Degenerative Disc Disease Q&A

Degenerative disc disease is a natural occurrence that comes with aging. As we age, one or more of the discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column deteriorate or breaks down and leads to pain. The discs between the vertebrae allows room for flexing and bending of the back, however, with time, they become worn and leads to pain.

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain that is caused by wear-and-tear on the spinal disc. Typically, as we age, the spinal discs can show signs of wear. Discs are similar to shock absorbers between the bones of the spine. Common symptoms of the condition include pain that is worse when sitting, periods of severe pain that come and go, numbness in the extremities and pain when bending, lifting or twisting.

What causes degenerative disc disease?

It’s one of the more common aspects of getting older. The name can be misleading since degenerative disc disease is not a disease but a condition when a damaged spinal disc causes pain. The exact reason why the joints of the spine begin to wear out is not known and may be a combination of factors such heavy lifting, aging, or an injury to the spine. At Racz Pain Centers, we understand the impacts of degenerative disc disease and the level of pain is specific to each patient.

Degenerative disc disease treatment options?

One of the main challenges of treating degenerative disc disease is that it is really broad and affects everyone differently. At Racz Pain Centers, we provide a broad spectrum of treatment options that include physical may include physical therapy, medication management, and therapeutic injections. Therapeutic injections could include epidural corticosteroid shots, nerve blocks and trigger point injections. At Racz Pain Centers, we believe treatment is individualized and includes a multimodal degenerative disc treatment plan.