Disc Disease Causes

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:

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.

Sciatica Causes

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:52:48 -0800

Sciatica and the Sciatic Nerve

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:52:48 -0800

Pain from Degenerative Disc Disease

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

Degen. Disc Disease Info:

Degenerative Disc Disease: the Natural Degenerative Process

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

When we are born, the disc is comprised of about 80% water, which gives it its spongy quality and allows it to function as a shock absorber. As we age, the water content decreases and the disc becomes less capable of acting as a shock absorber (see Figure 1).

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.

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:19 -0800

Degen. Disc Disease Info:

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:13:34 -0800

Osteoarthritis is characterized primarily by stiffness and pain in the joints, although not everyone with osteoarthritis actually experiences pain and disability. The stiffness and pain tend to be worse in the morning (particularly for about 30 minutes after waking up) and again in the evening, often called “first movement pain” with improvement during the day as the person carries on his or her daily activities. Pain that awakens one during the night is often an indicator.

Other symptoms can include: