How painful is DDD?

Periods of severe pain that come and go. These last from a few days to a few months before getting better. They can range from nagging pain to disabling pain. Pain can affect the low back, buttocks and thighs or the neck, depending on where the affected disc is, radiating to the arms and hands.

What does pain from degenerative disc disease feel like?

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 range from mild to severe. Occasional pain flare-ups.

Can DDD be debilitating?

Debilitating pain

Without appropriate treatment, degenerative disc disease can cause lasting, debilitating back pain. The pain may become so severe that you find it difficult to carry out your normal daily activities. It can interfere with your mobility and your overall quality of life.

What is considered severe DDD?

Stage 4 is considered severe DDD because it is challenging or impossible to reverse in many cases. It may still be possible to treat the condition and improve your quality of life though. Typically, treatment will involve some physical activity and exercises to reduce pain levels.

How bad is severe degenerative disc disease?

Is Degenerative Disc Disease Serious? Degenerative Disc Disease is not life threatening, but if left untreated, can lead to debilitating pain, permanent damage, and serious conditions such as spinal osteoarthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis and potentially paralysis.

4 Things Making Your DDD/Stenosis Pain WORSE (DO THIS INSTEAD!)

How do people live with severe degenerative disc disease?

Consider over-the-counter medications to fight inflammation or prescription medications for pain. Consider physical therapy to strengthen your neck and back muscles (which help to support your spine) Practice back-friendly postures including lifting safely and using good posture when sitting, standing, and walking.

What is Stage 3 degenerative disc disease?

Stage 3 is marked by a more extreme change in the posture and curvature of the spine, along with more pain and loss of mobility. Nerve damage is common and scar tissue typically begins to form. Discs are even thinner than before, which can sometimes cause even more deformation of the bones.

Can you live pain free with DDD?

Degenerative disc disease pain does not tend to progress with age. While the discs will often continue to degenerate, the associated pain tends to subside. Generally by age 60 a degenerated disc will have stabilized and will usually not be painful.

What is the average age for severe degenerative disc disease?

Most people's spinal discs degenerate over time. By the age of 35, approximately 30% of people will show evidence of disc degeneration at one or more levels. By the age of 60, more than 90% of people will show evidence of some disc degeneration.

How fast does DDD progress?

Long-term Outcomes of Degenerative Disc Disease

The degenerative process of the spinal disc may start gradually or suddenly, but progresses over 2 to 3 decades from severe and at times even disabling bouts of pain to a state in which the spine is restabilized and the pain is diminished.

Will DDD put me in a wheelchair?

In some cases of DDD, the spinal cord becomes compressed. This condition is called stenosis. Stenosis can cause pain and weakness in your arms and legs, in some cases resulting in your need for a cane, walker, or crutches.

Why is degenerative disc disease so painful?

The joints around the bones also experience too much stress. The bones and the joints react by making spurs (boney growths), and over time these spurs can begin to pinch the nerves that lead to your arm (Figure 3). This pinching of the nerves can cause pain and sometimes the symptoms mentioned above.

Does sitting make DDD worse?

Sitting puts you at a higher risk for sciatica, a herniated or slipped disc, degenerative disc disease, and of course lower back pain.

What is Stage 4 degenerative disc disease?

In stage four, you will have minimal disc material remaining. In addition, severe bony changes of the vertebrae may be present. At this stage, your vertebrae may be almost bone on bone due to the reduced thickness of your spinal discs. Disc replacement surgery or vertebral fusion surgery may be required.

What can be mistaken for degenerative disc disease?

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and degenerative disc disease are both illnesses of the spine that share many of the same painful symptoms. Sometimes it is even hard for doctors to tell the 2 conditions apart.

How do you stop disc degeneration pain?

Pain medication and physical therapy can manage symptoms and help the body adjust to the damaged disc. Together, these treatments can relieve pain and improve function, often long term.

Is Stage 4 degenerative disc disease a disability?

Yes, the SSA may consider degenerative disc disease (DDD) a disability severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. There are some quite exacting criteria used by the SSA which it uses to assess eligibility for disability benefits.

Is a degenerative disc a disability?

If you need to file a disability claim for degenerative disc disease (DDD), you may have already applied and been denied. Degenerative disc is one of the most common causes of back and neck pain resulting in disability.

How rare is degenerative disc disease?

Approximately 40% of adults over age 40 have at least one degenerated vertebral disc. By age 80, 80% of them do. Disc degeneration is considered a normal part of aging, just as skin wrinkles and gray hair are.

How long does DDD flare up last?

Just like aging, once your discs begin to degenerate, you can't reverse the process. However, the pain caused by DDD can be treated. DDD pain may flare up for several days or a few weeks.

Should I have surgery for degenerative disc?

If back or neck pain caused by degenerative disc disease doesn't respond to medication or therapeutic injections, NYU Langone doctors may recommend a surgical procedure. Surgeons may remove some or all of a damaged disc, take pressure off a pinched nerve, or eliminate movement between the bones of the spine.

Does walking help with DDD?

Regular, moderate exercise can help keep your discs healthy, and it can help you feel better overall. Here are three important things to keep in mind when exercising with DDD: Low-impact exercise is key. Try walking, water aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and stretching.

How often does degenerative disc disease require surgery?

Most patients with DDD will not need surgery. However, if you develop significant nerve problems or loss of bowel and bladder control, which is a serious disorder called cauda equina syndrome (which can affect your nerves), surgery may be required. If you notice these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

Can a chiropractor help with DDD?

Chiropractic treatment for degenerative disc disease can reduce inflammation in the spinal tissues, improve the range of motion of the spine, and relieve muscle tension. Chiropractic treatments can also reduce pressure on the spine, specifically the spinal discs, to promote healing.

What position should I sleep in with DDD?

Degenerative disc disease

Sleeping on the stomach is typically preferred, as this position can relieve pressure on the disc space. People with degenerative disc disease may feel most comfortable using a relatively firm mattress while placing a flat pillow under the stomach and hips.