- Locations in Clifton, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
Degenerative spine disease is a common reason why many Americans experience back pain on a daily basis. This issue stems from the degeneration and wear of spinal discs over time as people age. As these discs wear, people experience severe pain and mobility difficulties.
Dr. Grigory Goldberg, MD, is New Jersey’s experienced spine surgeon and offers treatment in six convenient New Jersey locations. Read on to learn about degenerative spine disease, its symptoms, causes, and more, then contact one of our offices to pursue treatment options.
Adults in the third stage of their life or further may experience degenerative spine disease (also known as degenerative disc disease or DDD). According to the National Library of Medicine, 266 million people across the world suffer from degenerative spine disease each year. Bones in the spine can lose their cushioning from wear and press together, causing major back and neck pain as the most common symptoms.
A medical professional may diagnose the disease after magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a thorough examination of the back, neck, and body. Dr. Grigory Goldberg, MD, will get to the root cause of your back pain and determine if DDD is causing it.
This disease mostly affects the lumbar and cervical spine, but it can reach other areas. If severe enough, the pain may travel down the body. Seeking treatment for this problem is critical to leading a healthy life with less pain and general discomfort.
As people age, their discs wear down, leading to degenerative disc disease. According to Columbia University, 30% of 35-year-olds and 90% of people 60 and older will show some evidence of a degenerated disc. People can also develop this problem after experiencing an injury, such as straining too much at work or playing a sport.
People who have family members with back problems are at a greater risk for this issue. According to the Mayo Clinic, women are more likely than men to develop degenerative disc disease. Individuals who smoke, are obese, lead a sedentary lifestyle, or have a job with extreme physical labor are more likely to receive a degenerative spine disease diagnosis.
Spinal discs lose fluid and sponginess over the years and create painful conditions for anyone with the disease. They could break, crack, or tear, requiring immediate medical invention and professional care.
Some patients may experience this condition throughout their back. The location of the disease varies from person to person. The three main types of degenerative disc disease include the following:
Symptoms of this disease can vary because it may affect different parts of the spine. Some of the most common symptoms of degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine (the most common type) include the following:
Patients with DDD can make their symptoms even worse by strenuous bending, lifting, or twisting.
ScienceDirect researchers found in one study that age and obesity were common factors for those with degenerative disc disease. About 77% of women and 71% of men showed evidence of DDD. See if you have it by contacting Grigory Goldberg, MD, in New Jersey.
If you’re struggling with degenerative spine disease or suspect you have it, it’s a good idea to seek support from a medical professional. Dr. Grigory Goldberg, MD, an award-winning spine specialist and surgeon, can diagnose and treat back pain using years of medical experience. He will suggest the appropriate course of treatment for your situation, offering safe, minimally invasive options wherever possible.
According to the National Health Service, medical professionals may use lumbar decompression surgery to treat compressed nerves in the lower spine. They might remove damaged disc portions. However, many doctors favor non-surgical treatments before suggesting this option.
Some treatment options we offer at our practice include:
Medical facilities may offer discectomy, laminectomy, spinal fusion, and more. At our practice, we aim to alleviate the pain of our patients and help them lead a more healthy, independent life. We make every effort to minimize or eliminate pain and decrease levels of daily discomfort.
If you’re ready to explore treatment for degenerative spine disease, contact our offices today. After meeting with Dr. Goldeberg, he can determine the cause of your back and neck pain and recommend whether or not endoscopic spine surgery or another treatment option is right for you.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. We have locations in Barnegat, Clifton, Freehold, Holmdel, Monroe, and Ocean, New Jersey, so contact us today!
There is no way around it: slipped or damaged intervertebral discs hurt. The intense, persistent pain might inspire you to search for a “degenerative disc disease specialist near me” to find relief. Dr. Grigory Goldberg, our practice’s spine specialist in New Jersey, outlines how our team can help you regain mobility and independence below.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. We have locations in Barnegat, Clifton, Freehold, Holmdel, Monroe, and Ocean, New Jersey, so contact us today!
All treatment plans start with an official diagnosis. Our doctors use cutting-edge medical equipment to learn more about your condition:
According to the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, at least eight percent of American adults struggle with some form of back pain. Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis is essential to choosing treatments that effectively resolve your symptoms.
After booking your appointment, you might need relief while you wait at home. Our spine specialist in New Jersey recommends the following relief methods to mitigate the pain emanating from the damaged disc:
While these recommendations only provide temporary relief, they can make the wait more comfortable until you book with and visit a “degenerative disc disease specialist near me.
When searching for the “best spine specialist near me,” you likely want a doctor who will help you treat degenerative disc disease with minimally invasive or non-invasive options first. While surgical procedures can help you find the consistent relief you need, you might also experience effective symptom management through non-surgical options. Our disc disease specialist might suggest the treatment options below.
You might be an excellent candidate for occupational or physical therapy if exercises like walking or swimming provide consistent relief. These therapies focus on increasing the mobility and range of motion of various soft tissues. You’ll safely increase the strength of your core muscles to eliminate pressure on the vertebrae and discs.
Injectable steroids stop inflammatory responses. Sometimes, inflammation within the intervertebral disc tissues causes the disc to push against sensitive nerves or slip out of place. A steroid injection calms this inflammatory response, allowing you to start moving again.
Oral pain medications have a similar effect. However, you take them in pill form. You can use both injections and prescriptions alongside physical therapy treatments to manage your symptoms until you undergo a surgical procedure.
Non-surgical treatments might lessen or temporarily relieve your symptoms. However, they sometimes fail to offer permanent relief and routine mobility. We might recommend spine surgery if it fails to substantially improve your quality of life.
One of the spine surgeries our practice offers is endoscopic spine surgery. But what is endoscopic spine surgery? This minimally invasive procedure eases pain by altering the receptors in your spine. A review article published by the Journal Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Technique examines the benefits of this procedure, such as lower blood loss, less soft tissue damage, and fewer complications overall, leading to higher patient satisfaction.
Discectomies can be either minimally invasive or major procedures, depending on the affected vertebrae and techniques used. Your surgeon will remove part of the vertebral bone affecting the damaged disc. Specialists typically reserve this surgery for patients who struggle to stand or walk due to disc pain.
Sometimes, a disc becomes too damaged or diseased to function, even with other therapies. Your surgeon performs a cervical fusion by removing the injured disc and replacing it with a medical-grade spacer. The spacer performs similarly to the removed disc without the damage causing pain.
Robotic spine surgery is another minimally invasive surgical technique that harnesses advanced robotic technology. The surgeon programs the robot to access specific parts of the spinal anatomy and perform a surgical function like placing inserts, for example.
While recovery times for minimally invasive spine surgeries may vary, many patients return to normalcy within a month or two. MISS techniques can reduce pain, prevent surgical complications, and help patients heal seamlessly. You could get back to your routine within a month or two.
New Jersey spine specialists might recommend surgery if you:
Book an appointment with Dr. Grigory Goldburg or another doctor in our directory to reclaim your life and find relief from degenerative disc disease. Diagnosis is the first step to a better quality of life and effective pain management in New Jersey.
Our directory of doctors accepts most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
You should not participate in high-intensity exercises or lead an extremely sedentary lifestyle with degenerative spine disease. Light movement and exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle are best for people with this disease.
Degenerative disc disease is increasingly common as you age, affecting almost all individuals 60 and up.
Lumbar degenerative disc disease is the most common type of degenerative spine disease.
Whiplash can appear on X-rays. However, X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs are more helpful in ruling out other conditions than diagnosing whiplash.
No, degenerative disc disease does not ever go away. However, an article published by Spine-Health suggests that symptoms may stabilize as a person ages.
The surgery that is best for degenerative disc disease depends on your condition’s severity and how much it impacts your spine. However, many spine specialists recommend endoscopy or discectomy.
You can stop degenerative disc disease from progressing by staying healthy and active while seeking treatment when needed. Visiting a disc disease specialist for long-term treatments and care can also help.
If you don’t get surgery for your DDD, you might develop a spine curvature called scoliosis. You can also develop other complications like slipped discs or spinal stenosis, which may require invasive procedures from a degenerative disc disease specialist near you.
