Degenerative Disc Disease: When Is Surgery Necessary?

Once you turn 40, you may notice new aches or need reading glasses. At the same time, your risk for degenerative disc disease increases. Knowing the condition’s symptoms and when to seek medical attention gives you the best chance at relief and reducing its progression.

“Degenerative disc disease is a very common condition after age 40,” says <a href="https://www.bmhsc.org/provider/andrew-castro-m-d-msc-orthopedic-spinal-surgery">Dr. Andrew Castro</a>, a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon at Beaufort Memorial. “For those who have symptoms, the condition can be a minor annoyance or lead to disability. Proper treatment, which can include surgery, helps reduce the effects of the disease.”

Defining Degenerative Disc Disease

An adult spine consists of 26 bones stacked on top of each other. These are your spinal cord, and they link your head to your pelvis. Special discs sit between the bones. Made of a soft, gelatinous substance, these discs help absorb shock from walking and running. They also protect the bones from rubbing against each other.

When these discs degrade, the spine loses its cushion. The soft substance inside may push out of the damaged disc and push against a spinal nerve. Small bones may develop along the bone edges and compress the spinal cord. When one of these events occurs, you may have a wide range of symptoms, from pain to loss of bodily functions.

Read More: What Does a Herniated Disc Feel Like? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

How Degenerative Disc Disease Affects You

If the discs in your back begin to degrade, you may not have any symptoms. As a result, you may never know your spine’s shock absorbers have degraded. If you experience symptoms of degenerative disc disease, the main symptom may be pain.

“Pain brought on by this condition ranges from mild to severe,” Dr. Castro says. “At its worst, this pain can affect your ability to perform daily activities and enjoy life.”

This pain may be mild or severe and may have the following characteristics:

• Affects the neck (cervical spine degenerative disc disease) or lower back (lumbar spine degenerative disc disease)
• Comes and goes throughout the day
• Spreads to the arms or legs, causing tingling or numbness
• Worsens after you lift something, bend, twist or while you sit

Read More: Spinal Disc Replacement Helps Lowcountry Man Resume Active Lifestyle

What Causes Spinal Disc Degeneration

One of the main causes of degenerative disc disease is the aging process. Over time, the interior substance in your cervical discs dries out. This deterioration is a natural part of aging.

While anyone can develop this condition, your likelihood of experiencing pain from damaged disks increases with the following risk factors:

• Daily use — Playing sports and engaging in other activities can tear the disc’s exterior shell. You may also develop degenerative disc disease if your job requires repetitive twisting, bending or lifting.
• Family history — You’re more likely to have degenerating discs if the condition is in your family tree.
• Smoking — Research has found that smoking cigarettes makes you more likely to experience degeneration of the bones in your lower spine. Research is ongoing about its effect on thoracic spine degeneration.
• Trauma — A serious injury can damage a disc. The injury may not cause degenerative disc disease immediately, but it may cause you to develop the condition years later.
• Weight — Obesity puts extra pressure on your entire body, including your spine. This added pressure can speed up the disc degeneration that comes with time.

Diagnosing Degenerating Discs

If your symptoms affect your quality of life, contact your primary care provider or other health specialist. During an office visit, your healthcare provider will take a few steps to determine if you have degenerative disc disease.

This includes the following:

• Asking about symptoms that may indicate degeneration in one or more spinal discs.
• Discussing your lifestyle and medical history to uncover whether you have risk factors for degenerative disc disease.
• Ordering an X-ray or other imaging services to get an inside look at your spine.

Read More: Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery: Your Questions, Answered

First Line Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease

“Today, there are a number of treatment options for degenerative disc disease,” Dr. Castro says. “For most people, conservative approaches provide the relief they seek.”

Conservative treatment options your healthcare provider may recommend include:

• Cold or heat therapy — By applying ice to your hurting back, you reduce pain and inflammation. A heating pad increases blood flow and helps tight muscles relax.
• Lifestyle changes — Adopting a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help you obtain and maintain a healthy weight and reduce the strain on your back.
• Over-the-counter medication — Ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen can take the edge off your pain and reduce inflammation. If these don’t do the trick, prescription medications may help.
• Physical therapy — A physical therapist helps you perform exercises that strengthen your body and increase your flexibility. Your customized therapy plan ultimately leads to less pain and improved quality of life.

When Surgery Becomes Necessary

Sometimes, the symptoms of degenerative disc disease continue after other treatment attempts. Your pain may increase, making it difficult to do even the simplest of daily activities. In these cases, you may need surgical intervention to avoid or overcome loss of mobility.

The type of spinal surgery you need depends on the source and severity of your spinal problem. Surgical options your orthopedic surgeon may recommend include:

• Disc replacement — The surgeon removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an artificial disc. This allows you to retain full movement in the spine.
• Discectomy — When part of a damaged disc presses against a spinal nerve, the surgeon removes the damaged part of the disc.
• Fusion — The surgeon fuses two or more vertebrae together. With spinal fusion, you lose some range of motion and experience less pain.
• Laminectomy — If a bone in the spinal column causes your pain, the surgeon removes that part of the vertebra.

“Surgical correction for degenerative disc disease can be life-changing,” Dr. Castro says. “For the right person, it provides lasting relief unlike any other treatment option currently available.”

Call 843-522-7435 to find an orthopedic specialist at Beaufort Memorial, or request an appointment online.