Degenerative disc disease

Symptoms

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease may include:

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Pain in lower back, buttocks, or upper thighs

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Pain aggravates in sitting and relieves when you move and walk

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Feels worse when you bend, lift, or twist

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Gets better when you change positions or lie down

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In some cases, lead to tingling and numbness

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Weakness of limbs

Causes

Some potential causes of degenerative disc disease are:

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Obesity

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Strenuous physical work

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Tobacco smoking

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An acute or sudden injury, such as a fall

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A breakdown of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints

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A bulging disc, known as a herniated disc

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A narrowing of the spinal canal, or spinal stenosis

Diagnosis

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CT Scan

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MRI is the most commonly used method of specifically assessing intervertebral disc degeneration.

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X-Ray – X-ray findings can also be used to diagnose DDD. Anterior, posterior and lateral views are taken where there is presence of osteophytes or narrowing of the disc joint space.

Treatments

Once your pain improves, your doctor or a physical therapist can design a rehabilitation program to help you prevent further injuries. This includes exercises for postural correction, strengthen the muscles supporting your back and improve your flexibility.

Pain killers may relieve the pain temporarily, but it does not cure in all cases. Most of these problems may be managed without surgery with physical therapy. If it is an acute case (less than 6 months) icing is recommended to reduce the muscle ache. IFT, Ultrasound, and TENS are the electrotherapy modalities in physiotherapy management. Neural mobilization is very effective to relieve tingling and numbness to the lower limbs.

Our Spinal Wellness Program is a combination of manual and advanced therapeutic modalities, specific to individual patient conditions and diagnoses. Spinal decompression is an advanced version of traction which allows a negative pressure of -150 to -200 mm Hg to help the disc shrinks to its original shape. It applies computer-controlled pulling forces at precisely measured angles to gently distract specified spinal segments. This distraction in the joints relieves pressure within the disc and any pinched nerves which promotes the movement and absorption of fluids and nutrients in the disc space. These fluids and nutrients are adequate to maintain disc health. Progressively, this mechanism can help to relieve pain.

Back ergonomic guidance and correction is critical for proper rehab and is extremely important for backache management as it helps in preventing recurrence. This consists of proper postural habits, a proper work environment, back exercises, and modifications in activities of daily living.

Elements of Spinal Wellness Program

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Spinal Decompression Therapy

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Pain Management

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Exercises

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Nutrition & Diet Management

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Lifestyle Management

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Ergonomics Guidance

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will my degenerative disc disease keep getting worse? Structurally, some disc degeneration is a normal part of ageing and may progress over time. Clinically, pain and function do not necessarily worsen with structural progression. Many patients with significant radiographic degeneration have minimal or no symptoms. With appropriate management, exercise, weight control, activity modification, functional decline can be significantly slowed.

Can a degenerated disc heal? Disc degeneration cannot be reversed, the structural changes of water loss and height reduction are not restorable with current treatments. What is achievable is reducing the pain generated from the degenerated disc, building the muscular support that compensates for disc function, and maintaining quality of life and function long-term.

Is swimming good for degenerative disc disease? Yes. Swimming is one of the best exercises for degenerative disc disease. It provides aerobic conditioning, spinal mobility work, and muscle strengthening in a non-compressive aquatic environment. The absence of gravitational spinal loading in water allows exercise that may be too painful on land.

How is degenerative disc disease different from a disc herniation? Degenerative disc disease describes the chronic, gradual degeneration of disc tissue. A disc herniation is an acute or subacute event where inner disc material pushes through a tear in the outer ring. The two can coexist, a degenerated disc is more vulnerable to herniation, but they are distinct conditions with different clinical presentations.

Can I exercise with degenerative disc disease? Yes, and you should. Exercise is the primary treatment for degenerative disc disease. The prescription matters, specific exercises at appropriate loads, avoiding movements that significantly increase discogenic pain. A physiotherapy assessment determines what exercises are appropriate for your specific level of degeneration and pain pattern.