To better understand degenerative disc disease (DDD), it is important to understand how your spine works. The spine is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae. Except the vertebrae that are fused to form the sacrum and the bones that form the coccys, the vertebrae are separated from each other by the soft and compressible gel-filled discs that act as shock absorbers, allowing the spine to bend twist, and flex, while keeping vertebrae from rubbing together. Discs are made of a tough outer wall known as annulus fibrosus which surrounds a jelly soft center called nucleus pulposus. Discs are made up of about 80% of water which they slowly lose as they age, therefore reducing their ability to act as shock absorbers for the spine. Tears or cracks in the annulus pulposus may force out the nucleus pulposus, which causes the disc to bulge or break into fragments, Structural changes in the disc can cause back or neck pain by inducing spinal conditions such as herniated disc, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis…
Degenerative disc disease can affects any disc throughout the cervical and thoracolumbar spine. Degeneration of discs is irreversible, but there is evidence that exercise and careful management of the spine can contribute to improve the quality of life.
Nonsurgical treatment such as chiropractic, physiotherapy, physical therapy, acupuncture, medications, selfcare… is the first step to recovery. If the treatment doesn’t work, surgery may be recommended. Surgery is often required in the case of a proven herniated disc, stenosis, or instability and the symptoms can’t be controlled with nonsurgical treatments. The goal of surgery is to stop the motion at the diseased intervertebral disc and decompress the spinal cord or any spinal nerves.
Spinal fusion, also known as intervertebral arthrodesis is a surgical procedure to permanently join together, or fuse, two or more vertebrae to provide stability to the spine. Metal implants are used to hold the vertebrae together until new bone grows and make a bridge between them. Spinal fusion can be performed at any level of the spine but is most common in the most moveable lumbar and cervical parts.
Coming soon…