Treatment Options for Degenerative Disc Disease Pain
- Posted on: Jun 30 2022
As a part of our daily lives, we carry a lot of responsibilities on our backs. No one wants to face back weakness and pain, especially when we have lived a healthy life. The inevitable natural aging process takes place, and our backs are subjected to wear and tear. According to Dr. Jason C. Tinley, board-certified spinal surgeon practicing in the DFW area, the shock-absorbing pads between the vertebra – your spinal discs – can begin to depreciate and lead to degenerative disc disease (DDD) beginning in your early 20s.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) Simply Described
DDD is actually a medical condition adversely affecting the mobility of the back – not an actual disease – in which damaged spinal discs dry up and wear away, causing pain. Treatment options are based on the individual’s personal medical needs. One person’s spine may be able to bear more of a load than another’s.
DDD typically occurs in the cervical spine or lumbar region. Regions of the spine are divided and include the following:
- Cervical spine – neck
- Thoracic spine – mid-back
- Lumbar spine – low back
- Sacrum and coccyx spine lower end – tailbone
DDD Symptoms
There is a wide spectrum of pain caused by DDD. Treatment is based on individual reports of pain, physical examination, and testing outcomes from X-rays and/or MRIs.
These signs and symptoms of pain include:
A seized up or locked up back feeling
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Loss of motion in back
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Radiating pain through buttocks, downward to legs and feet
- Leg and foot weakness
- Pain worsening with extended periods of sitting or laying
Surgical Treatment Options
The goal of a surgical treatment varies by recommended procedure.
There are three surgical methods to treat DDD:
- Discectomy – or – removing all or portions of the damaged disc pressing on sciatica nerves
- Spinal fusion to stabilize the surrounding vertebrae so that these are permanently joined together
- Artificial replacement involves the removal of a damaged disc to be restructured with an artificial or prosthetic disc
Discover Your Surgical Options to Treat Degenerative Disc Disease
You don’t have to live with the pain you are experiencing from degenerative disc disease. Discover the treatment you need for DDD pain relief by contacting Dr. Jason C. Tinley at his DFW, Texas, practice today to schedule a consultation and learn more about Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Posted in: Degenerative Disc Disease
