degenerative disc disease (spondylosis)

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Overview
Degenerative disc disease is a spinal condition caused by the breakdown of your intervertebral discs. As you
age, your spine begins to show signs of wear and tear as your discs dry out and shrink. These age-related
changes can lead to arthritis, disc herniation, or spinal stenosis, which can put pressure on your spinal cord and
nerves and may cause back pain. Several treatments can help relieve the pain. Each treatment offers benefits,
but each has limitations. You and your doctor should determine which treatment is best for you.

Vertebrae & intervertebral discs

To understand a degenerative disc, it is helpful to understand how your spine works (see Anatomy of the
Spine). Your spine is made up of a column of bones called vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a gel-filled disc
that acts a shock absorber, keeping your vertebrae from rubbing together. Discs are often compared to a jelly
doughnutthey have a tough outer wall (the annulus) and a soft center (the nucleus) (Fig. 1). Your discs are
made up of about 80% water, and as you get older, they slowly lose water, and with it their ability to act as
shock absorbers.

Figure 1. Normal disc.

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease (also called spondylosis) is a general term used to describe changes that can occur
along any area of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) as you age, but is most common in the lumbar area. Its
not actually a disease, but rather a condition in which your discs degenerate, or lose their flexibility and ability

to cushion your spine. Your discs dont have a good blood supply, so once injured it cant repair itself. These
age-related changes include (Fig. 2):

Discs dry out and shrink - made of about 80% water, as you get older they
slowly lose water. This loss of flexibility puts more stress on the annulus.

Small tears occur in the annulus - sometimes some of the gel-like material,
or nucleus pulposus, comes out through a tear in the wall and touches the
nerves. This material has many inflammatory proteins that can inflame the
nerves and cause pain (see Herniated Lumbar Disc). These tears also affect
the nerves in the annulus, and small movements, called micro-movements,
can cause discogenic pain. Over the years the proteins eventually dry up, and
the discs become stiffer; in many people this results in less pain by the time
they are in their sixties.

Disc space gets smaller - due to the loss of water in the discs the distance
between vertebrae begin to collapse, which is why we get shorter as we age.

Bone spurs grow without the discs holding apart the vertebrae, they can
rub on each other causing abnormal bone growths.

Spinal canal narrows the stresses of all the above changes causes the
ligaments and facet joints to enlarge (hypertrophy) as they try to compensate
and spread the load over a larger area. This over-growth causes the spinal
canal to narrow, which can compress the spinal cord and nerves causing pain
(see Spinal Stenosis).

Figure 2. Degenerative disc disease causes the discs (purple) to dry out and shrink, reducing the disc space
between vertebrae. Bone spurs and tears in the annulus may develop which can lead to spinal stenosis and
disc herniations, respectively.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease vary from person to person. Many people with deterioration have
no pain, while others may experience pain so intense that it interferes with daily activities. Interestingly, even
though this condition affects people starting in their twenties or thirties, people in their sixties are less likely to
have back pain caused by deteriorated discs.
Pain often starts in one of three ways: (1) a major injury followed by sudden and unexpected pain, (2) a trivial
injury followed by sudden back pain, and (3) pain that starts gradually and gets progressively worse.
Usually, the pain begins in the lower back, and may be felt in one or both of your legs and buttocks (sciatica). Its
often described as pressure or burning pain. You may also feel numbness or tingling in your leg and foot, which
usually is not a cause for concern unless you have weakness in your leg muscles.
You may have chronic underlying pain that is a nagging annoyance, and occasional episodes of intense muscle
pain from time to time. These episodes last from a few days to a few months.
Sitting usually causes the most pain because in this position your discs have more weight on them. Activities
such as bending or twisting usually make your pain worse, and lying down tends to relieve the pain. You may
actually feel better if you walk or run rather than sit or stand for too long.

What are the causes?

Doctors dont exactly know what causes degenerative disc disease. In addition to age and injury, arthritis and
osteoporosis, both degenerative conditions, contribute to degenerative disc disease.
Most abnormalities relating to DDD can be seen on an MRIan imaging scan that shows the parts of your back
in clear detail. While a large portion of people with back pain have abnormalities confirmed by MRI, studies on
healthy young adults have shown that as many as 30% of people without pain also have abnormalities that can
be seen on an MRI scan. (1)
Its not known why some people have pain and others dont, but various factors contribute to disc degeneration
including: genetic, environmental, autoimmune, inflammatory, and traumatic factors in combinations and ways
that arent yet understood.

Who is affected?
This condition usually affects young adults or middle-aged people who lead active lifestyles and are in
otherwise good heath. Studies have shown that people who smoke are at greater risk for developing
degenerative disc disease, as are people who work in certain occupations. People with DDD are more likely to
have family members who also have the condition.

How is a diagnosis made?

When you first experience pain, consult your family doctor. Your doctor will take a complete medical history to
understand your symptoms, any prior injuries or conditions, and determine whether any lifestyle habits are

causing the pain. Next a physical exam is performed to determine the source of the pain and test for any
muscle weakness or numbness.
Your doctor may order one or more of the following imaging studies: X-ray, MRI scan, discogram, myelogram,
or CT scan to identify a tumor, herniated disc, or other conditions that compress the nerve roots. Based on the
results, you may be referred to a neurologist, orthopedist, or neurosurgeon for treatment.

What treatments are available?

Many people in their thirties wonder if their degenerative condition will cause even more pain by the time they
are in their sixties. But by the time you are 60, your discs may have dried out to the point that they cause less
pain. While disc degeneration cant be reversed, there is evidence that exercise and careful management of
your back can contribute to better quality of life.
Nonsurgical treatment is the first step to recovery. If you dont respond to this treatment, your doctor may
recommend surgery; however, the long-term effectiveness of surgical treatment for degenerative disc disease
as opposed to natural history, conservative treatment, or placebo has yet to be studied. (5)
Nonsurgical treatments
Nonsurgical treatment for degenerative disc disease may include medication, rest, physical therapy, home
exercises, hydrotherapy, chiropractic, and pain management.
Self care. Using correct posture (see Posture for a Healthy Back) and keeping your spine in alignment are the
most important things you can do for your back. You may need to make adjustments to your daily standing,
sitting, and sleeping habits. You may also need to learn proper ways to lift and bend (see Self Care for Neck and
Back Pain). Your workspace may need to be rearranged to keep your spine from being under stress.
Stress is the number one obstacle to pain control. Pain increases when you are tense and stressed. Relaxation
exercises are one way of reclaiming control of your body. Deep breathing, visualization, and other relaxation
techniques can help you to better manage the pain you live with (see Pain Management).
Physical therapy. The goal of physical therapy is to help you return to full activity as soon as possible. Exercise
is very helpful for the pain of degenerative disc disease, and it can help you heal faster (see Exercise for a
Healthy Back). Physical therapists can instruct you on proper lifting and walking techniques, and theyll work
with you to strengthen and stretch your lower back, leg, and stomach muscles (see Coping with Back Pain).
Theyll also encourage you to increase the flexibility of your spine. Activity modification, rest, pain medication,
muscle relaxants, and application of ice may be helpful in the acute stages. Although your physical therapist
may show you strengthening exercises, its your responsibility to follow them.
Chiropractic. Chiropractic manipulation, or spinal adjustment, is a primary treatment that chiropractors use
for patients with back or neck pain. The chiropractor applies pressure to the area that is immobile or not
moving properly. Some people have very good results after being treated by a chiropractor.
The philosophy behind chiropractic adjustment is to return the joints to more normal motion. Good joint
motion is essential for the health and nutrition of the discs and joints because it permits the exchange of
nutrients, fluids, and waste. Good motion helps reduce pain, muscle spasms or imbalance, and improves
nervous system function and overall health. Without movement, discs and joints may degenerate more quickly
than normal. Motion also reduces the formation of scar tissue, which can lead to stiffness and degeneration
(see Chiropractic Care).

Medications. Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs),
and steroids. Sometimes muscle relaxers are prescribed for muscle spasms.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - aspirin, naproxen

(Naprosyn, Aleve), ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil), and celecoxib (Celebrex)
are examples of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to reduce
inflammation and relieve pain.

Analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) can relieve pain but dont have
the anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDs. Long-term use of analgesics and
NSAIDs may cause stomach ulcers as well as kidney and liver problems.

Steroids can be used to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the nerves.
They are taken orally (as a Medrol dose pack) in a tapering dosage over a
five-day period or as an injection directly into the source of pain. See epidural
steroid injections and facet injections. Steroids have the advantage of
providing almost immediate pain relief within a 24-hour period.

Holistic therapy. Some patients want to try holistic therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, nutritional
supplements, and biofeedback. The effectiveness of these treatments for degenerative disc disease may aid
you in learning coping mechanisms for managing pain as well as improving your overall health.
Surgical treatments
Surgery is rarely recommended unless you have a proven disc herniation or instability and your symptoms do
not significantly improve with nonsurgical treatments. The goal of surgery is to stop the movement of the
painful motion segment and decompress any spinal nerves. You should understand what surgery can and cant
do, and whether it can relieve your particular symptoms. Talk to your doctor about whether surgery is right for
you.
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure in which one or more of the bony vertebrae of the spine are permanently
joined together to provide stability to the spine. Spinal fusion can be performed at any level of the spine but is
most common in the lumbar and cervical regions where it is most moveable. At each level of the spine, there is
a disc space in the front and paired facet joints in the back. Working together, these structures define a motion
segment and permit range of motion. Two vertebral segments need to be fused to stop the motion at one
segment (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Spinal fusion restores the normal height of the disc space and prevents abnormal movement.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) uses a thin catheter to deliver heat directly into the spinal discs to
shrink the tears and fissures in the annulus and thermo-coagulate nerves to overcome discogenic back pain.

Clinical trials
Clinical trials are research studies in which new treatmentsdrugs, diagnostics, procedures, and other
therapiesare tested in people to see if they are safe and effective. Research is always being conducted to
improve the standard of medical care. Information about current clinical trials, including eligibility, protocol,
and locations, are found on the Web. Studies can be sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (see
clinicaltrials.gov) as well as private industry and pharmaceutical companies (see www.centerwatch.com).

Sources & links

If you have more questions, please contact the Mayfield Clinic at 800-325-7787 or 513-221-1100.
Sources

1. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back

pain. N Engl J Med 331:69-73, 1994.
2. Familial Predisposition for Degenerative Disc Disease. Spine 21:1527-9, 1996.
3. Incidence and risk factors of low-back pain in middle-aged farmers. Occup
Med (Lond) 45:141-6, 1995.
4. The Influence of Occupation on Lumbar Degeneration. Spine 24:1164, 1999.

5. Chronic pain-the end of the welfare state? Qual Life Res 3 Suppl 1:S11-7,
1994.
Links

www.spine-health.com

www.spineuniverse.com

Glossary
annulus (annulus fibrosis): tough fibrous outer wall of an intervertebral disc.
arthritis: joint inflammation caused by infection, immune deficiency (rheumatoid arthritis), or degeneration of
the cartilage that causes pain, swelling, redness, warmth, and restricted movement.
degeneration: the gradual deterioration of specific tissues, cells, or organs resulting in a loss of function,
caused by injury, disease, or aging.
disc (intervertebral disc): a fibrous cushion that separates spinal vertebrae. Has two parts, a soft gel-like center
called the nucleus and a tough fibrous outer wall called the annulus.
discogenic pain: pain arising from degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.
nucleus (nucleus pulposus): soft gel-like center of an intervertebral disc.
osteoporosis: a depletion of calcium in the bones making them weak, brittle, and prone to fracture. Common
in elderly women after menopause. Can be prevented early in life with calcium and regular exercise to
stimulate bone metabolism.
osteophyte: (bone spur) a bone projection that occurs near cartilage degeneration in joints. Often related to
osteoarthritis.
radiculopathy: refers to any disease affecting the spinal nerve roots. Also used to describe pain along the
sciatic nerve that radiates down the leg.
spondylosis: a spinal condition resulting from degeneration of the intervertebral discs in the spine causing
narrowing of the space occupied by the disc and the presence of bone spurs.
spinal stenosis: the narrowing of the spinal canal and nerve-root canal along with the enlargement of the facet
joints.
vertebra: (plural vertebrae): one of 33 bones that form the spinal column, they are divided into 7 cervical, 12
thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal. Only the top 24 bones are moveable.