Degenerative Disc Disease

The human body often experiences problems as we get older and that is also true when it comes to our spine. The lower part of the back begins to ache with age and we may just write it off as being a common problem but the fact of the matter is, there might be something behind it that could be corrected. One of the more common issues that can occur with a lower back is degenerative disc disease. It can result in pain, numbness and tingling along with even more serious symptoms in some cases.

Most people think that degenerative disc disease is a type of sickness because it has the word disease in the name. In reality, it doesn’t have anything to do with sickness but rather, it has to do with a general breakdown of the spinal disc, typically as we get older. This type of problem can lead to a painful condition in any part of the spine. Some of the more common areas where it occurs, however, is in the cervical spine and the lumbar spine. The thoracic spine does not typically experience a problem with degenerative discs that causes pain, although it is possible.

Another word is the term is degenerative, and this is one that can really identify a serious problem with the condition. Since it is degenerative, it means that the symptoms tend to get worse as the condition progresses. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the symptoms are going to get worse, however, but more than likely, the disc is going to continue to degenerate over the course of time. It is considered to be a part of the natural aging process but then again, not everybody experiences the problem.

One of the reasons why degenerative disc disease can be such a problem is because the disc can rupture and lead to pressure being put on a nearby nerve root. This isn’t always the case and some people who have a herniated disc don’t even experience pain. When a nerve is involved, however, pain is certain to occur. In fact, there are many cases in which the pain associated with a herniated disc is life altering, chronic and can sidelined you very quickly.

Degenerative disc disease can also lead to other conditions, including spinal stenosis, scoliosis and osteoarthritis. Not all doctors agree on this but there is some evidence to suggest that one problem could lead to another. Fortunately, there are some options for treating this condition that could include nonsurgical procedures and in some cases, minimally invasive surgical procedures.

You live in the Dallas Fort Worth area and suffer from this degenerative condition? Contacting Dr. Dickerman will help to put you on the path to recovery. He has helped many people with this and other spine problems to overcome the difficulty and experience a lot less pain. He is also one of the most qualified and highly respected neurosurgeons in the United States.