Spine, Back & Neck Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment

Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis & Treatment In Wayne, New Jersey

Degenerative disc disease is an age-related condition that occurs when one or more of your spinal discs begin to break down. Its symptoms are uncomfortable, but luckily, relief exists. High Mountain Orthopedics treats this and other spinal conditions from our office in Wayne, New Jersey. Get in touch today to begin your path toward relief.

What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Spinal discs are soft, rubbery pads between the vertebrae, providing a cushion that absorbs shock and allows the spine to bend and twist without rubbing or chafing. As your body ages, these discs begin to lose their flexibility. They become brittle, prone to tearing, and less effective in absorbing shock. This is degenerative disc disease or DDD. It’s accompanied by a range of symptoms that worsen over time, including:

• Mild to severe back or neck pain
• Numbness or tingling in arms or legs
• Weakness in the leg muscles
• Pain that worsens when bending, reaching, or twisting
• Pain that worsens when sitting

DDD is a natural occurrence. If you are struggling with DDD, seek treatment for relief and the opportunity to slow the disease’s progress.

Major Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

Unlike most of the body, spinal discs have a very low blood supply. This limits their ability to repair themselves over time when they lose water or become damaged. As a result, they tend to deteriorate much more quickly than other parts of the body, making them incredibly vulnerable to age.

Though aging is the greatest cause of DDD, other factors can accelerate the deterioration process or exacerbate an existing condition. One of these is lifestyle. Repetitive bending, twisting, and lifting can put extra strain on a patient’s discs. In the same way, extreme physical activity – like sports – can put small tears in a disc. Meanwhile, prior injuries may cause swelling, soreness, and instability that weaken discs and leave them vulnerable to degeneration.

Our Treatments for DDD

If you or a loved one is struggling with degenerative disc disease, our first step is to evaluate your health and assess the extent of the damage. In most cases, physical therapy can help restore range of motion and provide some pain relief while preventing the degenerative condition from worsening. We may also prescribe medications, especially anti-inflammatory drugs, for further relief. More severe cases might be treated with a steroid injection.

Some extreme cases of DDD, however, may require surgery. We will discuss this option with you and ensure you are part of the decision-making process. Surgery should only be considered when other options have failed or if progressive damage leads to worsening numbness or weakness.

Seek Relief from Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disk disease is an uncomfortable reality of aging. Luckily, there are ways to find relief and even slow the disorder’s progress. At High Mountain Orthopedics, we provide proven, effective treatments to make sure you can live your life to the fullest. Contact us today at one of our locations in Wayne, NJ, to schedule an in-person or telemedicine appointment.