Disc Disease Treatment

Lumbar Spine Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:06 -0800

A lumbar spine fusion is a type of back surgery designed to treat low back pain from degenerative disc disease. It is called a “spine fusion” because the surgery involves placing small morsels of bone either in the front of the spine (in the disc space) and/or along the back of the spine (in the posterolateral gutter) so that the bone grows together and fuses that section of the spine.

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back pain, and also one of the most misunderstood. Many patients diagnosed with low back pain caused by degenerative disc disease are left wondering exactly what this diagnosis means for them. Common questions that are often on patients’ minds include:

Gentle Exercise Options Before Surgery

Ben Parr — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:50:10 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about gentle exercises to do when strenuous activity creates pain.

Rehabilitation and Exercise for Sciatica

Ben Parr — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:58:10 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about rehabilitation of the back when suffering from sciatica and leg pain.

Exercise to Treat Degenerative Disc Disease

Ben Parr — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:58:03 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about undergoing VAX-D therapy, ProDisc disc replacement, or spinal fusion for degenerative disc disease.

Exercise as a Key Treatment For Degenerative Disc Disease

Ben Parr — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:57:55 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about relieving back pain due to degenerative disc disease when ibuprofen has proven ineffective.

Recommendations for Treating Bulging Discs

Ben Parr — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:44:00 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about alternatives to exercise to treat bulging discs.

Question: Alternative treatments for bulging disc?

I have had debilitating lower back pain for two years. My MRI indicates I have bulging discs. My doctor recommended exercise, but that has not helped.

What are some alternatives to keep my discs from bulging?

Surgical Implant or VAX-D for Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment?

Ben Parr — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:43:56 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about disc replacement and VAX-D treatments for degenerative disc disease.

Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease After Discectomy

Ben Parr — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:43:53 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about spinal fusion after a discectomy surgery for degenerative disc disease.

Rehabilitation and Degenerative Disc Disease

Ben Parr — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:43:49 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about rehabilitation from degenerative disc disease.

Cortisone and Hamstring Stretching for Degenerative Disc Disease

Ben Parr — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:43:45 -0800

A physician answers patient questions about hamstring stretching and cortisone shots for degenerative disc disease.

Question: Are there options beyond cortisone and surgery for degenerative disc disease?

I am 30 years old and I started suffering lower back pains about a year ago. Around six months ago, my doctor sent me for x-rays and told me I had degenerative spinal disorder. He put me on pain killers (when needed) and 800mg of ibuprofen three times daily.

Spinal Fusion is a Patient's Decision

Ben Parr — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:14:32 -0800

The decision to have a spine fusion procedure done to treat low back pain is a very personal one, and it is entirely the patient’s decision. Degenerative disc disease is for the most part a non-crippling, non-progressive type of back condition and does not lead to neurological deficits or result in a progressive crippling condition.

More Spinal Fusion Info:

Cervical Spinal Fusion

Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Bone Harvest Approaches and Graft Site Morbidity

Ben Parr — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:17:10 -0800

When bone graft is taken from the patient's own body as part of a spinal fusion surgery, it is in essence an additional surgery done at the same time as the spinal fusion surgery.

Evaluating the Potential Risks and Consequences of Spinal Fusion

Ben Parr — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:18:33 -0800

The potential complications specific to a spinal fusion procedure depend in part on the surgical technique used. These can include:

Postoperative wound infection is the most common complication, occurring in about 1-5% of cases. The risk of a postoperative infection is higher when metallic fixation is used, and is also higher in diabetic and overweight patients.
read more

Controlling Degenerative Disc Disease Pain: Three Things You Can Do

Ben Parr — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:53:23 -0700

Degenerative Disc Disease is a difficult condition to live with. However, it does not need to hinder the rest of your life. Here are three things you can do to control your Disc Degeneration.

1) Stay active to slow the disc degeneration

Once pain is adequately controlled (it will most likely not go away completely) the most important thing patients can do is stay active.

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Options

Ben Parr — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:11:25 -0700

Degen. Disc Disease Info:

Spinal Decompression Patients' Advice: Pricing and Degenerative Disc Disease

Ben Parr — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:17:03 -0700

Back-to-Back: Patients share tips on experiences with spinal decompression

Want to know more about spinal decompression from those who have been affected most? In our Back-to-Back section, patients share tips and advice about using non-surgical spinal decompression to treat their back problems.

Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Options

Ben Parr — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:50:20 -0700

For most people, degenerative disc disease can be successfully treated with conservative (meaning non-surgical) care consisting of medication to control inflammation and pain (either oral or injection), and physical therapy and exercise. Surgery is only considered when patients have not achieved relief over six months of conservative care and/or are significantly constrained in performing everyday activities.

Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:40 -0800

Definition

Degenerative Disc Disease is a general term for the condition in which a damaged vertebral disc causes chronic pain – either low back pain (and/or leg pain, sciatica) in the lumbar spine or neck pain (and/or arm pain) in the cervical spine.

Damage to the disc occurs naturally or through a twisting injury where the inner and/or outer portions of the disc may tear, exposing or irritating the nerves on the outer edge of the annulus.

Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (XLIF) Video

spine-health — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:19:40 -0800

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (XLIF) is a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat leg or back pain generally caused by degenerative disc disease. The procedure is performed through the patient’s side, avoiding the major muscles of the back. This video gives a clear picture of XLIF surgery.

Degenerative Disc Disease Interactive Video

spine-health — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:16:45 -0800

Additional Degenerative Disc Disease Info:

Lumbar DDD

Cervical DDD

Multilevel Spinal Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:07 -0800

Multilevel fusion as a primary treatment for low back pain from degenerated discs is a controversial topic in spine medicine. In certain instances, a two level spinal fusion may be an effective treatment for debilitating back pain from two degenerated lumbar discs. However, lumbar fusion of three or more levels of the low back as a primary treatment for back pain is rarely recommended, and many surgeons recommend against it in all cases of multilevel degenerative disc disease.

Evaluating Spinal Fusion Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:05 -0800

Spinal fusion is indicated for the treatment of a large variety of spine problems. A common reason to perform spinal fusion is disc-related back pain, often referred to as degenerative disc disease.

Bone Graft Site Pain and Morbidity After Spinal Fusion

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:05 -0800

The fusion is accomplished when the graft material placed between the two bones of a motion segment induces bony incorporation on both sides, and heals them together as one bone. This eliminates motion but also hopefully reduces the pain from that segment of the spine.

There are a number of different types of bone grafts that can be used for spinal fusion:

Synthetic bone graft substitutes (man made)
read more

Deciding on Surgery for Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:12 -0800

Everyone’s discs degenerate as we get older. Disc degeneration can also be seen as early as the late teens as a result of trauma, surgery, or just bad genetics. Most people with degenerative disc disease can manage their ongoing pain, as well as more painful flare episodes, with conservative (non-surgical) care.

Surgery for a Degenerated Disc

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:12 -0800

Degen. Disc Disease Info:

Potential Risks of Surgery for a Degenerated Disc

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:12 -0800

Patients who have not found pain relief through conservative care and have suffered diminution in their quality of life and ability to function because of a symptomatic degenerated disc should educate themselves and discuss the benefits and risks of each type of surgery with their physician. When possible, obtaining a second opinion from a similarly-credentialed surgeon may be useful to get as comprehensive a perspective as possible on what surgery entails, and to confirm that non-surgical approaches have been exhausted, leaving surgery as the next appropriate step.

Exercise for Sciatica from Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:04:48 -0800

While degenerative disc disease most often causes low back pain, if a degenerated disc impinges on a nerve root in the low back it can also cause a form of sciatica.

With that said, a series of sciatica exercises for degenerative disc disease exist and may provide relief of sciatic symptoms.

Living with Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

Low back pain self care

The vast majority of people with low back pain and/or sciatica symptoms from lumbar degenerative disc disease will be able to successfully manage their pain and avoid surgery.

Degenerative Disc Disease: Spine Surgeon Viewpoint

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

Treatment of patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease is largely dependent on the length of time the patient has had symptoms and the amount of pain and disability. For the first three to six months, conservative treatment is usually recommended. For patients with severe pain, epidural injections can be used to try to decrease the inflammation in the area around the damaged disc.

Low Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

Degen. Disc Disease Info:

Degenerative disc disease is frequently the cause of low back pain, especially in young adults.

Pain Medications

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

There are multiple medications that can help relieve low back pain associated with degenerative disc disease. Any medication, including many non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs, should be taken under a physician’s care, direction, and supervision. Many of the pain medications below should not be taken by people with certain health conditions (e.g., diabetics should not use oral steroids since the medication increases blood sugar levels). Patients should ask their physicians and pharmacists about potential side effects of any medication.

Treating Chronic Low Back Pain from Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease - Patients' Advice

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

My family has been there for me through the pain

I am 22-yr female diagnosed with DDD over a year ago. After years of increasing pain in sports through high school (seeking aid from athletic trainers, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc), I finally had a doctor who had tests done and referred me to Mayo Clinic. Mayo, being so renowned, did nothing for me. I went to the Twin Cities Spine Center, where I had x-rays done. They sent me to St. Cloud to have a CTScan. They gave me two MRIs.
read more

Exercise and Physical Therapy

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

A regular routine of back exercises can prevent low back pain and/or reduce the severity and duration of any “flare-ups.” Controlled, gradual, progressive back pain exercises can help the back retain its strength and flexibility. Also, back movement promotes the delivery of nutrients to spine, keeping discs, muscles, ligaments, and joints healthier.

Pain Management Techniques for Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

More Disc Disease Info:

Degenerative Disc Disease: Physiatrist Viewpoint

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:06 -0800

More Disc Disease Info:

Degenerative Disc Disease: Chiropractor Viewpoint

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:06 -0800

As a chiropractor, the first issue I would assess is to determine the position that creates the least amount of pain, or, the patient’s biased posture. After determining if they are biased (or improved) in flexion or extension, I would then base my chiropractic treatment around their biased posture.

Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:20 -0800

Degenerative disc disease refers to a syndrome in which a compromised disc causes low back pain. Lumbar degenerative disc disease usually starts with a torsional (twisting) injury to the lower back, such as when a person rotates to put something on a shelf or swing a golf club. However, the pain is also frequently caused by simple wear and tear on the spine.