Treating Degenerative Disc Disease with Non-Surgical and Surgical Options

Degenerative disc disease sounds pretty scary. Maybe that’s because of the words degenerative and disease strung together in the same turn of phrase. When asked “How are you?” nobody wants to respond with “I’m degenerating!” or “I have a disease.”. But the reality of degenerative disc disease is that it’s a lot less scary than it may at first seem. In fact, it’s technically not even a disease at all, but rather, a condition.

In truth, everyone experiences some degree of disc degeneration as they age. When we’re born, our spinal discs, which usually act like the shock absorbers on a bike or car, are comprised of about 80% water, but over time, they dehydrate, which results in a decreased ability to perform their shock-absorbing functions.

Degenerative disc disease may also be the result of tears in the outer portion of spinal discs that result from overusage or activities like sports, as well as injuries.

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

While everyone’s spinal discs degenerate somewhat over time, not everyone experiences pain. Degenerative disc disease does involve pain, however. It is a chronic condition that is characterized by these specific symptoms:

• Discomfort that intensifies while sitting, bending, lifting, or twisting

• Pain that tends to lessen during walking or light activity like running

• Relief from pain when lying down or frequently changing positions

• Intermittent flare-ups of pain that range from mild and annoying to severe and limiting

• Tingling or numbness felt in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

• Muscle weakness in the leg or signs of foot drop, such as trouble lifting the front of the foot

Common as it may be, nobody likes to experience pain or discomfort – especially when it begins to seriously disrupt quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living.

So, if you find yourself here seeking relief from any of the above symptoms, the good news is that there are options available to you. Below, we’ll uncover some of the most common (and effective) non-surgical and surgical treatments for degenerative disc disease.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease: A First Line of Defense

At Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, we believe in trying minimally invasive treatments first and then progressing to other treatments only if needed. With that in mind, if you haven’t already done so, you may want to try these treatments before considering any type of surgery:

1. Pain Management: Many people who suffer from degenerative disc disease benefit from taking pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) which include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Acetominophen (Tylenol) is another option. In some cases, steroid shots may be administered semi-regularly. Be sure to consult with a doctor before trying anything since even over the counter drugs such as these can have side effects, especially for individuals taking other medications.

2. Lifestyle Modifications, Exercise, & Stretching: Depending on the severity of degenerative disc disease, you may be able to almost completely mitigate symptoms of degenerative disc disease simply by making lifestyle modifications such as losing weight and engaging in regular exercise and stretching. Learn about specific exercises to try and other useful lifestyle modifications by reading my blog post “Is Preventing Spine Problems Possible with Lifestyle Changes & Exercise?”.

3. Physical Therapy: Why do you need physical therapy (PT) if you’re already exercising? As one study notes, “for patients with cervical and lumbar disc degeneration, posture correction and training are important components of the treatment approach that enhance stability, lessen symptoms, and stop further damage”. Physical therapy provides a structured and supervised means of both correcting posture and training spine-supporting muscles.

4. Supportive Therapies: From ice and heat therapy to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, a number of other supportive therapies may be helpful in reducing symptoms of degenerative disc disease.

Surgical Treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Last Resort

When is surgery required for degenerative disc disease? This is one of the most common questions we get asked at Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, and there’s really no one-size-fits-all answer.

That being said, degenerative disc disease does sometimes require surgery. This usually happens when symptoms are so severe that they result in disability or when non-surgical methods stop offering relief.

Signs that surgery may be an appropriate option to consider include:

• Persistent pain or pain that worsens even with months of pain management, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications

• Pain that radiates through the arms or legs due to deteriorated discs compressing nerves

• Progressive numbness or weakness

• Spinal instability that affects activities of daily living and normal functioning

Common Surgical Methods of Treating Degenerative Disc Disease

1. Artificial Disc Replacement: This surgical procedure removes any damaged discs and replaces them with artificial discs, which allows for range of motion similar to what a healthy natural disc would offer.

2. Discectomy: Whereas artificial disc replacement removes and replaces entire discs, discectomies remove only the portion of discs that press on nerve roots. It is sometimes appropriate for even severe degenerative disc disease.

3. Spinal Fusion: When degenerative disc disease leads to severe spinal instability, spinal fusion surgery may be necessary to permanently stabilize the spine. This is often the case with advanced degeneration and/or when multiple discs are affected.

Ready for Relief from Degenerative Disc Disease?

Looking for additional information? Learn more about degenerative disc disease here.

Otherwise, we invite you to get in touch with us at Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center in Phoenix, AZ to discuss what treatment options for degenerative disc disease may be best suited to your particular condition and unique needs.

Key Points:

• Degenerative disc disease is a common spine condition caused by aging, injury, or wear and tear on spinal discs.

• Symptoms often include chronic back or neck pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the limbs.

• Many patients find relief through non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, posture correction, and lifestyle changes.

• Surgery is considered when conservative care no longer provides relief or when nerve compression or instability worsens.

• Common surgical treatment options include artificial disc replacement (to preserve motion), discectomy (to relieve nerve pressure), and spinal fusion (to stabilize affected segments of the spine).