Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) severity varies, ranging from minor age-related wear with no pain to disabling chronic pain and mobility issues, potentially leading to serious complications like nerve compression (sciatica, arm pain, stenosis) or herniation, but many cases improve with non-surgical care, though severe situations might need surgery. It's a natural aging process but becomes a problem when discs lose height and integrity, causing instability, bone spurs, and nerve pinching, with emergency signs including bowel/bladder issues.
Degenerative disk disease treatment
Injections, medications, physical therapy and strengthening your core can ease symptoms. The majority of degenerative disc disease cases can successfully be treated with conservative treatment, including about 80% of acute radiculopathy, known as sciatica.
Degenerative disk disease is most common in people age 40 and older. Some factors increase your risk of developing degenerative disk disease, including: Acute injuries, like falls.
Degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 can cause persistent lower back pain, stiffness, and potential nerve irritation, especially if the disc bulges or protrudes and compresses nerve structures.
With the correct back brace, you'll be able to go about your daily life enjoying increased support and stability while experiencing less pain from your condition. A back brace may also be used to limit bending and twisting motions that can increase damage from DDD.
Standing for long periods of time can cause just as much pain as sitting can. The secret is finding balance in the two positions and offering your body opportunities to adjust, regularly. And that means getting up from a sitting position to move around and to sit occasionally if you favor a standing position.
Try some of these methods to alleviate your lower back pain:
If diagnostic tests indicate that changes in the discs cause vertebrae to move out of place or put pressure on nearby nerves, doctors may recommend surgery, which can include a minimally invasive approach. Physical therapy, acupuncture, and medication may relieve discomfort caused by degenerative disc disease.
Yes, non-surgical treatments are often the first line of management for an L5-S1 disc bulge. These can include physical therapy, pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, L5-S1 Transforaminal Epidural Injection, Inerlaminar Epidural and Caudal epidural injections and lifestyle modifications.
Key points. Degenerative disc disease isn't actually a disease, but rather a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. This pain can range from nagging to disabling. The condition can be caused by the drying out of the disc over time, daily activities, sports and injuries.
You should consult a degenerative disc disease specialist if you experience: Pain that persists for more than a few weeks, especially if it worsens with activity or sitting. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms, hands, or legs may indicate nerve compression.
Signs and Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
Some common signs and symptoms include: Persistent pain in the neck or back. Stiffness or soreness in the affected area. Radiating pain into the arms or legs (if the affected discs are in the cervical or lumbar spine)
Yes, you can qualify for long term disability benefits for degenerative disc disease. Long-term disability (LTD) benefits are an important part of any financial plan. These benefits provide a monthly payment of between 50 and 60% of your salary in the event that you are unable to work due to a disability.
If back or neck pain caused by degenerative disc disease doesn't respond to medication or therapeutic injections, NYU Langone doctors may recommend a surgical procedure. Surgeons may remove some or all of a damaged disc, take pressure off a pinched nerve, or eliminate movement between the bones of the spine.
Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medications, which reduce inflammation around nerves and the spinal cord. An epidural injection is especially helpful if degenerative disc disease results in a herniated disc or if bone growths develop and press painfully on nerve roots or the spinal cord.
A CT scan may be able to better demonstrate osteophytes as well as endplate sclerosis and vacuum disc sign, all related to findings of degenerative disc disease [4]. A CT scan is performed in a non-weight-bearing position and is of limited use to assess any dynamic instability in the lumbar spine.
While generally safe, l5 s1 disc surgery carries potential risks including infection, nerve damage, and persistent pain. Patients should monitor for signs of complications and maintain open communication with their healthcare team.
Massage therapy
This helps nourish and oxygenate the tissues around the spinal discs, supporting the natural healing process. Incorporating massage therapy into a comprehensive treatment plan, including physical therapy and exercises, can provide significant pain relief and promote natural healing of a bulging disc.
Orthopedic spine surgeons specialize in musculoskeletal conditions affecting bones, joints, and spinal structures. Neurosurgeons focus on disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. While both can treat spinal issues, orthopedic spine surgeons are often preferred for structural and mechanical spine problems.
The joints around the bones also experience too much stress. The bones and the joints react by making spurs (boney growths), and over time these spurs can begin to pinch the nerves that lead to your arm (Figure 3). This pinching of the nerves can cause pain and sometimes the symptoms mentioned above.
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.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
IDET is another simple option for treating degenerative disc disease. In this procedure, a thin tube is placed into the damaged disc. Heat is sent through the tube to make the disc stronger and reduce nerve pain, which can help you feel better.
Most back pain will subside after a few days, but if you've been experiencing pain for over a week, then it's time to call a doctor. Your doctor will perform any examinations or tests required to help get to the bottom of your pain before it could become a bigger problem.
The "Big 3" for lower back pain, developed by spine biomechanics expert Dr. Stuart McGill, are core-stabilizing exercises: the Curl-Up, Side Plank (Side Bridge), and Bird-Dog, designed to build core strength and endurance without excessive spinal stress, helping reduce pain and improve function. They focus on creating a stable "spine bridge" by engaging abdominals, obliques, and back muscles to protect the spine during movement.
There are many reasons you might feel pain in your lower back just above your buttocks — especially on one side. Overworked muscles, repetitive movements, nerve irritation, and joint issues can all play a role.