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Degenerative Disc Disease |
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Degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is often called degenerative disc disease (DDD) or osteoarthritis of the spine, is a common disorder of the lower spine. Disc degeneration can lead to disorders such as spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal that houses the spinal cord and nerve roots; can be lumbar or cervical), spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of the disc and vertebra), and retrolisthesis (backward slippage of the disc and vertebra) (Fig. 1). Actually, DDD is not a disease but, rather, a degenerative condition that can be painful and can greatly affect your quality of life. Disc degeneration is a normal part of aging and is generally not a problem by itself. However, when bone spurs grow adjacent to the discs, they can pinch or put pressure on the nearby nerve roots or spinal canal, and pain can occur.
Understanding disc pain
It is not clear why some degenerative discs are painful and some are not. After an injury, some discs become painful because of inflammation. Some people have nerve endings that penetrate more deeply into the annulus fibrosus, or outer layer of the disc, than others, making the disc more susceptible to becoming a source of pain. Pain that radiates down the leg, known as sciatica or lumbago, is the result of the nerve root encountering the inner disc material, or the nucleus pulposus, an inflammatory substance that also puts pressure on the nerve. These conditions can cause symptoms such as severe leg pain, difficulty standing and walking, and weakness or numbness in the legs. DDD can lead to a chronic debilitating condition and can have a serious negative impact on a person's quality of life. When DDD is severe, traditional nonoperative treatment is often ineffective.
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