What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease and How Is It Treated?

Many people experiencing back pain radiating down the leg should not ignore it, as it may not just be muscle fatigue but a warning sign of degenerative disc disease. To help you understand what causes degenerative disc disease and its symptoms, we will explain the risk factors and treatment options so you can monitor symptoms before they become difficult to treat!

Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease

Spondylosis is a condition where the bones, discs, joints, ligaments, and muscles of the spine deteriorate. Degenerative disc disease refers to the deterioration of the discs or the tissue layers between spinal vertebrae that cushion shocks. This degradation reduces the body’s ability to support weight, causing the discs to collapse and decrease in height, leading to chronic back pain and other related health issues.

Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

There are four main causes of degenerative disc disease:

• Age
  Age is a primary cause of the disease. Normally, disc degeneration begins after the age of 25 and progressively worsens with increasing age.

• Weight
  Another significant factor is body weight. The discs support the upper body’s weight, especially when sitting or standing. The heavier the body weight, the more pressure is placed on the discs, accelerating their degeneration.

• Daily Activities
  Daily movements affect disc health. Activities like regular exercise, frequent bending, lifting heavy objects, or sitting in the same position for long periods increase the workload on discs and speed up their wear and tear.

• Injury
  Those who have experienced accidents or injuries to the spinal discs are at a higher risk of developing this condition than others.

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease can be divided into three stages:

• Stage One
  The discs just start to deteriorate and usually show no symptoms.
• Stage Two
  Back pain occurs from various causes, including muscle pain and disc degeneration. The pain appears intermittently, doesn’t resolve on its own, and becomes chronic if left untreated.
• Stage Three
  Severe degeneration causes the disc to press on nerves, causing radiating pain down the leg like electric shocks, numbness in legs or feet, muscle weakness, and may affect bladder and bowel control.

Treatment Options for Degenerative Disc Disease

Lifestyle Adjustments

If diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, the first step is to adjust your lifestyle by avoiding heavy exercise, lifting heavy objects, and prolonged sitting in the same position to slow down disc deterioration.

Medication

Patients may take NSAIDs and muscle relaxants to relieve back pain but only under the supervision of a specialist.

Physical Therapy and Back Support

Physical therapy combined with wearing a back support shirt can help relieve pain by reducing pressure on the spinal discs and limiting spine movement.

Surgery

For severe cases unresponsive to other treatments, surgery may be recommended. The two main surgical options are:

• Spinal fusion surgery
• Total disc replacement surgery

If left untreated, disc degeneration worsens progressively. Anyone with chronic back pain or radiating leg pain should consider this a warning sign of degenerative disc disease. Don’t delay—schedule a thorough examination at Synphaet Lamlukka Hospital, a hospital near Thanyaburi with specialists ready to care for and treat you.

For more information or to book an appointment, call 02-006-9999.