Characteristics of Degenerative Disc Disorder

Degenerative disk disease (DDD) can affect any area of the backbone, but it most commonly affects the low back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine). Where you might have pain will be based on what area of your spine has got the disk degeneration.

You could experience pain for instance, at the site of the damaged disc—in your lower back.

However, the pain might also radiate (or travel) to a different part of your own body. The nerves that branch off your backbone travel to various areas of the body, so if the degenerated disc is pressing on a nerve in your back that is low —a nerve that’s heading down to your legs—you may experience pain in your leg, too. The pain message will “go,” and this can be called radiculopathy in the medical world.

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

Typically, people who have degenerative disk disease have chronic back or neck pain. Sometimes the pain will flare up—that’s called an acute episode. The main symptom, however, is the pain, so you need to pay attention to it and what makes it better or worse.

With degenerative disc disorder, you might discover pain patterns like:

• More pain when sitting for quite a long time, bending, lifting, or twisting
• Pain when walking or running
• Pain in case you shift positions often
• Less pain when you lie down

It’s critical to deal with your back and neck pain correctly. In case your pain continues, seek medical attention — for those who have some of the crisis signals listed below and seek immediate care.

Warning Signs You Need Instant Help for Degenerative Disc Disease:

• Pain is getting worse
• Disabling pain
• Leg weakness, pain, numbness, or tingling
• Loss of bowel or bladder control

Please go to the emergency room call your doctor and should you experience these emergency hints.

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. 
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic care is a favorite, alternative treatment option utilized to prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the spine, primarily subluxations or spinal misalignments. Chiropractic focuses on restoring and maintaining the overall health and wellness of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, can carefully re-align the spine, improving a patient’s strength, mobility, and flexibility.