What can you do for spinal degeneration?
Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the right muscles to help the back heal and reduce the frequency of painful flare-ups. Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your posture, losing weight or giving up smoking, can sometimes help reduce stress on the damaged disc and slow down further degeneration.
What is degenerative spinal condition?
Degenerative spine conditions involve the gradual loss of normal structure and function of the spine over time. They are usually caused by aging, but may also be the result of tumors, infections or arthritis. Pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots caused by degeneration can be caused by: Slipped or herniated discs.
What causes the degeneration of the spine over time?
How to tell if you have degenerative spine disease?
Look for the following symptoms to identify whether you’re suffering from degenerative spine disease or not: Back pain, especially when you bend or twist. Pain in the neck. Pain in the arm or leg. Pain that feels worse on sitting, and gets better when you move. Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. Spinal deformities.
How old do you have to be to have spinal degeneration?
Anyone may has some degree of spinal degeneration, especially after the age of 40, but not everyone has symptoms. Psychological or social factors may also contribute to whether a person experiences these symptoms.
Can a degenerative disc disease cause back pain?
If degenerative disc disease leads to or worsens spinal stenosis, myelopathy or radiculopathy, our orthopaedic spine experts can help address these conditions as well. U.S. Army veteran Richard Shetter has conquered many obstacles, but nothing took him out of commission the way his back pain did.
How is degenerative spine disease related to aging?
Conditions like bulging or ruptured discs occur as a consequence. Without these discs, the vertebrae may rub against each other, or may damage the spinal cord or the surrounding nerves. Degenerative spine disease is not actually a disease but rather a condition, because it is a natural process that results due to aging.
What are the symptoms of degenerating spinal discs?
Symptoms of Degenerating Discs. Symptoms of degenerating discs tend to occur where the damage is located. Symptoms can include pain (mild to severe) that worsens when you sit, lift, bend, or twist. The pain may come and go and may get better when you move your body.
Which is the most common type of spinal degeneration?
Degeneration in spinal discs is the most common type of spinal degeneration and often the first type to develop. Degenerating spinal discs can lead to degenerative changes in other parts of the spine, as well. Disc degeneration is not technically a spinal disease, but rather a description of the condition of these shock-absorbing “pillows.”
Anyone may has some degree of spinal degeneration, especially after the age of 40, but not everyone has symptoms. Psychological or social factors may also contribute to whether a person experiences these symptoms.