Also, taking precautions not to stress your spine is helpful. For example, heavy lifting is not recommended, and if the disc is in the neck, then heavy lifting with the arms away from the body is not conducive to good health.
Acute discs typically get better with rest. The only absolute indication for surgery where surgery must be done or the damage is possibly irreversible is if the disc is so large that it suddenly causes bowel or bladder problems.
In that case, the surgery should be done right away to prevent permanent damage to those nerves. If the disc is in the neck and the legs are suddenly affected, some physicians would consider an operation necessary right away.
Some physicians may also consider surgery if the symptoms of weakness in the extremities are progressing at a rapid rate. In a vast majority of cases, immediate surgery is not indicated. Because up to 98 percent of disc problems get better without surgery, it is not needed if the symptoms can be controlled.
Tingling and numbness get better in most cases, and weakness in the muscles may take longer to recover. Some patients have recurrent bouts of back pain with or without nerve involvement. Sometimes these happen frequently and keep the person out of work, out of their sport or generally restricted from their activities. In those cases, injection of steroids into the area around the disc can sometimes get rid of the pain and inflammation. If that does not help, then surgery is an option. The indications for surgery for arthritis of the spine are similar to those for a disc problem in the spine.
If someone has pain that is easily controlled with rest and medication only every now and then, surgery is not indicated. If the pain and nerve symptoms occur frequently, are severe and limit your activity or are not controlled easily with rest and medication and are generally ruining your life, then surgery is a consideration.
Rarely the spine with arthritis gets so bad that the bones and spurs begin to constrict the nerves and the spinal cord. This gradual squeezing of the spinal cord is called stenosis and can happen very slowly.
In some cases, surgery is necessary to stop or slow down the process and is typically performed only when the symptoms get severe. The surgery for arthritis of the spine depends on exactly what is being pinched and where the arthritis is located. Sometimes the surgery is just to remove the spurs that are compressing the nerves, and sometimes the vertebrae are fused together to prevent the irritation that occurs when the two bones rub against each other when the spine moves.
The results of surgery and prognosis after surgery should be discussed with your physician. The decision to have surgery on your spine should be done after careful consideration of all of the factors involved.
Most spine problems get better without surgery, but when the symptoms begin to take over your life, consultation with a spine specialist is recommended.
There is little doubt that a structured exercise program helps people with spine disease. Surgery for spine problems should only be done after a careful consideration of the potential benefits, risks and the long-term consequences of surgery. We recommend that the patient seek out information from reliable sources and from careful consultation with physicians and family.
There are other spine conditions that can cause pain and nerve irritation that were not discussed here.
This guide discusses the most common form of spine disease and provides general information about spine problems. However, the information here may not apply to other conditions, and you should consult your physician if there are any problems. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What are the signs of arthritis of the spine? Figure 1. The bones rub against one another, causing the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. After age 40, most people have some disc degeneration, but not always with pain.
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We can only achieve these goals with your help. Strong, outspoken and engaged volunteers will help us conquer arthritis. By getting involved, you become a leader in our organization and help make a difference in the lives of millions. The body restabilizes the injured segment of the back. The patient experiences fewer bouts of back pain. What causes degenerative disc disease? Several factors can cause discs to degenerate, including age. Specific factors include: The drying out of the disc.
When we are born, the disc is about 80 percent water. As we age, the disc dries out and doesn't absorb shocks as well. Daily activities and sports, which cause tears in the outer core of the disc.
By age 60, most people have some degree of disc degeneration. Not everyone at that age has back pain, however. Injuries, which can cause swelling, soreness and instability. This can result in low back pain. What are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease? Degenerative disc disease refers to a condition in which pain is caused from a damaged disc. The X-ray shows degenerated discs on the left before surgery.
On the right is an X-ray of the discs after traditional spinal fusion surgery. How is degenerative disc disease diagnosed? A diagnosis is based on a medical history and a physical examination, as well as the symptoms and the circumstances where the pain started. Disc degeneration may cause no symptoms, or the pain may be so intense that the individual cannot continue with their daily activities. The condition starts with damage to the spine, but in time, symptoms can affect other parts of the body.
Symptoms usually get worse with age. The discomfort can range from mild to severe and debilitating. It can lead to osteoarthritis, with pain and stiffness in the back. The most common early symptom is usually pain and weakness in the back that radiates to another area.
If the damage is in the lower back, or lumbar spine, the discomfort may radiate to the buttocks and upper thighs. There may also be tingling, numbness, or both, in the legs or feet. If the damage is in the neck area, or cervical spine, the pain may spread to the shoulder, arm, and hand.
There may also be instability in the spine, leading to muscle spasms in the lower back or neck, as the body tries to stabilize the vertebrae. This can be painful. The pain may be worse when sitting, bending, lifting, or twisting. Walking, lying down, and changing position may help relieve it. Intervertebral discs, also known as intervertebral fibrocartilage or spinal discs, provide the padding between the vertebrae of the spine. They have an elastic structure, made of fibrocartilage tissue.
The outer part of the disc is known as the annulus fibrosus. It is tough and fibrous, and it consists of several overlapping layers. The intervertebral discs cushion the stress when the spine moves or bears weight. They also help the spine to bend.
As people age, repeated daily stresses on the spine and occasional injuries, including minor, unnoticed ones, can damage the discs in the back. To compensate, the body builds osteophytes, or bone spurs, small bony projections that develop along the edge of bones.
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