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Posted 12/17/2020 in Category 1 by Amelia Grant

7 Symptoms That Can Indicate Degenerative Disc Disease


7 Symptoms That Can Indicate Degenerative Disc Disease

Unlike other parts of your body, spinal discs have a poor blood supply. For this reason, they cannot repair themselves. During your life, discs experience excessive stress because they hold all your weight. For this reason, the discs in the back and neck start to deteriorate. This condition is called degenerative disc disease. 

Untreated degenerative disc disease is among the leading causes of disability. It is important to know the symptoms of this condition to start treatment ASAP. Don’t miss these 7 symptoms of degenerative disc disease to ensure your health and the health of others.

1. Muscle spasms

Degenerative disc disease makes your discs less supple and narrow. It decreases their ability to provide adequate cushioning for the vertebrae which leads to vertebrae shifts. While this movement affects nearby bones, it may also lead to a pinched nerve and muscle spasms. Degenerative disc disease is often accompanied by osteoarthritis. It puts pressure on the back, leading to spasms in your spinal cord. 

2. Back pain that gets worse when sitting

When you sit, the load in the discs in your back increases by around three times compared to when you are standing. Healthy discs in the back have a soft layer from the outside and firmer fibrous tissue on the outside. They act as cushions and protect discs from injuries. If these protective layers wear down, the discs become more prone to wear and tear. 

In this case, increased pressure while you sit can cause serious discomfort and pain. For some people, activities like walking or lying down can help you ease the pain. 

3. Pain in the neck and arms

People with degenerative disc disease that is directly related to the exact location of the affected disc. If the affected disc in the neck, you will most likely experience pain in the neck. The pin may begin with a stiffness that radiates in the hands, shoulder, and arms. Degenerative disc disease causes fluid loss in the cervical discs so they become less flexible. The distance between the vertebrae decreases, reducing your range of motions and causing pain. 

4. Back pain that gets worse when bending

In a healthy spine, there is a height between the vertebrae. This allows you to move and bend. Because discs experience mechanical stress from everyday movements, absorbing pressure, and keeping the spine flexible. When the disc tissues wear down, it cannot provide cushioning and protection between vertebrae. 

The poor cushion can reduce your flexibility. This can make you feel pain when you bend over or perform any twisting motion.

5. Muscle weakness in the legs

Degenerative disc disease can lead to pain and weakness in the legs. Along with legs, it can cause muscle weakness in the hips and foot drop. It causes an inability to lift the front part of the foot off the floor. Muscle weakness can be accompanied by burning pain and sensory loss. Degenerative disc disease treatment can help relieve these symptoms. 

6. Sciatica

Sciatica is a common symptom of disc degenerative disease. The pain from sciatica may start in the lower back and travels to one or both legs. It appears when something injures a sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. When a degenerated disc disease occurs in the lower back, it can compress or irritate the sciatic nerve. This can lead to pain that radiates from the lower back. 

7. Tingling in the extremities

If you feel something like an inability to feel something touching the skin or pins-and-needle sensation it can indicate degenerative disc disease. Pressure on the nerves in the spine can also cause tingling and numbness in the extremities. Degenerative disc disease often affects nerves in the neck and increases pressure on the spinal cord. Numbness and tingling can indicate nerve inflammation, irritation, or a pinched nerve.