What are the stages of DDD?

What is Stage 3 degenerative disk disease?

Stage 3 is marked by a more extreme change in the posture and curvature of the spine, along with more pain and loss of mobility. Nerve damage is common and scar tissue typically begins to form. Discs are even thinner than before, which can sometimes cause even more deformation of the bones.

How quickly does degenerative disc disease progress?

The degenerative process of the spinal disc may start gradually or suddenly, but progresses over 2 to 3 decades from severe and at times even disabling bouts of pain to a state in which the spine is restabilized and the pain is diminished.

What is Stage 2 degenerative disc disease?

Stage 2: In this stage, you may witness increased postural changes as the degeneration is greater. It has been projected that by age 40, about 78% of men and women exhibit moderate disc degeneration. During this phase, a person is much more likely to feel intermittent aches and pains as well as tiredness.

Will degenerative disc disease cripple me?

Degenerative Disc Disease is not life threatening, but if left untreated, can lead to debilitating pain, permanent damage, and serious conditions such as spinal osteoarthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis and potentially paralysis.

Patient Animation - Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

What should you not do with degenerative disc disease?

People with degenerative disk disease should avoid slouching and a sedentary lifestyle. They should also refrain from exercise or activities that are high impact or involve heavy lifting. Many people experience lower back pain due to degenerative disk disease.

When is surgery needed for degenerative disc disease?

If back or neck pain caused by degenerative disc disease doesn't respond to medication or therapeutic injections, NYU Langone doctors may recommend a surgical procedure. Surgeons may remove some or all of a damaged disc, take pressure off a pinched nerve, or eliminate movement between the bones of the spine.

How can I prevent degenerative disc disease from getting worse?

What is the best treatment for degenerative disc disease?

Physical therapy: Participating in strengthening and stretching exercises with a trained healthcare provider. Medications: Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxers or steroids. Steroid injections: Injecting medicine near your spinal nerves, disk or joints to reduce inflammation and pain.

How serious can degenerative disc disease become?

Without appropriate treatment, degenerative disc disease can cause lasting, debilitating back pain. The pain may become so severe that you find it difficult to carry out your normal daily activities. It can interfere with your mobility and your overall quality of life.

What is Stage 4 degenerative disk disease?

Collapsing Stage (Stage 4)

In the final stage of DDD, the spinal discs become dangerously thin and may become herniated, collapsed, and/or disintegrated. The severe pain felt during this stage often results from bone rubbing against bone or from herniated discs pushing into nerves.

What is Stage 4 degenerative disc disease?

In stage four, you will have minimal disc material remaining. In addition, severe bony changes of the vertebrae may be present. At this stage, your vertebrae may be almost bone on bone due to the reduced thickness of your spinal discs. Disc replacement surgery or vertebral fusion surgery may be required.

What causes degenerative disc disease flare ups?

These flare ups can be caused by a simple action, such as bending over to tie your shoes, or twisting. Or, you can just experience this discomfort without being able to pinpoint the exact cause. You may experience a rise in pain for several days to several weeks before it diminishes.

Can you live with degenerative disc disease without surgery?

Degenerative disc disease is relatively common in aging adults, and, as a reassurance, it seldom requires surgery. When medical attention is needed, the majority of patients respond well to non-surgical forms of treatment, and recovery occurs in about six weeks.

Is degenerative disc disease life long?

Answer: Unfortunately, there's currently no cure for degenerative disc disease, and once you're diagnosed with DDD, it's typically a lifelong journey of learning to live with back pain, neck pain, or other symptoms.

What does a chiropractor do for degenerative disc disease?

Chiropractic treatment for degenerative disc disease can reduce inflammation in the spinal tissues, improve the range of motion of the spine, and relieve muscle tension. Chiropractic treatments can also reduce pressure on the spine, specifically the spinal discs, to promote healing.

Do muscle relaxers help degenerative disc disease?

Muscle Relaxants

If degeneration causes a disc to slip out of place and pinch a nerve, the electrical signals that move from the nerve to nearby muscle tissue may be disrupted, leading to painful muscle spasms. Muscle relaxant medications can calm spasms and ease pain, letting you move more easily.

What is the best sleeping position for DDD?

Side sleeping is okay and sleeping on your back is the most supportive and comfortable position to sleep in if you have DDD. However, it's best if you use supports to keep your spine neutral all night long.

What foods should you avoid with degenerative disc disease?

How long is recovery from DDD surgery?

Total disc replacement (artificial disc surgery), which replaces spinal fusion as the standard for treatment of most common spinal disorders, may require a relatively short recovery period of about 3 weeks to 3 months – given that, like fusion, it is major surgery.

Does an MRI show degenerative disc disease?

MRI is the standard imaging modality for detecting disc pathology due to its advantage of lack of radiation, multiplanar imaging capability, excellent spinal soft-tissue contrast and precise localization of intervertebral discs changes.

Is sitting good for degenerative disc disease?

Sitting puts you at a higher risk for sciatica, a herniated or slipped disc, degenerative disc disease, and of course lower back pain. Sitting with your hips and legs in a bent position causes joints, ligaments, and muscles to be under constant pressure and adds tension on your spinal discs.

Is walking good for degenerative disc disease?

Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, or taking a low-impact aerobics class, has been shown to help relieve pain, promote a healthy body weight, and improve overall strength and mobility—all important factors in managing DDD.

Why is degenerative disc disease so painful?

In a young and healthy back, rubbery discs between the vertebra provide height and allow bending and twisting. As a normal process of aging, the discs begin to wear down. Sometimes the discs wear away completely over time. The bones rub against one another, causing the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis.