What is a Degenerative Spine Disease?

Degenerative spine diseases indicate all conditionsstiffness. Also, if you have back pain or suffer from
that cause defects in the perfect functioning of theany of the neurological problems like numbness in
spinal column. Usually, they start with a degenerativearms or legs, then you are likely to have a
disc problem. When your orthopedist talks aboutregenerative disc disease. The condition might get
degenerative spine, he is referring to the damage inworse when you sit.
the spinal disc, but which eventually affects all partsDiagnosis of degenerative spine disease:
of the spine. It is one of the most common spinalYour doctor will examine certain areas of your body
disorders found in both males and females.where you get pain like the neck, arms, lower back,
and legs. Apart from that, the following factors are
Different types of Degenerative Spine Disorders:checked:
As mentioned, degenerative spinal disorders begin- Spine and neck motion: How long you are suffering
with degenerative disc. This disorder is found infrom the pain? During neck and spine movement,
lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine. People who sufferwhere do you feel the pain? These are among the
from a degenerative disc disorder are generally in thequestions your physician will ask you.
middle age group. Degenerative disc disease occurs- Pain: the doctor determines the tenderness of
when the intervertebral disc begins to deteriorate.some specific area.
Repetitive daily stress and injuries can affect the- Reflex changes: The kneecap and Achilles tendon
discs in your spine. This problem occurs from theon your ankle are tested.
wear and tear of the bone, and causes some loss of- Weakness: Muscle test will be done to check
height and sponginess. In spinal stenosis, the spinalwhether they are strong or not. Medical experts may
canal narrows down. This leads to pressure on theask you to push or lift your legs, arm or hand.
spinal cord and nerve roots. The spinal disorder canSensory changes: To check if you feel any sensation
occur in any area of the spine, but is mostly found inin specific areas of legs or hands. Treatment: Your
the cervical and lumbar regions.doctor will mostly recommend physical therapy if you
At times one vertebra in the spine may slip onare suffering from degenerative spine disease. Some
another when the discs degenerate. This disorder isof the ways to relieve your pain are exercises like
known as spondylolisthesis.swimming, cycling, and walking. Your treatment
Again, this disorder takes place in the lumbar,depends upon the symptoms. The exercise chart is
thoracic, or cervical spinedrawn basis the case. There are also some
Causes and symptoms of degenerative spine (orconventional or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
degenrative disc disease):treatments to your problems.
Degenerative spine or disc disease occurs due toSurgery also helps you to treat a degenerative spine
acute or repetitive trauma, infection, or increasingdisease. This method is adopted when nonoperative
age. When you are suffering from degenerative discmedical treatment fails. When you have severe pain
disorder, you may experience severe leg pain, bethat becomes intolerable, you should opt for surgery.
limited to do perform only certain activities, and have