Degenerative Disc Disease Resources
Resources
Sciatica Information
Information about sciatica and how it is developed. Who can develop sciatica and is it hereditary. What treatments are available to people suffer from sciatica
Bulging Disc Information
The similarities of disc problems in the back are what make them difficult to diagnosis. Find out more useful information about how a bulging disc forms and what kind of treatment plan you can expect.
Bone Spurs Info
The development of a bone spur takes many years with many people never feeling any symptoms or sign of pain from it.
Herniated Disc
An explanation on how a herniated disc occurs and what the difference is between disc complication in the back.
Ruptured Disc Information
Find out how a ruptured disc can occur, how to know if you have one, and what to do to treat it.
Treatments
Laminotomy
Through a laminotomy, the ligament can be removed, therefore opening up the spinal canal and releasing the nerve(s).
Foraminotomy
Foraminotomies are performed with minimal damage to the surrounding muscles. The muscles are pushed out of the way and are not torn or cut.
Facet Thermal Ablation
The function of the facet joint is to provide support, stability, and mobility to the vertebrae (spine). There are two facet joints between each vertebrae. They are located on each side of the vertebrae. Facet disease can occur at any level of the spine, but are most common in the lumbar region.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy
When a traditional percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy is performed, the surgeon uses X-ray monitoring and fiber optics resulting in pictures displayed on a monitor similar to a TV screen, therefore allowing the surgeon to see what is compressing the nerve during the procedure and remove it with laser, ensuring a much higher rate of success.
Spinal Fusion Alternative
Fusion is a conventional surgical technique in which one or more of the vertebrae of the spine are joined together ("fused") so that motion no longer occurs between them.
Symptoms
Numbness
With the degeneration of a disc, often a nerve will become pinch as the area around it is compressed. This will often lead to numbness in either the extremities. Depending on where the impinged nerve is located, the symptoms will be felt in the upper or lower extremities.
Tingling sensations
When degenerative disc disease leads to conditions such as a herniated disc, tingling can often be felt in the legs and through the knees.
Low Back Pain
In cases of degenerative disc disease chronic low back pain will often radiate to the hip and down the legs.
Pins and Needles
A common symptom of degenerative disc disease is felt as pins and needles in the affected extremities.
Back Pain
Degenerative disc disease will often have symptoms that reflect some form of pain pain which will often radiate into the legs
Causes
Wear and tear
As the years go by and we continually place strains and stress on our spinal discs, it is only natural that they will start to degenerate, becoming weaker and more susceptible to injury.
Heredity
heredity is one of the causes of degenerative disc disease.
Age
The leading cause of degenerative disc disease is associated with age. As we age our disc will begin to degenerate leading to multiple back problems.