By April McLeod, Watauga Orthopaedics –
“Eighty to 90% of the population of the United States will experience significant episodes of pain in their lifetime. Neck and back complaints are one of the most common presenting problems in the primary care physician’s office. Unfortunately, many medical schools and residency training programs provide very little instruction on diagnosis and treatment of these problems.”
–SPINECARE, Richard W. Duncan, MD
What is Degenerative Disk Disease?
The Degenerative Process
A spinal disk serves as a kind of “shock absorber” in the spine, providing flexibility and stability. These disks lie between the vertebrae of the spine, and cartilage surrounding the disk allows nutrients to enter and waste to exit. After approximately twenty years, the cartilage begins to break down and deteriorate; thus, the disk begins to lose its nutrients as well as its means of expelling waste. This degenerative process causes the disks to lose their “shock absorbing” abilities, resulting in a higher likelihood of injury and discomfort. For some people, this is not a problem, and they never experience any discomfort. For others, inflammation and abnormal motion due to the lack of shock absorption can cause a good deal of back pain.
The degenerative process can be made worse by various factors:
• Injuries
• Inherited health issues
• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Vibrations (such as the ones truck drivers
experience)
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Degenerative disk disease is a normal process of aging for everyone. No one is exempt from this natural process. It most often begins happening in earnest in one’s thirties to fifties.
The Treatment
There is no man-made cure for degenerative disk disease, although certain exercises and procedures can help to relieve discomfort. Keeping one’s core strong can take some strain off of the back and reduce abnormal motion. Regular strength exercises of the core are often beneficial and can sometimes prevent the need for surgery. In some cases where the pain is particularly uncomfortable, surgery to fuse the disks can decrease abnormal motion and is beneficial in alleviating some discomfort.
The human body is an amazing thing, however, because it can decrease the discomfort itself by forming bony spurs called osteophytes to help stabilize the spine. This process most commonly begins in one’s sixties and continues into one’s seventies, and the spurs eventually diffuse enough to stabilize the excess motion completely. For patients who are not good candidates for surgery, this is good news. If a patient can hold on for long enough, the pain of this “disease” should eventually go away on its own.
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Prevention
If you are a smoker, stop now. Smoking negatively effects bone health and can accelerate the degenerative process. Being overweight puts extra strain on your body, including your bones and cartilage, which can also speed up the degenerative process.
Now is the time to start losing weight. Other cautionary methods are correct posture, regular exercise, proper weight-lifting techniques, and paying attention to your body. Be aware of how certain activities affect your back. For more information, ask your doctor.
For more information, give us a call at (423) 282-9011 or go to our website at www.wataugaortho.com.
Watauga Orthopaedics has two specialists who treat spinal disorders. Dr. Richard Duncan is board certified and fellowship trained in spine surgery, while Dr. Mark McQuain is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and electrodiagnostic medicine. Together they specialize in innovative treatments for complex spine disorders. Go to Watauga’s website, www.wataugaortho.com, for more detailed information on spinal disorders and treatments, as well as the various surgeries available. Dr. Duncan leads the region in minimally invasive spine surgery. Our doctors will provide you with as much information as possible to ensure that you make an informed decision on your treatment options.
423-282-9011
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Kingsport, TN 37660
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Johnson City, TN 37601
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