried several non-surgical treatments and continue to have pain and/or weakness, surgery may be a good option.
Your surgeon may perform one of these types of spinal decompression surgery:
- `Diskectomy`: Removal of part of a vertebra to relieve nerve compression.
- Foraminotomy: Removal of tissue and bone to enlarge the hole through which the nerve roots exit.
- Laminectomy: Removal of a small piece of bone called the lamina of a vertebra in the lower back.
- Osteophyte removal: Removal of bone spurs (osteophytes ).
- Spinal fusion: The fusion of two or more vertebrae together to increase the stability of the spine.
How can we prevent this situation from getting worse?
You can prevent or slow down the progression of this spinal degeneration by making some lifestyle changes. Some of these include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight for you.
- Avoid or quit smoking. Smoking is actually very harmful to this condition.
- Engage in regular physical exercise to increase strength and flexibility.
Can a full recovery be achieved by paying for a spinal tap?
Many people who have surgery for this condition experience long-term pain relief . However, you should continue to exercise and do stretching exercises to keep your back strong and healthy even after surgery.
Many people manage their pain long-term with nonsurgical, at-home treatments. If you have mild to moderate back pain, you may need ongoing treatment to keep it under control.
The most important thing is to follow your doctor's instructions exactly and exercise regularly.
If I have a spinal stenosis, what should I avoid?
If you have this condition, it is best to avoid these things:
- Smoking: Smoking can increase your pain and reduce the success of your treatment.
- Weight lifting: Lifting weights, especially when done frequently, puts a lot of strain on your back muscles.
- Alcohol consumption: Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of back pain.
- Sitting for long periods of time: Sitting for long periods of time, whether on the sofa or in front of a desk, can worsen back pain. Therefore, it is important to get up and walk around frequently.
- High-impact physical activity: High-impact sports and exercises like jumping and sprinting can be hard on your back. Instead, try low-impact exercises like walking and swimming.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
It's a good idea to ask your doctor questions like these:
- What could be the main reason for my cervical vertebrae to wear out?
- How can we slow down the rate at which this situation is getting worse?
- What are the best non-surgical treatments to relieve my pain?
- What happens if I don't have surgery?
- How to prevent pain from returning after surgery?
Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)
Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD) is the degeneration of the discs in our spine. Unfortunately, this is a natural part of aging. As these discs wear down, it usually causes back pain and stiffness. Some people can reduce their pain with home remedies, such as hot and cold therapy. If the pain is severe, spinal injections or surgery may be helpful.
If you have back or neck pain, it's important to seek medical advice without ignoring it. A spine specialist can help you determine the best treatment for you. Remember, the sooner you get diagnosed, the better your chances of getting treatment!
` Back Pain, Neck Pain, Cervical Spondylosis, Degenerative Disk Disease, Spine, Nerve Pain, Physical Therapy
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න