Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

Degenerative disc disease is the progressive wear and tear of intervertebral discs. This wear and tear can cause you to lose flexibility and cushioning in the spine. Some common causes of DDD may include:

• Aging: Your discs can naturally degenerate over time
• Genetic Factors: Some people are predisposed to spinal conditions like DDD
• Lifestyle Factors: Activities that place excessive strain on your spine, such as heavy lifting and poor posture, can contribute to disc degeneration

If you are suffering from DDD, it can manifest in the following ways:

• Chronic neck or back pain
• Pain, Numbness or tingling that radiates to your extremities
• Weakness in your arms or legs

An experienced neurosurgeon or spinal expert can diagnose DDD via:

• Physical Examination: Assessment of range of motion, pain response, and neurological function
• Imaging: MRI and CT scans provide detailed images of disc health and spinal alignment

Can surgery help degenerative disc disease? Yes, but your provider will likely recommend non-surgical options first. Spinal degeneration surgery may be recommended if your symptoms are severe and non-surgical interventions do not provide adequate relief.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Mild to moderate cases of DDD can often be treated with non-surgical interventions.

Physical Therapy

Targeted exercise can strengthen the muscles that support your spine and improve flexibility. Your physical therapist will also work to promote pain relief through stretching and an exercise regimen tailored to your needs.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers can help manage your symptoms. In some cases, your provider may prescribe muscle relaxants or oral steroids to reduce inflammation and discomfort.

Lifestyle Modifications

Implementing changes to your lifestyle can help with degenerative disc disease. Maintaining a healthy weight and improving your posture may reduce the strain on your spine and slow the progression of DDD. You may also need to substitute high-impact activities like weightlifting or sprinting for alternatives such as walking and calisthenics.

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections are administered into the epidural space, which is located between the vertebral bones of your spine and the dura mater. These injections target the inflamed nerves and can provide temporary pain relief.

When Is Surgery Considered for Degenerative Disc Disease?

When is surgery needed for degenerative disc disease? Here are some indicators that you may need to consider surgical intervention.

Indications for Surgery

Your provider may recommend surgical intervention when you are dealing with:

• Pain that persists despite comprehensive non-surgical treatments
• Degeneration that causes neurological deficits
• Impaired quality of life

A thorough evaluation is necessary to identify the root cause of these symptoms and determine the most appropriate degenerative disc disease spine surgery based on your condition.

Patient Evaluation

A thorough assessment by a neurosurgeon is critical in determining if surgery is right for you. Your surgeon will consider factors such as your overall health and age, as well as your activity level and the specific spinal pathology you are experiencing.

Surgical Options for Degenerative Disc Disease

What surgery is done for degenerative disc disease? Your neurosurgeon will recommend a spinal degeneration surgery based on several factors, including the location of your degeneration and the severity of your pain. Here are some of the procedures that you may be evaluated for.

Discectomy

A degenerative disc disease discectomy involves removing the damaged part of your disc to relieve nerve pressure. Surgeons often perform this procedure to address herniated discs that are causing nerve compression.

Spinal Fusion

Degenerative disc disease spinal fusion involves joining two or more vertebrae to eliminate painful motion and stabilize your spine. Spinal fusion for degenerative disc disease has a high success rate and can provide lasting relief.

However, you will also lose flexibility at the fusion site because those vertebrae will no longer move independently of one another.

Artificial Disc Replacement

Artificial disc replacement is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to spinal fusion. The surgeon will replace your degenerated disc with an artificial one to maintain flexibility and motion at the spinal segment.

Minimally Invasive Procedures

Techniques like a microdiscectomy involve smaller incisions and a faster recovery process. You may also recover more quickly and experience less postoperative pain. Many traditional DDD surgeries can now be performed using minimally invasive techniques.

Risks and Benefits of Surgical Intervention

Can surgery fix degenerative disc disease? Yes, but no surgery is risk-free. It’s important to weigh the benefits of surgical intervention against the potential risks so that you can make an informed decision.

Benefits

The two primary benefits of DDD surgery include significant pain relief and enhanced quality of life. Some interventions may also provide improved mobility and allow you to return to activities you love.

Risks

Potential complications involved with DDD surgery include infection, bleeding, and nerve damage. Minimally invasive procedures can decrease these risks.

You will also need to plan for a lengthy recovery process and rehabilitation requirements. Adherence to these recommendations is critical to the long-term success of your procedure.

Additionally, certain types of procedures, such as disc fusion, create a risk of adjacent segment degeneration. This may cause vertebrae above and below the fusion site to degenerate at an accelerated rate.

Authors of this Blog: The Ridgewood Spine Team