Degenerative
Disc Disease
What is Degenerative Disc
Disease, what causes it, and what you need to know
about treatment and prevention... a NO B.S. look at
one of the most confusing back pain conditions.
by Jesse Cannone,
CFT, CPRS + Steve Hefferon, CMT
First off, the term "degenerative
disc disease" itself is very misleading... the
fact is, degeneration of discs is not a disease...
it’s actually quite normal. All of us experience
some level of deterioration, however it’s the
cases of excessive breakdown that actually lead to
pain and other symptoms.
Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease at all. It's a term that describes the natural changes the spinal discs undergo as a person ages. Degenerative disc disease usually occurs in the lower back and the neck, though it can take place anywhere along the spine. As a disc degenerates, it may put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, which often leads to pain and may affect nerve function. While everyone will experience these changes in their discs, most people will not have pain.
Degeneration of a disc is simply
a breakdown and wearing away of the disc, which serves
as a cushion between the vertebrae of the spine. Discs
are a gel-like substance, comprised of over 90% water
and are normally strong and durable, however, when
placed under uneven pressure and compression for years
they can easily give way.
Cause of Degenerative
Disc Disease
So what causes all this uneven pressure?
There are several factors such as excessive body weight
and years of physical stress... however, the biggest
cause is always a combination of muscle imbalances.
Spinal discs break down with age, resulting in a loss of fluid that can prevent discs from acting as natural shock absorbers. This fluid loss makes discs thinner and shrinks the gap between the vertebrae. Muscle imbalances - essentially, one set of muscles overpowering another - create "postural dysfunctions" that put abnormal pressure on a disc and cause increased wear and tear over time. Eventually, the weak spot gives way and makes contact with the nerve, bringing pain. Barring trauma, degenerative disc disease does not happen overnight. It takes a long time for a nerve to be put under enough pressure to cause pain. |
