Grigory Goldberg, MD, provides comprehensive degenerative disc disease treatment in New Jersey. Make an appointment for a consultation today.
Once you hit your 40s, there’s a good chance that you’ll start to experience more aches and pains, especially in your back. Most people develop some form of degenerative disc disease, a deterioration of the cushioning between the spinal vertebrae, with age. In fact, research shows that the prevalence of disc degeneration increases from 37% of people in their 20s to 96% of people in their 80s.
Although some develop the condition and never experience any discomfort, others may experience excruciating, debilitating pain that requires medical attention. If you’re considering degenerative disc disease treatment from a spine specialist in New Jersey or considering whether you should get help managing your symptoms, review this guide to learn more about what’s happening with your back.
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
To understand degenerative disc disease, explaining what spinal discs are and how they work is valuable.
Spinal discs are shock absorbers between each vertebra. They are tough, rubbery cushions that help you move comfortably. However, they are also vulnerable to damage from accidents, injuries, overuse, and wear and tear as we age.
Although spinal discs have many nerve endings, they don’t receive a lot of blood flow. Therefore, when they sustain injury, they cannot repair themselves and heal, which triggers the process of degeneration. The more damaged the disc, the more it will degenerate, leading to increased pain and spinal instability.
While some people never even realize they have this condition, a damaged disc can lead to other painful spinal conditions. There’s significant evidence that the condition can damage the surrounding joints, ligaments, and vertebral muscles, affecting your function and increasing susceptibility to injury. It can also contribute to several common spinal conditions, including:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Adult scoliosis
In fact, herniated discs, in which the inner nucleus of the disc bulges or leaks out from the outer layer and irritates the surrounding nerves, are among the most common reasons people seek treatment for lower back pain. Although a traumatic injury can cause disc herniation, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says that age-related wear is the most common reason it happens.
Another potential issue related to disc degeneration is the development of osteophytes or bone spurs. These small growths on the edges of the spinal bones can form when the discs start to deteriorate.
Bone spurs are your body’s way of compensating for the loss of cushioning, but they can press against the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots, resulting in pain and nerve function issues. Although common, only about 40% of people with bone spurs have enough pain to seek degenerative disc disease treatment for it.
The Causes of Disc Degeneration
Although injuries and repetitive activities can contribute to disc degeneration, age is by far the most likely reason for advanced disease.
When we are born, our intervertebral discs are almost 90% water. Over time, they lose fluid and dry out, making them thinner, more brittle, and less able to absorb shocks or support spinal flexibility.
Water loss also increases the risk of small tears in the disc’s outer layer, allowing the fluid inside to leak out. This fluid contains proteins that irritate the nerves on the outermost layer, causing inflammation and pain. Even if the fluid doesn’t escape the disc’s center, bulging out can put pressure on the surrounding nerves and cause pain.
Some people are at a greater risk for severe issues, including:
- Women
- People who are overweight or obese
- Smokers
- People who work physically demanding jobs
- Athletes
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
Despite most people showing some evidence of spinal deterioration as they age, not everyone has symptoms or needs degenerative disc disease treatment.
For those who do experience symptoms, they usually include:
- Pain that worsens while sitting
- Pain that worsens while bending, lifting, or twisting
- Inconsistent pain, i.e., pain that comes and goes or lasts for a few days or even months before subsiding
- Pain that radiates to the buttocks and thighs or the hands and arms, depending on the location of the damaged disc
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- Leg weakness or difficulty walking
How you find relief from discomfort can also be a sign of degenerative disc disease. You may be dealing with a damaged disc if you feel better when walking, standing, lying down, or changing positions.
Diagnosing Degenerative Disc Disease
A survey from Georgetown University shows that around 65 million adults suffer from back pain. Since most people experience back pain at some point in their lives, you might write off your symptoms as just a normal part of aging. The fact that you cannot reverse disc deterioration might also keep you from seeing your doctor.
However, you should see a doctor about back pain if it lasts longer than two weeks, interrupts your usual activities, or occurs after an injury or trauma.
When you see a physician for degenerative disc disease treatment, they’ll ask about your medical history and whether you experienced any falls, injuries, or other trauma to your back. During the physical assessment, the doctor will check:
- Muscle strength
- Nerve function, including your responses to different stimuli
- Your pain in relation to specific movements or touches
Sometimes, these physical tests and your symptoms can provide all the information the doctor needs for a diagnosis. However, it’s more likely that they will order diagnostic imaging tests, including MRI and computed tomography (CT scan), for a more accurate view of your spine and what’s causing discomfort.
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment
When your spine doctor diagnoses degenerative disc disease, the first course of treatment will likely be nonsurgical. Only 10% to 20% of lumbar disc cases and 30% of cervical disc cases need surgical intervention. In some cases, symptoms resolve themselves without any medical intervention.
If you seek help with back pain, most degenerative disc disease treatment plans begin with the following, usually in combination:
Rest
Taking frequent rest breaks and being careful and controlled in your movements can help reduce inflammation and pain.
Medication
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and muscle relaxers can help block pain signals and provide relief.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Injecting steroid medications directly into your back near discs, joints, and nerves can help reduce inflammation that causes pain.
Physical Therapy
Performing targeting stretches and strength exercises can help alleviate pressure on the spinal nerves to reduce back pain and restore mobility and range of motion.
Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Undergoing a procedure to burn the nerve endings can stop pain signals from reaching your brain.
Other Options
If your condition doesn’t improve within a few months or worsens, your doctor may explore some spinal decompression surgical options as a treatment for degenerative disc disease. These could include:
- Discectomy to remove part of the damaged disc
- Foraminotomy to remove some bone and tissue to make more space for the disc and relieve pressure
- Laminectomy to remove bone from your lower spine
- Spinal fusion to connect two or more vertebrae to increase spinal stability
The AAOS recommends not waiting too long to try surgery if your condition doesn’t improve with noninvasive treatment. Their research suggests that waiting longer than nine months to treat back pain with surgery doesn’t produce optimal results.
Seek Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment From New Jersey’s Most Respected Spine Specialist
If you’re living with back pain, and it’s interrupting your life, don’t waste time waiting for it to get worse or searching for “the best spine specialist near me.” Make an appointment with Grigory Goldberg, MD, to find answers and explore your options for degenerative disc disease treatment and other spinal conditions. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection); same-day appointments may be available.
Schedule a visit online or call any of our six convenient locations in New Jersey for more information. Whether you need degenerative disc disease or sciatica pain treatment, we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Cure for Degenerative Disc Disease?
Although you can slow the progression of degenerative disc disease and improve your quality of life with treatment, the condition will not improve on its own, and there’s no way to cure or reverse it.
Should I Stay in Bed When I Have Pain From Disc Disease?
Prolonged bed rest, meaning more than one to three days in bed, is not an effective way to manage back pain. It can actually make it worse because your muscles will weaken.
How Can I Stop Degenerative Disc Disease From Getting Worse?
Staying active with regular exercise and stretching, maintaining good posture, supporting your lower back, and changing your position frequently can all help reduce the stress on your spine and keep the discs healthy and supple.
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Do When I Have Degenerative Disc Disease?
Avoid sitting for extended periods, high-impact exercise, heavy lifting, or excessive alcohol consumption when you are undergoing degenerative disc disease treatment. These activities can increase your risk for pain.
