How painful is disc disease?

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.

Does degenerative disc disease hurt?

The most common symptoms of degenerative disk disease are neck pain and back pain. You may experience pain that: Comes and goes, lasting for weeks or months at a time. Leads to numbness or tingling in your arms or legs.

How bad is disc disease?

In some cases, degenerative disk disease can lead to numbness and tingling in your arms and legs. It can also cause your leg muscles to become weak. This means the damaged disks may be affecting the nerves near your spine.

How serious is 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.

How long can you go with degenerative disc disease?

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.

What is degenerative disc disease and how can it be treated?

When is surgery needed for degenerative disc disease?

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.

What is the final stage of degenerative disc disease?

Collapsing Stage (Stage 4)

In the final stage of DDD, the spinal discs become dangerously thin and may become herniated, collapsed, and/or disintegrated. The severe pain felt during this stage often results from bone rubbing against bone or from herniated discs pushing into nerves.

How bad does degenerative disc disease have to be to get disability?

Whether or not your degenerative disc disease is classified as a disability will depend on the severity and frequency of your pain. Some with this condition find the pain bearable and sporadic enough to not interfere with their job duties. For others, the pain is recurrent and severe, resulting in long term disability.

Can they do anything for degenerative disc disease?

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.

What kind of doctor is best for degenerative disc disease?

If the diagnosis is a degenerative disease, your orthopedic surgeon will provide you with a treatment plan to improve function and relieve pain. For many people, at-home and minimally invasive treatments work well to control back pain.

Can I have a normal life with degenerative disc disease?

Can you live a normal life with degenerative disc disease? The answer is yes, even it forces you to be out of work for an extended amount of time. Do not give up. There are many methods of pain relief that you can do at home that can help you live a normal life.

Is degenerative disc disease crippling?

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 should I avoid with degenerative disc disease?

People with degenerative disk disease need to avoid foods that promote inflammation and physical activities involving heavy lifting and twisting. Additionally, a person should avoid smoking, if applicable, slouching, and consuming more than moderate amounts of alcohol.

Why is disc degeneration so painful?

A soft, jellylike core, the nucleus pulposus. This part of the disc contains proteins that can cause the tissues they touch to become swollen and tender. If these proteins leak out to the nerves of the outer layer of the disc, they can cause a great deal of pain.

How do you know if degenerative disc disease is getting worse?

he main reason to perform more tests is if the symptoms are getting worse despite treatment, if the pain is severe or if you have signs of nerve damage — particularly nerve damage that is getting worse. The signs of worsening nerve damage would be increasing tingling or numbness, weakness and sometimes increasing pain.

Can you make degenerative disc disease worse?

The wear happens with age, but can also be the result of a traumatic injury or overuse. Degenerative disc disease typically causes pain, which can be severe. The discomfort can be worsened by lifting, twisting, bending, or simply standing up or sitting down.

What can a orthopedic doctor do for degenerative disc disease?

If the initial treatments do not bring relief, or if the initial symptoms are very severe, the orthopedic doctor may suggest surgery. The most common surgery to treat degenerative disc disease is spinal fusion, which helps stabilize the spine.

Is surgery the only option for degenerative disc disease?

Surgical treatment is an option in cases of severe, debilitating lumbar degenerative disc disease, and is usually only recommended after at least 6 months of nonsurgical treatment. Most cases of degenerative disc disease can be managed using nonsurgical methods, and do not require surgery for effective pain relief.

What are the symptoms of 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.

How do you treat severe degenerative disc disease?

Treatment may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, or both, special exercises, medications, losing weight, and surgery. Medical options include injecting the joints next to the damaged disc with steroids and a local anesthetic. These are called facet joint injections. They can provide effective pain relief.

Does degenerative disc pain ever go away?

Unfortunately, DDD does not go away. 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.

What does a neurosurgeon do for degenerative disc disease?

The surgeon may perform a discectomy to remove the disc and associated bone spurs that are compressing the spinal cord and or surrounding nerves. Removing the damaged disc makes room for the spinal cord and surrounding nerves to move freely in the spinal canal.

Does gabapentin help with degenerative disc disease?

As degenerative disc disease can result in pinching of the spinal nerves, several of these medications can be helpful in reducing the symptoms. Two of the more common of these medications are gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica).

What triggers degenerative disc disease?

Risk factors for degenerative disc disease include: Family history of back pain or musculoskeletal disorders. Excessive strain on the low back caused by sports, frequent heavy lifting, or labor-intensive jobs. Strain on the lumbar spinal discs due to prolonged sitting and/or poor posture.