5 Risk Factors for Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) isn’t a disease at all. Rather, it’s a wear-and-tear condition in which damage to a spinal disc causes pain in the upper or lower back. Degeneration is a natural result of getting older, and it usually starts in your 40s, though for some, it can start as early as your 20s. You may have to wait decades before you feel its effects because it’s a gradual process; in addition, not everyone develops symptoms.

At Santa Cruz Osteopathic, Dr. Richard Bernstein, a specialist in Physical

Medicine and Rehabilitation, understands how much the pain and stiffness of degenerative disc disease can interfere with even the smallest activities of daily living. That’s why he offers a holistic and integrative approach to treatment that takes advantage of your body’s natural ability to heal itself. Here, he describes the telltale signs of DDD, five big risk factors for developing it, and some of its treatments.

Your spine stacked up

Your spine has to be strong and stiff enough for you to stand up straight yet flexible enough that you can bend, flex, and twist. It contains 24 interlocking bony vertebrae, each pair separated by soft intervertebral discs that absorb shock when you move. The outer part of each disc (annulus) is firm, while the inner material (nucleus) is more gel-like. If the annulus tears, the gel can ooze out and compress spinal nerve roots, causing intense pain.

Each vertebra connects to the one above and below it by two articular processes that allow for movement; the resulting joints are called facet joints. The vertebrae and intervertebral discs form the spinal column, surrounding and protecting the spinal canal and the nerves running through it.

Cartilage cushions each facet joint, but wear-and-tear from constant movement can break it down, worsening the degeneration of both the bones and the discs.

Degeneration can occur anywhere along the spine, but it’s most common in the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) spine because these are the sections that move the most.

Telltale signs of degenerative disc disease

Spinal discs don’t have their own blood supply, so if they become damaged, they can’t repair themselves easily. And as the disc degenerates, it may start to produce symptoms. The most characteristic symptom is low-grade, continuous pain near the disc site that occasionally flares into more severe or disabling pain.

Other symptoms of degenerative disc disease include:

• Instability: feeling that the spine can’t support you
• Feeling that spine is “locked”
• Muscle tension or muscle spasms
• Increased pain when you bend, twist, or lift something heavy
• Hot, sharp, radiating pain that travels into extremities (radiculopathy); sciatica is a good example of lumbar radiculopathy
• Increased pain when you sit or stand for extended periods or look down at a phone or book (“tech neck”)
• Reduced pain when stretching the spine
• Decreased pain with certain positions, such as lying with a pillow under the knees

If you experience symptoms, it’s time to come into Santa Cruz Osteopathic for an evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

5 risk factors for degenerative disc disease

Normal wear-and-tear isn’t the only reason you may develop DDD. Other risk factors include:

1. Repeatedly lifting or carrying heavy or bulky objects
2. Playing high-impact sports
3. Having the right (wrong) genes: a 2016 study in Genes & Diseases highlighted several genetic defects associated with spinal disc changes
4. Being overweight or obese: increases the load on your spine and compresses the spinal discs, according to a 2012 study in Arthritis & Rheumatology
5. Smoking: causes disc and related tissue dehydration, leading to degeneration

Having a spinal disease, such as ankylosing spondylitis (an inflammatory condition that causes vertebral fusion), can also play a role. Most often, DDD results from a combination of factors.

Treating degenerative disc disease

In most cases, DDD doesn’t require surgery. Dr. Bernstein uses a customized, integrative approach that helps you enjoy better whole-body health. Treatments include:

Osteopathic manual medicine (OMM)

Dr. Bernstein uses hands-on manipulation, including stretching, resistance, and light pressure, to reduce pain and recover function.

Nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy

The SpineMED® system uses precise computerized adjustments to the spine, relieving pressure on the discs and facet joints and increasing blood flow to degenerating discs.

Dr. Bernstein may also prescribe therapeutic exercise, acupuncture, appropriate medications and supplements, provide dietary/nutritional recommendations, or recommend interventional procedures (spinal injections or surgery) when appropriate.

Do you have telltale signs of degenerative disc disease? Don’t struggle with pain any longer; Santa Cruz Osteopathic can help. Give the office a call at 831-464-1605, or visit our contact page for more information.