Degenerative disc disease

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) occurs at all levels of the spine and to the majority of the population though may be asymptomatic to many (without pain) and is part of the aging process. The spinal structures most affected by degenerative disease are the intervertebral discs and articular facet joints. Los Angeles Medical Clinic offers facet Degenerative disc disease pain treatment. Pain being successfully treated with facet injections.

These conditions are similar to osteoarthritis of the spine. Facet arthritis involves changing in disc structure and function that can lead to changes in the articular facets, especially hypertrophy (overgrowth), resulting in the redirection of compressive loads from the anterior and middle columns to the posterior elements. There may also be hypertrophy of the vertebral bodies adjacent to the degenerating disc; these bony overgrowths are known as osteophytes (or bone spurs).

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease include low back pain and/or buttocks pain. If leg pain also exists, there is likely an additional cause, eg, HNP, stenosis, etc – DDD is not usually the sole diagnosis for these additional pains. Diagnosis is typically made by MRI/patient examination and/or CT, in some cases, to rule out other diagnosis. Discography can also be used to diagnosis this condition.
Nonoperative care for DDD may include rest for acute, low back pain, NSAID medication, or Physical Therapy. Non-operative treatments such as steroidal and facet injections work very well for pain associated with this condition and is the “gold” standard for relief of pain associated with this age related disease.

The aging process of the spine is thought to begin in the annulus fibrosis with changes to the structure and chemistry of the concentric layers of the spine. Over time, these layers suffer a loss of water content and proteoglycan, which changes the disc’s mechanical properties, making it less resilient to stress and strain. There is a loss of H20 and protoglycans, collagen between the disks and annular fissures are created which leads to mechanical incompetence, bony changes also affect the aging process of the spine.