Degenerative Disc Disease: A Guide To Understanding Its Symptoms And Treatment

Degenerative disc disease is characterized by severe lower back pain. The symptoms of degenerative spine are easy for a person to recognize, the most common being stiffness and tingling in the spine. It is also one of the most misunderstood diseases. Degenerative disc is not actually a disease, but a term used to explain the normal changes that occur in your spinal discs as you grow with age.

Healthy spinal discs are extremely elastic and can be compressed. They separate the interlocked bones that make up the spine. Discs are responsible for absorbing shock that is caused to the spine, making it flexible, and able to bend and twist. As the discs get older, they become less elastic and problems occur.

Degenerative discs can occur anywhere along the spine, but the highest probability is for them to occur in the lower back--also called the lumbar region--and the neck--also called the cervical region.

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease are numerous. The most common symptoms are stiffness, pain and restricted activity, and depending on the nerve root affected, the pain can occur in the neck, legs and knees. In most cases, the symptoms are of mild pain, but sometimes there is deep pain that often increases when the joint is moved, and lessens when the joint has fully warmed up.

Intense pain is caused by compression of the nerves, which occurs when the spinal disc gets thinner. As a result, the space between the bones narrows. Sometimes, in severe cases, bone and nerve compression is caused that, apart from causing pain, also gives a burning sensation, numbness, and tingling. An extreme case can be that the organs connected to these nerves become diseased, with the seriousness depending on the way degeneration is caused in the discs.

Patients showing symptoms of degenerative spine complain of chronic pain in the lower back along with intermittent attacks of low back pain. These small episodes of pain from disc degeneration can last from a few days to a few months. The amount of chronic pain varies and can range from being a simple irritation to serious pain, disabling the affected person. In some cases the pain can become intense and then return to a low level or disappear entirely. Activities like bending, lifting and twisting can worsen the pain while activities like walking and running can give some relief rather than sitting for a long time. It is recommended to change positions frequently. Lying down is the best option. The symptoms and treatment for degenerative spine disease are covered further in more articles at http://www.degenerativespineoptions.com

However, in an active person aged between 30 and 40, the pain should not be severe and persistent. If it is, then medical advice should be sought. If degenerative disc disease is the cause of the pain, then ignoring the pain will only lead to the pain getting worse as time goes on. With the range of excellent treatments for back pain now including exercise, medicine and a range of surgical procedures there is no need to allow the pain to continue. A consultation with your doctor will enable you to consider the best treatment options for the type of back pain you are suffering from.