Why is degenerative disc disease painful

Exercises can help to strengthen and stabilize the area around the affected disks, and to increase mobility. Exercises that build the back and stomach muscles include walking, cycling, and swimming, as well as core strengthening programs, such as yoga and pilates.

In the same position, squeeze the buttocks together and gently lift them up to make a low bridge. If it is difficult to make a bridge, just squeezing the buttocks can help. Do this 10 times. Patients who do not respond to conservative therapies within about 3 months may consider surgery. Stabilization surgery or spinal fusion : fusing two vertebrae together provides stability for the spine. This can be done anywhere in the spine but is more common in the lower back and the neck area.

These are the most movable parts of the spine. This can relieve extreme pain in patients whose spine can no longer bear their weight, but it can also speed up the degeneration of the discs next to the fused vertebrae. Decompression surgery : Various options to remove part of the joint of the disc can relieve the pressure on the nerves. A patient who develops osteoarthritis, a herniated disc, or spinal stenosis may need other types of treatment. Researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, have had some success with a tissue engineering-based approach using stem cells.

The aim is to encourage functional cartilage to generate itself, using an injectable hydrogel system. The researchers concluded that stem cell therapy might be useful for intervertebral disc regeneration.

The verdict is still out, and many more studies are needed to prove this treatment safe and effective. A bad back can happen to anyone at any time, and be from doing simple things, such as coughing or sneezing, or serious medical conditions, such as….

Spondylosis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. It often results from age and wear and tear, leading to occasional pain and stiffness…. Neural foraminal stenosis is a condition where a nerve in the spine becomes compressed as the openings between the vertebrae become smaller.

As the…. A degenerating spinal disc does not always lead to pain or other symptoms. Because the disc itself has very little innervation, pain usually occurs when the degenerating disc affects other structures in the spine such as muscles, joint, or nerve roots.

See How a Disc Becomes Painful. Both inflammation and micro-motion instability can cause lower back or neck muscle spasms. The muscle spasm is the body's attempt to stabilize the spine. Muscle tension and spasms can be quite painful, and are thought to cause the flare-ups of intense pain associated with degenerative disc disease. Daily activities and sports, which cause tears in the outer core of the disc. By age 60, most people have some degree of disc degeneration. Not everyone at that age has back pain, however.

Injuries, which can cause swelling, soreness and instability. This can result in low back pain. What are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease? Degenerative disc disease refers to a condition in which pain is caused from a damaged disc. The X-ray shows degenerated discs on the left before surgery. On the right is an X-ray of the discs after traditional spinal fusion surgery. How is degenerative disc disease diagnosed? A diagnosis is based on a medical history and a physical examination, as well as the symptoms and the circumstances where the pain started.

Magnetic resonance imaging can show damage to discs, but it alone cannot confirm degenerative disc disease. How is degenerative disc disease treated? Treatment options include: Artificial disc replacement Surgical intervention Nonoperative treatment of symptoms, including acupuncture, back braces and pain management.

Key points Degenerative disc disease isn't actually a disease, but rather a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain.

This pain can range from nagging to disabling. The condition can be caused by the drying out of the disc over time, daily activities, sports and injuries. Treatment options include disc replacement, other surgical interventions, and nonsurgical options such as acupuncture, back graces and pain management.

As a final note, it is helpful for patients to know that the amount of pain does not correlate to the amount of damage in the spine. Severely degenerated discs may not produce much pain at all, and discs with little degeneration can produce severe pain. What this means for patients is that even if they are experiencing severe pain, it does not necessarily mean that there is something seriously wrong with their spine and does not necessarily mean that they need surgery to repair any damage.

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