Category: Spine | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: April 12, 2016 Show
Despite its ominous sounding name, degenerative disc disease is a natural process that occurs in the majority of individuals as we age. In fact, degenerative disc disease is actually more of a condition than a traditional disease. The “disease” is nothing more than the gradual deterioration and thinning of the shock-absorbing intervertebral discs in the spine. When it happens at multiple discs or levels throughout the spine, this is known as multilevel degenerative disc disease. Degenerative Disc SymptomsMultilevel degenerative disc disease can occur at any level of the spine, in the cervical region (neck), the thoracic region (upper/mid-back) or the lumbar region (lower back). It can cause a variety of symptoms, and oftentimes exact symptoms depend on the specific location of the degeneration, but the most common symptoms include regionalized:
Multilevel Degenerative Disc Disease TreatmentPreventing the spread of degenerative disc disease involves catching the condition in an early stage, as damage to one disc can lead to a domino-like effect on other spinal levels, putting them at risk for disease or other conditions, like disc herniation. If you’re dealing with any of the above symptoms, head into your doctor’s office. After listening to your description of symptoms and conducting a physical exam, your doctor will confirm the diagnosis with the assistance of an MRI or CT scan. If the scans show that you are dealing with disc degeneration at multiple levels, your doctor will go over your non-surgical options. Degeneration can’t be reversed, but symptoms can be controlled and progression can be greatly slowed with some of the following non-surgical options:
If none of the above conservative methods bring relief, you may be a candidate for surgery. The operation is designed to stabilize the spine and protect any structures that could be affected by future degeneration. Your surgeon will walk you through your options and expectations should you need surgery for you multilevel degenerative disc disease. There are myriad treatment options for lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease, and it is common for several treatments to be combined to achieve both near-term pain relief and longer-term rehabilitation. Lumbar DDD can cause lower back pain and/or radiating pain from damaged discs in the spine. Most people with degenerative disc disease respond well to nonsurgical treatments.
The long-term outlook for this condition is usually favorable, especially when coupled with lifestyle modifications and the correct use of ergonomics.1 This article describes the various treatments available to manage the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, including addressing both painful flare-ups as well as longer-term pain management and rehabilitation. advertisement Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment GoalsInfographic: Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (larger view) The vast majority of people with degenerative disc disease experience low back pain symptoms that flare up periodically, but do not get worse over time. For those people, the main goals for managing lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease are usually:
Once a disc has degenerated, the degenerative process cannot be reversed. Instead of trying to rehabilitate the disc itself, treatment focuses on improving the health of surrounding structures, such as the spinal nerves, vertebral bones and joints, and supporting muscles and ligaments. See The "Degenerative Cascade" of a Degenerating Disc The main goals of the rehabilitation program include a therapist-guided and individual approach, which aim to2:
Continuing to build overall fitness through exercise programs and teaching patients to promote maximum function and independence within their capability is usually continued for a few months after the initial treatment(s).2 In This Article:Example Progression of Treatment Regimens for Lumbar Degenerative Disc DiseaseTreatments need to be individualized. However, as a general rule, lumbar degenerative disc disease treatments start with basic pain control and non-invasive treatments and progress, if needed, to more extensive and/or invasive treatments. One example of how treatment approaches may progress over time would be:
Bed rest beyond the first 2 days of sharp, severe pain is not usually advised, because regular movement improves blood circulation and muscle strength and helps the body to heal more quickly than bed rest. See Deciding on Surgery for Degenerative Disc Disease The above is just one example of a typical progression of treatments, and additional therapies or a different type of progression of care is not uncommon based on the patient’s condition and the treating physician’s preferences as well as other variables. Active and Passive Treatment OptionsThe treatments for degenerative disc disease generally fall into two categories:
Passive treatments, such as pain medications or injections, are rarely effective on their own—an active component, such as a controlled, progressive exercise program for rehabilitation, is almost always recommended. Additional therapies, such as heat and/or ice therapy, acupuncture, and behavioral therapy, may also provide enough low back pain relief to allow the continuation of an exercise and rehabilitation program. advertisement Team Approach to Pain ManagementFor some, an integrated team of specialists may be best suited to manage the chronic lower back pain from degenerative disc disease. A team will usually comprise some combination of the following health professionals:
In addition, a specialized nurse case manager or another health professional may work with the team to coordinate the care needed to treat depression, disability, and chronic pain. Read more about Specialists Who Treat Back Pain Sometimes the combination of treatments is more effective than individual treatments. For example, the use of cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to improve the benefits of physical therapy3 and reduce sleep problems. References
How is multi level degenerative disc disease treated?If multi-level degenerative disc disease eventually sets in, your doctor will first begin by administering a course of conservative treatment, which may include rest, pain medications, physical therapy, exercise and diet modifications.
Is mild degenerative disc disease curable?Answer: Unfortunately, there's currently no cure for degenerative disc disease, and once you're diagnosed with DDD, it's typically a lifelong journey of learning to live with back pain, neck pain, or other symptoms. Once your discs begin to degenerate, you can't really reverse the process.
What does mild multilevel degenerative disc disease mean?Once a disc starts to degenerate and cause symptoms, this is known as degenerative disc disease, and if multiple discs are deteriorating in different spinal sections, this is known as multilevel degenerative disc disease.
Can you reverse mild degenerative disc disease?Unfortunately you cannot reverse degenerative disc disease, but you do have other options to reduce pain and enjoy your life. Begin by losing some weight if you are overweight, stop smoking, maintain good posture, and avoid activities that put stress on that area of your back.
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