How to Prevent Degenerative Disc Disease

By Dr. Joseph Mejia, DO, FAAPMR
Medical Director, Performance Ortho

Degenerative Disc Disease: Innovative Root Cause Treatment for Non-Surgical Relief

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a condition in which the discs within the spine deteriorate and break down, affecting function and often resulting in chronic back pain. While disc degeneration is a common ailment amongst adults over 40 and the most recent research concludes there is a strong genetic component, there are preventative measures available to slow its’ effects. Some of these measures include maintaining a healthy body weight, avoiding or quitting smoking, and regular physical activity with an emphasis on flexibility and strength movements.

Spinal discs function as cushions between the vertebrae, absorbing shock and supporting spinal movement. During the aging process, they naturally lose hydration, elasticity, and thickness, reducing their ability to provide proper support.

The more cognizant you are of the symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease, the quicker you can spot them and take measures to address the condition and better ensure long-term mitigation. This article will overview the symptoms and risk factors associated with DDD, the preventive measures that can be taken, and when to ultimately seek medical advice.

Symptoms of DDD

Disc degeneration can present as stiffness, reduced mobility, and chronic pain in the neck and lower back. DDD pain will likely increase over time or present as more extreme after strenuous bending, twisting, or lifting activities. Degenerative disc disease increases the risk of other spinal conditions, including herniated discs, bone spurs, and nerve compression which may further contribute to discomfort and functional limitations. Those suffering from DDD may also experience numbness and weakness in the arms and legs, as well as intermittent pain flare ups that can span days.

DDD is medically diagnosed by a physician during the consultation and examination process, with confirmation occurring through objective testing such as an X-ray or MRI of the spine. Oddly enough, there is no direct relationship between the extent of DDD findings on an MRI or X-ray and the patient’s symptoms or even the potential for success with treatments. In my 15 years of treating thousands of spine patients, this one fact remains the most confusing for patients. MRI and X-rays are objective tests that evaluate the structure of the spine; however, pain is influenced by other factors such as inflammation of the discs, nerve compression and weak core muscles to name a few.

Key Risk Factors

While aging and genetics are inevitable risk factors for DDD, there are more controllable risks we can look to identify and manage as we age. The key to mitigating the effects of DDD is to keep the disc hydrated and healthy.

Proven risk factors that are controllable by the patients:

• Increased Physical Activity: Strengthens core muscles, thus causing less stress and strain on the disc.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking results in decreased blood supply to the disc, making it less resilient to day-to-day activities.
• Prior Spinal Trauma or Spine Surgery: Can lead to structural abnormalities resulting in abnormal pressure and increased wear and tear on the disc.

Where Traditional Treatments Come up Short

Traditional treatments for DDD often fall short and fail to provide lasting, root cause relief. Over the counter pain medications and muscle relaxants can offer temporary fixes, but do not prevent further degeneration and can lead to medication dependency and harsh side effects. Additionally, invasive surgical procedures such as disc fusions or replacements carry increased risk, long recovery periods and do not guarantee long-term success or relief. At Performance Ortho, we look to build successful patient outcomes through a multi-faceted, team-based approach which highlights innovative solutions without invasive surgery or long recovery times.

At Performance Ortho, we work to provide every patient with an individualized treatment plan for DDD. Innovative treatments such as regenerative medicine (Stem Cell/PRP) lay the groundwork for healing DDD and restoring disc function at the source. Regenerative medicine harnesses the body’s own healing properties to stimulate recovery, slow disc degeneration, and promote disc repair.

In addition to regenerative medicine, the Via Disc procedure is also a strong, minimally invasive option to provide lasting relief from DDD. Via Disc injections are a proven treatment option which use an FDA cleared gel-like substance. This is administered with the sole purpose to rehydrate and heal degenerated spinal discs, providing pain relief and improving spinal function naturally.

Via Disc presents a 78% pain score reduction across 12 months post-injection, offers a quick recovery, and does not require any stitches or implants. Most patient experience the best outcomes when coupling regenerative medicine with a course of physical rehabilitation, smoking cessation and lifestyle consulting.

When to Seek Medical Advice

When noticing early symptoms of DDD, seeing a specialist right away is imperative. Early identification and prevention measures are critical towards long-term mitigation, as unchecked degeneration can increase risk for other conditions such as osteoarthritis and scoliosis. Upon consulting a spine specialist, a current-state assessment of disc health and alignment will be conducted. Through this assessment, nerve health, along with strength and pain level assessments, will help determine the severity of degeneration across the spine as well as appropriate next steps.

Early identification and intervention can not only drastically slow the progression of DDD, but it can also be essential in ensuring individuals receive non-operative care. Non-operative modalities such as Via Disc will target pain reduction, nerve preservation, and complication mitigation. Continued non-operative care will delay or completely prevent more serious conditions such as spinal stenosis and chronic nerve compression and keep patients out from spinal surgery

Contact Our Orthopedic Clinics in NJ

Are you or a loved one suffering from degenerative disc disease? Contact our NJ ortho clinics in Branchburg, Somerset, Watchung, and Hillsborough. Our compassionate team and their expertise are here to help you through every step of your journey to pain relief.