Degenerative disk disease

Spinal disk degeneration may start gradually or appear suddenly but will typically progress over the next 20 to 30 years. After it gets to a point of severe and, at times, disabling pain, the spine will eventually restabilize and the pain from the disk will decrease.

No. The two conditions are sometimes thought to be interchangeable because the disk and facet joints are both part of the same three-joint complex. However, degenerative disk disease and osteoarthritis are different conditions that occur independently of one another. A person can have degenerative disks without experiencing any facet osteoarthritis. Conversely, a person can have facet osteoarthritis but not have degenerative disks. It’s also possible to experience both conditions simultaneously.

It depends on the severity of the herniated disk. When a disk is herniated, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This irritation of the spinal cord or nearby nerves can make the arms or legs go weak or grow numb. If the disk is herniated enough, it can cause paralysis.

No. Degenerative disk disease will never entirely “go away.” Once your disk starts to degenerate, you can’t reverse the process. However, as the spine restabilizes, the amount of pain you experience will eventually decrease over time.

When sleeping with DDD, proper alignment of your spine is key. No matter what your preferred sleeping position is, it’s especially important to keep your ears, shoulders and hips in alignment.

If you feel strain on your muscles and spine due to gaps between your body and the bed, try using pillows to fill the gaps and help reduce the stress.

Knowing that twisting and turning motions can easily put your spine out of alignment, you need to be careful while turning in bed. Think about tightening your core, pulling it in and moving your entire body together. As you roll over, it may even help to bring your knees toward your chest.

Drink water. The more water you drink, the better chance you give your body to adequately replenish the water in your disks. This is a simple, healthy way to reduce your chances of developing back pain.

Get a massage. Although no standardized treatment for DDD exists, both physical therapy and massage therapy have proven effective in relieving back pain for some patients.

Take a walk. Taking short, frequent walks during the day can decrease lumbar disk pain. As with any physician-approved exercise with DDD, the key is to take it slow and not overdo it.

Try heat or ice. As a general rule, use whichever treatment you find brings you the most relief. However, if you’re attempting to treat an acute condition like DDD for the first time, you should start with ice, especially if swelling is present. Inflammation and swelling are always the most prominent symptoms within the first two weeks, so ice is the best treatment option.

After that initial phase, you can use either ice or heat to bring relief, depending on your preference.

Here are some practical self care tips that can help you live with DDD:

• Engage in controlled, progressive exercise and active rehabilitation.
• Increase hydration and improve nutrition to keep your spinal disks healthy.
• Minimize aggravation to the disk by limiting strenuous activity.
• Reduce your pain to a tolerable level.

Good foods. Certain foods are recognized for their positive impact on spine health:

• Fruit.
• Healthy fats.
• Leafy greens.
• Lean protein.
• Whole grains.

Beneficial vitamins. Vitamin D chemically bonds to receptors found on the disks in the spine, helping to strengthen them.

In addition to Vitamin D, some supplements are being researched that may provide pain relief and help slow the progression early-stage degenerative disease. These include:

• Chondroitin sulfate.
• Glucosamine.