Your Health: Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease

Throughout most of my life, I can recall my mother complaining about pain, particularly in her neck and back. We lived on a farm, so I often assumed that the pain was due to my mother cleaning horse stalls or lifting hay bales. Unless you're theperson who is suffering, it's sometimes very hard to understand what people with chronic back pain go through. It wasn't until years later, that she was diagnosed as having Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), and it wasn't until I was an adult and suffering from my own backaches, that I began to understand the extent of agony that my mother lives with on a day-to-day basis.

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative Disk Disease, or DDD, is not really a disease at all. In fact, it pertains to something that happens to each and every one of us, as we age. The difference with those that suffer from degenerative disks, however, is that they don't have the usual aches and pains of getting old. What they suffer is an almost continual chronic pain. In some cases, Degenerative Disc Disease can be so serious that it can seriously interfere with one's quality of life.

Between each of our vertebrae, we have a soft disc that acts like a shock absorber. As we age, these discs gradually break down and become lose some of their flexibility, often losing fluid and compressing them further. While most of us experience this and chalk it up to normal aches and pains, it can cause excruciating pain for some. Degenerating discs can cause bone spurs to grow and can allow the discs to herniate or rupture, putting pressure on sensitive nerves. In some severe cases, it can not only affect normal nerve function, but can also put pressure on the spinal cord.

Who is More Susceptible?

Degenerative Disc Disease can strike people from all walks of life, though there are a few contributing factors that can raise your chances of suffering from this condition down the road. People who have to do repetitive or heavy lifting often suffer from DDD. Obesity and smoking can also take its toll on the body, increasing your level of pain from degenerating discs, and the older you get, the more likely that you'll encounter pain from Degenerative Disc Disease. Be careful and think ahead - taking preventative measures to protect your back and neck can save you a lot of aches and pains in the future.

What Can You Do?

1. Work Smart, Not Hard - A popular saying and a very true one. If you can, avoid heavy lifting. Don't take a 'lazy man's load' when you can make two trips instead. Ensure you lift with your legs and not with your back. Also try wearing a back brace if you need to do a lot of lifting.

2. Bend at the Knees - Crouching down, rather than bending over can also help your back. Try to keep your back straight when you bend and avoid twisting if you have back troubles.

3. Lighten the Load - Obesity can put further strain on compressed discs, increasing the likelihood of degenerative disc disease. Losing a little extra weight can help preserve your back.

4. Stop Smoking - Studies have found that people who smoke tend to be more likely to suffer pain from degenerative disc disease.

5. Strengthen and Stretch - Focus on back-strengthening exercises and gentle stretches to help loosen muscles, stretch your back and help to strengthen the muscles of your back. You'll feel much better in the long run!

Treating Degenerative Disc Disease

Treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease vary. For mild cases, it's recommended that you apply either ice or heat (whichever feels better to you) and try using some acetaminophen (Tylenol, for example) or another anti-inflammatory. Physical therapy and strengthening exercises are commonly prescribed by doctors and, in more severe cases, spinal injections, disc replacement or even fusing the vertebrae may be the preferred method of treating. Some people highly recommend acupuncture therapy for backache pains. Doctors take many things into consideration when deciding on a treatment for DDD; talk with your doctor for more information and prior to starting any kind of treatment.

Sources:

My mother suffers from chronic degenerative disc disease and we have discussed many different treatment options and therapies.

Various doctors and chiropractors

Webmd.com - General information on degenerative disc disease

Csmc.edu - Information on DDD and various treatment options with photos