Degenerative Disc Disease: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Age brings with it many irritating illnesses, some that can be treated and some that cannot. One such malady is the degenerative disc disease

Cause and Symptoms

Degenerative disc disease is caused because of deterioration of certain parts of the spine. If left untreated it can cause acute pain and can literally diminish an individual's quality of life. The symptoms that occur as stated above include acute pain in the lower back area that radiates to the hips where there is excruciating in the butt as well as the thighs and more so while walking. One can also feel a slight twinge in the knee, the hands and even the fingers accompanied by pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, jaw etc. The resultant force will be a feeling of dizziness, lack of memory, acute headaches and vertigo. When a person has been informed that she/he has a degenerative disease it can play havoc in the mind, even if it is an age-related illness. So as we get older the parts of the body that were flexible earlier tend to get sore and need to be treated with care! At times one may have to give up on certain activities - like riding a bike, carrying heavy weights, etc. A pregnant lady with the illness may have to go through a sedentary pregnancy or if it causes damage to her back, may be advised to terminate.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease

The diagnosis of the illness is mostly based on the symptoms of the patient. An MRI or an x-ray is usually ordered by the orthopedic specialist to get down to basics. Once it has been determined that the patient has the problem, the next step is treatment and to get the person back on track both in mind and body. Treatment is usually based on the extent of the illness and most often pain relievers through antibiotics are recommended. Physical therapy and a mild form of exercise are also encouraged along with a diet plan. For a patient who is extremely vigorous with her or his training schedule, there may have to be a change of plans with regard to the weights or extent of exercise on a daily basis. The objective is not to stop the process entirely, but to deal with staying healthy and keeping the spine fit as well. One must never stretch things to the limit as this can inadvertently cause more damage to the vertebrae.

There are other options as well, based on the extent of the disease. If it has reached a serious stage, where the patient has not found any relief after medication and physical therapy, then surgery may be the only option. This is usually factored in only when urgently required i.e. if the patient has not been able to deal with day-to-day activities and the pain has been increasing in spite of the pain killers, etc. At the end of the day, life is based on doing what one can handle. and stretching the envelope just to feel young again, is not the solution, but will cause more problems.

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