Do you know the warning signs to watch out for when it comes to degenerative disc disease affecting your spine? Degenerative conditions that cause damage to the cushioning discs that space and support your spine can result in chronic back pain or neck pain.
The spine experts at Total Spine Institute of Sherman Oaks and Calabasas, California, provide diagnosis and treatment for degenerative disc disease, including spine surgeries and pain management support.
Here are some of the key early warning signs and symptoms of degenerative disc disease that Dr. Andrew Fox and Dr. Ryan Mattie of Total Spine Institute look for in their patients.
Your spine is made up of many small vertebral bones, each spaced and separated by a cushioning disc. Your spinal discs are made of spongy cartilage, and act like shock absorbers to help your spine move flexibly without jarring.
Wear-and-tear over the years, combined with physiological changes related to the aging process, can cause deterioration in your spinal discs. If you have degenerative disc disease, the discs in your spine lose strength and elasticity, becoming weakened or dried out.
This can result in issues with spinal movement, or in symptoms of pain and discomfort.
While not everyone who is affected by degenerative disc problems will feel symptoms right away, these are the most common early symptoms noticed by adults with degenerative disc disease in the United States.
Loss of moisture and structural spinal support in your spinal discs can leave you feeling pain or discomfort in your neck or back. Neck pain related to degenerative disc disease typically radiates into your shoulders and arms.
This particular type of low back pain that often occurs due to degenerative disc disease, also known as lumbar radiculopathy, results in lower back pain symptoms that seem to radiate into the hips, buttocks, and down your legs. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve in your lower back is pinched or compressed.
You might also feel numbness or a tingling sensation that seems to radiate from your neck or back if you’re affected by degenerative disc disease.
Degenerative disc disease impedes the motion and function of your spine. Your back or neck might feel weak, or you could find your range of motion limited by loss of spinal function and flexibility.
Degenerative disc disease doesn’t have a cure in and of itself, but Dr. Fox, Dr. Mattie, and the Total Spine Institute team can help to improve your condition with a number of treatments and therapies.
Depending on your spine care needs, we might suggest pain management with anti-inflammatory medication or epidural corticosteroid injections, or physical therapy and regenerative medicine treatments to help strengthen and support your spine. In cases with severe spinal issues, minimally invasive surgeries may be needed, as well.
To learn more about your conservative and advanced treatment options for degenerative disc disease, or to find out about a concerning symptom, contact Total Spine Institute today. Book your appointment online or over the phone now.
