Degenerative discs in the spine can cause pain and symptoms like numbness or tingling. Treatment varies depending on location, cause, and symptoms. Surgery is a last resort.
A degenerative disc is a disc in the spine that causes pain and symptoms such as numbness or tingling. Disc degeneration can be a natural part of aging or it can be caused by an underlying medical condition. Treatment for a degenerative disc varies depending on the location of the disc, the cause of the degeneration, and the types of symptoms the patient experiences. Sometimes, the body is able to stabilize the situation on its own, resolving the symptoms along with the problem.
Discs are pads that fit between the vertebrae, acting as shock absorbers. They consist of a hard outer layer and a gelatinous inner layer. Both of these layers can be involved in problems with a degenerative disc. In a herniated disc, for example, the soft inner layer pushes out through a tear in the outer layer, causing considerable pain and applying pressure to surrounding nerves.
Degenerative discs are often brought up in the context of degenerative disc disease (DDD), a problem that occurs in many older people. Technically, this condition isn’t a disease, but rather a set of symptoms associated with damage to the discs in the spine. These symptoms may include back pain that changes if the patient changes position, tingling and numbness, shooting pains, and general discomfort around the region of the spine where a problem has developed. Inflammation around the disc may also be present due to irritation caused by damage to the disc.
In some cases, the best treatment for a degenerative disc is no treatment. The patient can be encouraged to gently stretch and pay attention to sleeping and sitting positions in the hope that the problem will resolve itself. More aggressive treatments may include the use of medications to manage pain and other symptoms or physical therapy to strengthen the spine and address back pain, tingling and numbness.
You may need surgery to correct a degenerative disc. In surgery, a variety of techniques can be used, depending on the cause of the problem. A disc may be replaced, for example, or two vertebrae may be fused together to stabilize the spine. Herniated discs can be surgically repaired, as can narrowing of the spinal canal caused by the development of bone spurs and growths. Surgery is usually used as a last resort, only after the patient appears to be a viable candidate for surgery, as spinal surgery can be dangerous and time consuming.
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