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Understanding Your Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis
Degeneration, or the result of wear-and-tear to your bones, happens to all of us as we age. For most people, this includes degeneration of the discs in the spine.
By age 35, about 30% of people show signs of disc degeneration. By age 60, that number increases to 90%. Spine degeneration can happen without causing any noticeable problems. When it fuels symptoms, like pain, it’s considered degenerative disc disease.
Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill provide back pain treatments and spine surgery to help people with DDD lead rich and comfortable lives.
If you’ve been diagnosed with this progressive condition, read on to learn more about it.
Signs of degenerative disc disease
Degenerative disc disease affects people differently, but symptoms often crop up between ages 30 and 50.
Common signs of DDD, which primarily affect your back or neck, include:
- Chronic pain
- Pain that worsens when you bend, lift objects, or twist
- Feeling better when you’re exercising or standing for lengthy periods
- Periodic pain, with flare-ups lasting for a few days or months
You might also experience leg muscle weakness or numbness and tingling in your extremities. These symptoms may indicate nerve root damage.
If your spinal cord becomes compressed, a condition known as myelopathy, you can experience walking difficulties and loss of bladder and bowel control.
Degenerative disc disease treatment
Once you’ve been diagnosed with DDD through a comprehensive exam, which may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), you’ll receive a customized treatment plan.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms and overall health, your plan may start with conservative treatments, such as a back brace, physical therapy, and pain management. If your symptoms don’t respond well or worsen, our team may recommend surgery, such as artificial disc replacement.
Degenerative disc disease prognosis
There’s no known cure for degenerative disc disease, but a quality treatment plan can help keep your symptoms to a minimum. Professional support or surgery may slow down the progression of DDD, too. One study, involving 2,000 patients, linked lower back disc replacement with a 74-86% satisfaction rate .
Lifestyle measures, such as engaging in approved exercise and eating a nutritious diet, can ease the burden of DDD by promoting positive circulation and preventing strain from excess weight. Improving your posture and sleep habits can help, too, by reducing spinal pressure and inflammation.
To learn more about epidural injections for pain relief or get started with personalized care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.