You know you might have degenerative disc disease (DDD) in your neck (cervical DDD) if you experience chronic neck pain that can be dull or sharp, stiffness, headaches, and radiating symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in your shoulders, arms, or hands, often worsening with movement and improving with rest; a doctor diagnoses it through physical exam and imaging (MRI, X-ray) to see disc changes and nerve compression.
Some common degenerative disc disease symptoms include: Bouts of severe neck or lower back pain that disappear spontaneously after days or even months. Numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms and legs.
Treatment Options for Degenerative Disc Disease in the Neck
The most common symptoms include:
An MRI scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed two- and three-dimensional images of the discs as well as the nerves and spinal cord, which pass through the spinal canal. Doctors examine MRI scans for evidence of disc degeneration and to determine if any nerves are pinched between bones.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings and images then highlight the contrast between the bones, soft tissues and potential disc degeneration caused by the intervertebral discs drying out or leaking their protective fluid.
Stage 1: Disc Degeneration (Initial Changes)
This results in a reduction of disc height and may lead to a decrease in the space between adjacent vertebrae. Minor Tears and Cracks: The outer layer of the disc, known as the annulus fibrosus, may develop minor tears and cracks.
They can result in pain, degenerative scoliosis, and loss of mobility. The four main stages of degenerative disc disease are the Dysfunction Stage, the Dehydration Stage, the Stabilization Stage, and the Collapsing Stage.
For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling.
Persistent back or neck pain that worsens with activity may signal degenerative disc disease (DDD). Red flags include numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs, which are signs that nerve compression may be involved. Ignoring spinal degeneration can lead to chronic pain and mobility loss over time.
Most people who develop degenerative disc disease in the neck, or cervical degenerative disc disease, don't show symptoms. Those who do often find that they respond very well to conservative treatments like exercise, ice or heat, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy.
Vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction is often mistaken for degenerative disc disease because of the proximity of the disc to the endplate. If a radiologist isn't trained in vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction, it's easy to miss the signs on imaging.
Call your healthcare professional if you have neck pain that: Worsens in spite of self-care. Persists after several weeks of self-care. Radiates down your arms or legs.
The classic cardinal signs of cervical ischemia, colloquially referred to as the '5Ds and 3 Ns,' also present in the late stage of CAD: diplopia, dizziness, drop attacks, dysarthria, dysphagia, ataxia, nausea, numbness, and nystagmus [19,20].
Some causes of neck pain include:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests showed 20% of the people tested over 45 years-old have a disc bulge or degenerative disease, and nearly 60% of people over 65 years-old had degenerative disc disease.
Degenerative change in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine is common after the age of 40 years and affect more than 70% of patients older than 70 years [1]. The most commonly involved level is the intervertebral disc at C5–C6 followed by C6–C7.
#2 Neck pain
Disc degeneration symptoms are also common in the neck or cervical spine, another area of the spine that's very mobile. When you turn or bend your neck, you're more likely to pinch the nerves where the disc is affected. Pain can come and go or be chronic and persistent.
If you suffer from a spinal condition such as disc herniation or degeneration, spinal fractures, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, or other types of spinal injuries or pain, both a neurologist and an orthopedic doctor are equipped to treat these spinal conditions.
Researchers are still learning about how MS and DDD may be connected. In one study, people with progressive MS had higher rates of cervical DDD. Some studies suggest that people with MS might develop DDD in the neck earlier and more severely than people without MS.
Yes, you can work with degenerative disc disease, but it depends on the severity and your work conditions. Many individuals in New Jersey continue to work with degenerative disc disease by managing their symptoms through medical treatments, physical therapy, and lifestyle adjustments.