Degenerative Disc Treatment New York City

What is a Degenerative Disc Disease?

Your spine comprises 33 vertebrae with discs between each to provide proper cushioning and mobility throughout your back. The discs can lose their flexibility, elasticity, and cushioning properties with age or injury. This can lead to symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility. This is what is known as degenerative disc disease. Despite its name, it is not a disease in itself, as it is usually caused by aging or trauma rather than abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system.

Causes for Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease develops when minute tears develop in the disc wall, resulting in discomfort. They repair by forming scar tissue, which is not as robust as the preceding material in the disc wall. Eventually, this tissue may deteriorate, resulting in the disc center breaking down. The unnatural positioning of the vertebrae might lead to the formation of bone spurs. Nerve roots are commonly pinched, causing severe pain.

Potential causes of degenerative disc disease include:

Age: With age, cartilage wear increases the pressure on the discs.
Injuries: Injuries can cause some discs to bulge and herniate.
Exercise: Certain activities or occupations requiring heavy lifting or prolonged sitting can contribute to degenerative disc changes.

Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms

Degenerative Disc Disease is characterized by inflammation and abnormal micromotion instability. Inflammation can result from proteins in the disc space, leading to low back pain that may radiate to the hips and travel down the back of the legs. Micromotion instability occurs when the outer rings of the intervertebral disc are damaged or worn down, reducing its ability to resist motion in the spine. These conditions often lead to lower back spasms and related issues.

You should seek medical attention immediately if you experience mild to severe neck and upper back pain, numbness or tingling in your shoulders or arms, and muscle spasms.

How to Treat Degenerative Disc Disease

The treatment of degenerative disc disease, like any other degenerative disease, focuses mainly on relieving symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease.

Our specialists can offer several treatment methods at the same time, in particular:

Physiotherapy
Stretching and strengthening exercises
Epidural steroid injections
Less commonly, surgery to remove damaged discs, spinal fusion to strengthen the spine, or replacement of a damaged disc with an artificial substitute

If you have any questions about treating degenerative disc disease or would like to schedule an appointment with the best back pain doctors in NYC or NJ, please contact our pain center for a consultation.

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