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  1. 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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    What causes a L5-S1 disc injury?
    The L5-S1 situated at the bottom of the vertebral column is typically subject to excessive biomechanical stress, leading to more loads and an increased risk of injury. Common problems include: The L5-S1 disc is vulnerable to herniation.
    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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    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.

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    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
    What causes a L5-S1 disc injury?
    Treatment
    Health guide
    Diagnosis
     
  1. L5-S1 degenerative disc disease is an age-related condition that affects the disc in the lumbosacral joint at the base of the spine. This joint provides stability to the spinal column and allows the torso to bend and twist through a wide range of motion.

    What is L5-S1 degenerative disc disease…

    www.usaspinecare.com/back_problems/degenerati…
    Symptoms associated with L5-S1 degenerative disc disease may include exacerbated pain when sitting or bending, lower back pain and sciatica, and numbness and tingling in the legs and feet. Treatment options for degenerative disc disease include conservative treatments like physical therapy, chiropractic care, and medication.

    L5-S1 Pain and its Causes, Symptoms, an…

    www.performancepain.com/blog/l5-s1-pain-and-its …
    A disc herniation at L5-S1 is a common cause of sciatica. Symptoms of sciatica include burning, numbness, pain, or tingling that radiates from the buttock down the leg to the knee or foot. The pain is often sharp and may feel like an electric shock. Disc problems at L5-S1 herniation can also cause lower back pain and stiffness.

    Lumbosacral Joint (L5-S1): Where It Is an…

    www.verywellhealth.com/the-lumbosacral-joint-or-l…
  2. People also ask
    What is L5-S1 degenerative disc disease?
    L5-S1 degenerative disc disease is an age-related condition that affects the disc in the lumbosacral joint at the base of the spine. This joint provides stability to the spinal column and allows the torso to bend and twist through a wide range of motion.

    What is L5-S1 degenerative disc disease? - USA Spine Care

    usaspinecare.com
    What is the cause of herniated disk L5-S1?

    Dr. Anet Varghese

    Doctor of Medicine (MBBS) · 1 years of exp

    Disc herniation occurs when the the disc's outer wall, the annulus fibrosus develops traumatic tears (annular tears), allowing the jelly-like nucleus pulposus to push backward out of the tear into the spinal canal or neural foramen. The part that pushes through the tear is the herniation. A herniated L5-S1 disc can press and impinge nerves and the spinal cord. This compression can lead to discomfort, aches, and pains in the back, buttocks, hips, thighs, legs feet, or toes. It may also cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the thighs, legs, knees, ankles, feet, or toes.
    Q&A: Herniated Disc
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    What causes a L5-S1 disc injury?
    The L5-S1 situated at the bottom of the vertebral column is typically subject to excessive biomechanical stress, leading to more loads and an increased risk of injury. Common problems include: The L5-S1 disc is vulnerable to herniation.

    All about L5-S1 (Lumbosacral Joint) - Spine-health

    spine-health.com
    What happens if the L5-S1 disc bulges?
    If the L5-S1 disc bulges, it can press against the L5 nerve root. Additionally, if the L5-S1 disc herniates, inflammatory proteins can leak out and irritate the L5 nerve root. What are the symptoms of L5-S1 degenerative disc disease? A damaged L5-S1 disc can cause: Pain.

    What is L5-S1 degenerative disc disease? - USA Spine Care

    usaspinecare.com
    Can a damaged L5-S1 disc cause pain?
    A damaged L5-S1 disc can cause: Pain. Chronic, low-level pain, which is typically centralized in the low back, may flare whenever the disc injury is aggravated. Often, the discomfort worsens with sitting and improves with walking. Muscle spasms.

    What is L5-S1 degenerative disc disease? - USA Spine Care

    usaspinecare.com
    Is the L5-S1 disc vulnerable to herniation?
    The L5-S1 disc is vulnerable to herniation. Lower back disc herniation typically occurs at the L5-S1 level. 3 A steeper inclination of this disc leads to a higher degree of shear stresses and increases the risk disc of injury and degeneration. The facet joints can be damaged by inflammation or osteoarthritis.

    All about L5-S1 (Lumbosacral Joint) - Spine-health

    spine-health.com
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  3. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com › conditions › spine-anatomy

    All about L5-S1 (Lumbosacral Joint) - Spine-health

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

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

  5. 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 differentiate …

  6. WebMD
    https://www.webmd.com › back-pain › degenerative-disk...

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, …

  7. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com › ...

    L5-S1 Treatment - Spine-health

    Conditions affecting the L5-S1 spinal motion segment are usually treated with nonsurgical methods. If the lower back and/or leg symptoms worsen or do not improve despite these treatments, or in case of certain medical emergencies, …

  8. Mayo Clinic Health System
    https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org …

    Pain relief for worn spinal disks - Mayo Clinic Health …

    Jun 26, 2024 · Back Pain. The fluid-filled cushions between the bones in your spine are called disks. They provide flexibility, allow for spine movement like flexion and extension, and act as shock absorbers. Most young people have …

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

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Johns Hopkins Medicine

    What is degenerative disc disease? One of the more unfortunate aspects of getting older is that your joints begin to wear out, oftentimes for no good reason. This wear and tear of the joints is not only common in the knees and the hips …

  10. National Center for Biotechnology Information
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › books

    Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease - StatPearls - NCBI …

    Aug 4, 2023 · Slightly more than 90% of herniated discs occur at the L4-L5 or the L5-S1 disc space, which will impinge on the L4, L5, or S1 nerve root. This compression produces radiculopathy into the posterior leg and dorsal foot.

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

    Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms - Spine …

    Moderate, continuous low back pain. Painful aches at the site of a damaged disc is the most common symptom of a degenerative disc. Pain may spread to the buttocks, groin, and upper thighs. This pain typically feels achy, dull, and can …