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  1. Degenerative disc disease
    Degenerative disc diseaseMedical condition
    Life expectancySymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentsDoctors
    MSN Health
     

  2. Degenerative disc disease - Overview

    Verified Expert
    Also known as: DDD, degeneration of the intervertebral disc
    A condition where one or more discs in the spine deteriorates due to age, which results in back or neck pain.
    How common is condition?
    Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Requires lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several years or be lifelong
    Condition Highlight
    Common for ages 60 and older
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    Causes

    Verified Expert

    DDD is an age-related condition and mainly caused by the wear and tear of spinal discs.

    • Occurs due to drying out of the discs over time making the discs lose their support and function
    • DDD can also be caused by an injury or overuse due to repetitive activities or sports
    • May be due to bone spur formation
    • Herniated disc can also cause DDD and accompanying symptoms

    Risk factors include

    • Family history of musculoskeletal disorders
    • Strain on lumbar discs due to wrong sitting posture for a prolonged period
    • Obesity
    • Smoking

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    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    Pain in the neck or back is the most common symptom. While the specific symptom depend on the position of the weak disc, which may include:

    • Pain in the legs, thighs and buttocks, lower back, neck
    • Severe pain when sitting and may feel better with walking
    • Worsens with bending or twisting
    • Occasional pain, which may last for few days to several months

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    How does a degenerated disc affect the lumbar spine?
    A degenerated disc is marked by a significant decrease in hydration, making the disc inflexible, smaller, and more prone to tearing in the exterior. When one disc degenerates, it can alter the structure and mechanics of the lumbar spine, particularly at the segment surrounding the disc.
    spine-health.com

    Treatment

    Verified Expert

    Treatment includes exercise, medication, physical therapy, pain-relieving medication, and surgery.

    Medication

    Analgesics: Used to manage pain.

    Ibuprofen . Acetaminophen

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    degenerative disc disease_en
    Microsoft Start Health

    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    One or more of these tests may be recommended by your medical provider.
    Diagnosis involves physical examination, evaluation of symptoms and taking health history, imaging studies.

    Common tests & procedures

    Physical examination: This is done to check for the physical changes associated with DDD

    Imaging tests: Tests like X-ray, MRI can help in detection of DDD, evaluation of the extent of damage and in ruling out other causes of pain.

    See more
    Source: Focus Medica. For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice. | Disclaimer: Opinions are from external health professionals and should not be considered as Microsoft's opinion or a substitute for professional help. Consult a health professional for medical advice.
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    Table of Contents
    Overview
    Causes
    Symptoms
    How does a degenerated disc affect the lumbar spine?
    Treatment
    Health guide
    Diagnosis
     
  1. Lumbar disk degeneration leads to pain in your lower back, while cervical disk degeneration causes pain in the neck. But that pain and discomfort is not always limited to those areas. A degenerated disk can pinch, or compress, the nerves in your spine. If that happens, pain can travel to other parts of your body.

    What Is Degenerative Disk Disease? - We…

    www.webmd.com/back-pain/degenerative-disk-dis…
    Disc degeneration that affects the lumbar spine can cause low back pain (referred to as lumbago) or irritation of a spinal nerve to cause pain radiating down the leg (sciatica). Lumbago causes pain localized to the low back and is common in older people.

    Degenerative Disc Disease: Causes, Symp…

    www.medicinenet.com/degenerative_disc/article.htm
    Lumbar disk disease may occur when a disk in the low back area of the spine bulges or herniates from between the bony area of the spine. Lumbar disk disease causes lower back pain and leg pain and weakness that is made worse by movement and activity. The first step in treatment is to reduce pain and reduce the risk of further injury to the spine.

    Lumbar Disk Disease (Herniated Disk) | Jo…

    www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-di…
    As degenerative disk disease begins, the spinal disks start to lose fluidity. They become dehydrated and are less rubbery or soft. This leads to disk shrinking and a loss of disk height. Often, the disks that are low in the spine degenerate first. As degeneration progresses further, the disks dry out even more or change shape, known as herniation.

    Pain relief for worn spinal disks - Mayo Cl…

    www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health…
  2. People also ask
    Can degenerative disc disease cause lower back pain?
    For those people, the main goals for managing lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease are usually: Trying to manage the low back pain and maintaining an ability to function at home and at work. Once a disc has degenerated, the degenerative process cannot be reversed.

    Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment for Low Back Pain

    spine-health.com
    What is lumbar disc degeneration?

    Dr. ANUVITHA KAMATH

    MBBS · 3 years of exp

    Lumbar disc degeneration can be defined as the degeneration of the lumbar vertebra due to the general wear and tear caused due to the process of aging. The lumbar discs become dehydrated and start to degenerate. The discs herniate and cause compression on nerve roots leading to various symptoms. It mainly affects L3 and L4 lumbar vertebra. There are also the bony projections called osteophytes which compress the nerve roots. There is also a narrowing of disc space and disc bulging seen in this condition. The symptoms of this are extreme pain and stiffness in the joint, tingling, numbness, weakness in the arms and legs, difficulty in walking, loss of balance and gait, and loss of bowel and bladder control. The treatment for this is painkiller medications, muscle relaxants, hot compression, and physiotherapy.
    Q&A: Degenerative Disc Disease
    bing.com
    How does a degenerated disc affect the lumbar spine?
    A degenerated disc is marked by a significant decrease in hydration, making the disc inflexible, smaller, and more prone to tearing in the exterior. When one disc degenerates, it can alter the structure and mechanics of the lumbar spine, particularly at the segment surrounding the disc.

    Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) - Spine-health

    spine-health.com
    What is degenerative disc disease?
    Degenerative disc disease refers only to the condition of painful disc degeneration, and it is not uncommon for symptoms to alleviate as the spine gradually stabilizes. A spinal disc is made of 2 layers: annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus. An intervertebral disc consists of three main parts: Annulus fibrosis.

    Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) - Spine-health

    spine-health.com
    What happens if a spinal disk degenerate?
    Everyone’s spinal disks degenerate over time and is a normal part of aging. When the cushions wear away, the bones can start to rub together. This contact can cause pain and other problems, such as: Adult scoliosis, where the spine curves. Herniated disk, also called a bulged, slipped or ruptured disk.

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland …

    my.clevelandclinic.org
    What is degenerative disk pain?
    Degenerative disk pain: Can happen in the neck or lower back. May extend into the arms and hands or into the butt and legs. Can be mild, moderate or severe. May start and stop. Can get worse after certain activities such as bending, twisting or lifting. Can get worse over time.

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland …

    my.clevelandclinic.org
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  3. Cleveland Clinic
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org › health › diseases

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

  4. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com › conditi…

    Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment for Low Back Pain

    Jun 27, 2024 · There are myriad treatment options for back pain caused by lumbar degenerative disc disease, and it is common for several treatments to be combined to achieve both near-term pain relief and longer-term rehabilitation.

  5. Healthline
    https://www.healthline.com › health › d…

    Degenerative Disc Disease: Symptoms, Treatment, and …

    Aug 14, 2018 · Degenerative disc disease (DDD), despite the name, isn’t technically a disease. It’s a progressive condition that happens over time from wear and tear, or injury. The discs in your back are located in between the …

  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine
    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org › he…

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Johns Hopkins Medicine

    The best way to think of discs is as cream-filled donuts, or perhaps as jelly-filled radial tires. The disc outside is tough and firm, like a radial tire, but the inside is filled with a softer, jelly-like substance. This makes the disc compressible, so …

  7. Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org › diseases-conditions › ...

    Herniated disk - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

  8. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com › conditi…

    Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) - Spine-health

    A degenerated disc is marked by a significant decrease in hydration, making the disc inflexible, smaller, and more prone to tearing in the exterior. When one disc degenerates, it can alter the structure and mechanics of the lumbar spine, …

  9. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com › conditi…

    Common Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

    In cases of cervical disc degeneration, this pain is felt in the shoulder, arm, or hand (called a cervical radiculopathy); in cases of lumbar disc degeneration, pain is felt in the hips, buttocks, or down the back of the leg (called a lumbar …

  10. Harvard Health
    https://www.health.harvard.edu › disea…

    Degenerative disc disease: Managing this common …

    Jul 18, 2024 · Degenerative disc disease is a condition that affects the discs between the vertebrae in your spine. Each disc has a gelatinous center and a tougher outer covering. These discs act like cushions, absorbing shock and …

  11. Spine.MD
    https://www.spine.md › insights › stages …

    4 Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease - Spine MD

    Nov 28, 2023 · Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of the discs that act as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine. To comprehend the stages of DDD, it’s essential to …