what causes degerative disk diease?

pender · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 17

I was feeling pain while lifting or twisting, and it started few months ago. I felt like something pinch and irritate my nerves in spine. I guess my muscles wanted to stop the pain so they became tighten and spasm. When I realized definitely something was wrong, I visited doctor, and he told me it is degenerative disk disease. I want to know more about this disease and what causes it?

aloysia · Silver Member Joined: 21 Oct 2000 Posts: 260

For most people with back pain, an injury doesn’t just happen. Instead, over the years stress of back has been subjected to begin to take its toll. Repeated sprains and strains and overuse add up and cause a slow degeneration of the disks of the spine. Most episodes of pain are at least partially the result of these degenerative changes. Degenerative disk disease means wear and tear changes in the disk, and nearly everyone has signs of degeneration of lumbar disks after age 40. Someone experience no symptoms of this degenerative process, and others will experience backaches, particularly in their lower backs. Degeneration is common as disks lose their blood supply after age 30. Degenerative disk disease is result of the normal aging process, but it may also occur as a result of trauma, infection, or direct injury to the disk. Hereditary and physical fitness might also play a part in the process of degenerating disk disease. This process is gradual and the wear and tear on the vertebrae is what causes the deterioration. Reason is that disks are subjected to different types of stress as we use our backs every day.

jimmie · Guest

The Nuro Surgion wants to scrap hip bone from me to replace some disk in the back and then fuse it. I have had three back surgeries with disk exploding or bulging or hiernating and those surgies where ok. This one I am very afraid of and if there is anything different that I can try please tell me. I have an appointment next tueday with a Pain Management doctor, maybe there is something that he can do?

Jim

Guest · Guest

I am an End Stage Renal patient with Hyperparathyroidism leading to Osteoperosis and calicium malabsorbtion. I am on dialysis since 2004. I am not diabetic. My ESRD is a result of chromium III and IV exposure leading to scrolosis (Hardening) of the Kidneys.
In 1972 I had a compressed fracture of the C-spine involving C3 - 6. This was fused after a year of hospital stay. I was in a Stryker Eletrical Circular bed and in traction most of this time. Since I started treatment for ESRD the injury site has become painful and ROM is less than before the ESRD.
I also have pain in the lumbar spine. This has been dianosed as Degenerative Disk Disease. MRI shows extensive arthritis along the spine. The soft tissue along the Lumbar spine is tuant and stiff. I have pain the radiates into the legs and I am taking Hydrocodone and Cyclobenzaprine 2 to 4 times a day. Without the pain meds I am unbearably in pain. With them this pain is dulled to a tolerable level.
My Doctor is reluctant to reccommend surgery because of the ESRD and HPT. She feels that healing my be difficult to achieve.
I am now wheel chair bound but can walk short distance with a cane or walker. If a surgery was attainable I would jump at it. I am daily in pain and there is no light at the end of this tunnel.
In 73 bone was taken from my hip and laid in the neck. A wire overlay was put into place. I worked for thirty years in heavy construction and labor fields without restriction. Now I am unable to stand, sit, or walk without help.

what causes degerative disk diease?

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