What Is Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease?
Lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a leading cause of chronic low back pain, affecting millions of individuals across the world. It is particularly prevalent among adults over the age of 30 and becomes increasingly common with age.
At Compass Pain and Wellness, we recognize the profound impact this condition can have on a person’s quality of life. That’s why our multidisciplinary team of interventional pain specialists, physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and chiropractors works together to provide a comprehensive, individualized approach to managing your lumbar degenerative disc issues.
We take a structured approach to degenerative disc disease treatment, combining diagnostics, lifestyle changes, procedures, and therapies to support your mobility and well-being.
Customized Treatment Plans
At Compass Pain and Wellness, we customize degenerative disc disease treatment to suit your unique needs, blending advanced therapies with lifestyle changes. Our approach prioritizes long-term relief, seamlessly integrating treatments into your daily life. From targeted interventions to healthy habits such as staying active and eating well, we ensure you have what you need to improve mobility and maintain lasting well-being.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
We prioritize non-invasive treatments for degenerative discs, using advanced techniques to manage pain and inflammation, improve function, and reduce reliance on surgery. These procedures offer effective relief with minimal downtime, helping you regain function. We keep you informed and supported every step of the way, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
Comprehensive Care
We focus on more than just symptom relief by pinpointing the main cause of degenerative disc disease with a balanced approach that improves mobility and enhances overall well-being. By combining advanced medical treatments with complementary therapies such as physical therapy, mindfulness, and chiropractic care, we develop a treatment plan specifically tailored to your needs.
Lasting Relief
Our focus goes beyond immediate pain relief, we emphasize sustainable condition management. By targeting the main causes of degenerative disc disease, we work to improve function and support lasting mobility.
Understanding Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
DDD is not actually a disease but a condition that describes the natural breakdown of intervertebral discs in the spine. These discs serve as cushions between the vertebrae, allowing for flexibility and shock absorption. As the discs deteriorate, they lose hydration, elasticity, and height, which can lead to reduced spine stability and pain.
The lumbar spine, located in the lower back, bears much of the body’s weight and is thus especially prone to wear and tear. When the intervertebral discs in this region degenerate, they may cause localized pain, referred pain, or nerve compression.
DDD is often progressive, but it doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, you may experience varying degrees of discomfort, ranging from mild to debilitating.
Common Symptoms Of Lumbar Disc Disease
The symptoms of lumbar DDD vary based on the severity of degeneration and whether nearby nerves are affected. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Lower Back Pain: Often described as dull or aching, it may flare up periodically.
- Pain That Worsens With Activity: Bending, lifting, twisting, or prolonged sitting often aggravates the pain.
- Pain Relief When Lying Down: Unlike some spinal conditions, DDD pain often improves with rest or reclining.
- Radiating Leg Pain: Pain may spread to the buttocks, thighs, or even calves if nerve roots are compressed (similar to sciatica).
- Tingling Or Numbness: Particularly in the legs or feet due to nerve irritation.
- Muscle Weakness: If nerves are compressed for a prolonged period, motor function may be affected.
- Increased Pain With Spinal Loading: Activities such as running, jumping, or even sitting upright for long periods can intensify symptoms.
These symptoms may come and go and can worsen over time if the condition is left untreated.
What Causes Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease?
DDD is primarily caused by the natural aging process. However, several contributing factors can accelerate disc degeneration:
Age-Related Changes
With aging, discs lose water content and elasticity, making them less effective as cushions.
Repetitive Stress
Jobs or activities involving frequent bending, lifting, or vibration can contribute.
Genetics
A family history of DDD increases the risk of developing the condition.
Obesity
Excess weight puts additional strain on the lumbar spine.
Injury Or Trauma
Disc injuries can initiate or accelerate degeneration.
Smoking
Reduces blood flow and oxygen to spinal tissues, impairing disc health [1].
Understanding these causes is essential to both treatment and prevention strategies.
What Happens If Lumbar Disc Disease Is Left Untreated?
When lumbar DDD is not addressed, the condition may lead to progressive deterioration and more significant impairment. Potential complications include:
- Chronic Low Back Pain: Persistent discomfort that affects daily activities, sleep, and quality of life.
- Herniated Or Bulging Discs: Weakened discs are more prone to rupture, potentially pressing on nerves and causing radiculopathy.
- Spinal Stenosis: The narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to increased nerve pressure.
- Spondylolisthesis: A condition where one vertebra slips over another due to disc instability.
- Reduced Mobility: Chronic stiffness and pain can lead to physical deconditioning and postural changes.
- Psychological Effects: Ongoing pain may contribute to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal.
Early intervention can prevent or slow the progression of these complications and improve long-term outcomes.
Our Approach To Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Lumbar DDD can be a persistent and painful condition that prevents you from doing the activities you love. This may impact mobility, work, hobbies, and even emotional well-being, making everyday tasks more challenging.
Take the next step and schedule your evaluation today.
At Compass Pain and Wellness, the first treatment step will always be a detailed evaluation with your doctor to give you the answers you need. Next, our team will build a plan of care tailored to your specific pathology. This may involve advanced medical treatments as well as supportive therapies to address all aspects of your symptoms.
How To Diagnose
Diagnosing lumbar DDD begins with a detailed clinical evaluation by a medical doctor. At Compass Pain and Wellness, we use a combination of history-taking, physical examination, and diagnostic imaging to accurately assess the condition.
Clinical History
Patients are asked about:
- Onset and duration of symptoms.
- Aggravating and relieving factors.
- Functional limitations.
- Previous injuries or treatments.
Physical Examination
- Palpation: To identify tender areas or muscle spasms.
- Range Of Motion Tests: To detect movement limitations.
- Neurological Tests: Assess reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength.
Imaging Studies
- X-rays: Reveal loss of disc height, bone spurs, and spinal alignment issues.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Provides detailed images of soft tissues, including discs, nerves, and spinal cord. Crucial for assessing disc desiccation, bulges, or herniations.
- CT Scans: Useful for bony detail, especially if MRI is contraindicated.
Diagnostic Injections
- Discography: A contrast dye is injected into the disc to reproduce pain and assess integrity.
- Nerve Blocks: Help pinpoint the source of pain.
Accurate diagnosis helps develop a targeted, effective treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs.
Conservative Treatment Approaches
At Compass Pain and Wellness, we embrace a multimodal, patient-centered treatment strategy that combines traditional medical interventions with holistic therapies.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy improves strength, flexibility, and mobility while addressing pain from injury or chronic conditions.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture stimulates targeted points on the body to reduce pain, support healing, and restore energy balance.
Massage
Massage therapy eases muscle tension and improves circulation to support pain relief and overall well-being.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care improves spinal alignment and joint function to reduce pain and enhance physical mobility.
Medication Therapy
Medication therapy uses tailored prescriptions to reduce chronic pain and improve daily function and comfort.
Lifestyle Modifications
Physical activity tailored to individual capacity.
Advanced Treatment Approaches
Epidural Steroid Injection
Epidural steroid injections reduce spinal inflammation to ease pain radiating from nerve compression or irritation.
Facet Joint Injections
Target the small joints between vertebrae contributing to pain.
Medial Branch Blocks And Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Temporarily or permanently disrupt pain signals from affected joints.
Disc Decompression Procedures
Minimally invasive techniques to remove disc material and relieve nerve pressure.
Regenerative Therapies
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): Uses the patient’s own growth factors to promote healing of damaged discs.
Surgical Options
- Considered when conservative and interventional measures fail.
- Options include discectomy, spinal fusion, or artificial disc replacement.
- Surgery is typically reserved for severe cases with neurological compromise.
References
- Battié MC, Videman T, Kaprio J, et al. The Twin Spine Study: Contributions to a changing view of disc degeneration. Spine J. 2009;9(1):47-59.
- Yuan J, Purepong N, Kerr DP, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain: A systematic review. Spine. 2008;33(23):E887-E900.
Our Providers
Meet our experienced and compassionate team of doctors who specialize in helping you manage your condition. With a patient-centered approach, our doctors work to understand your unique needs and provide compassionate, personalized care. Trust our providers to guide you on your journey to better health and improved well-being.
