Degenerative Disc Disease

As we grow older, spinal discs start degenerating due to everyday wear & tear. This can result in them losing their default shape and causing friction between the vertebrae, culminating in pain. This wear & tear of the spinal discs due to aging is called degenerative disc disease.

Symptoms

Common degenerative disc disease symptoms include the following:

• Intense pain in the neck & back area that may come and go

• Radiating pain felt in the lower back and buttocks

• Weakness, numbness or tingling sensation in the arms/legs

• Pain that gets severe with sitting, bending, twisting or lifting weights

Causes

Degenerative disc disease causes or risk factors generally comprise:

• Losing water in the spinal discs as a result of ageing

• Cracks/tears in the spinal discs due to daily movements or minor injuries

• Severe injuries, like those caused by a fall from a steep height

• Regularly engaging in physically demanding activities

• Gender (women have a higher probability of experiencing symptoms)

• Being overweight or obese

• Regular smoking

Diagnosis

Primary diagnosis of degenerative disc disease usually involves healthcare professionals enquiring about medical history and symptoms being experienced.

This is typically followed by a physical examination wherein you will be asked to do specific movements like bending, twisting, walking, etc., to check for pain.

Conclusive diagnosis requires imaging scans such as an X-ray, MRI and/or CT scan to inspect spinal discs and detect bone/nerve damage near the spine.