Degenerative Disc Disease

Anatomy

The intervertebral discs are found between each vertebra in the human spine. Like the vertebrae, there are 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (mid-back) and 5 lumbar (low back) discs. The discs make up approximately 1/3 of the spinal column. Their function is to: (1) "Absorb Shock" from everyday wear and tear (2) allow movement of our spinal column and (3) Separate the vertebrae. The spinal disc is actually considered a type of cartilaginous joint. Discs consist of an outer annulus fibrosis layer and an inner nucleus pulposis, which is a soft, jelly-like, substance. The disc is made up of proteins called collagen and proteoglycans that attract water. Normally, discs compress when pressure is put on them and decompress when the pressure is relieved.

Discs do not have a blood supply and exchange nutrients by a process called "imbibition". Imagine a sponge with water, when you compress the sponge you release water. When you remove the compressive force, water is "sucked" back in the sponge. This is exactly how discs work and the importance of healthy discs.

Diseased discs can lead to: Degenerative Disc Disease which can lead to: Arthritis, Herniated Disc, Facet Syndrome, and Spinal Stenosis.

Condition: Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

DDD can be caused by many factors: (1) Trauma, (2) repetitive stress due to occupation, poor posture or other external factors and the (3) natural processes of aging. Our discs lose elasticity, flexibility and shock absorbing ability due to the fact that collagen molecules weaken, and proteoglycan content decreases (which attracts water). As a result of the collagen molecules weakening, the discs become brittle, and as a result of the proteoglycan content decreasing, the discs lose water (they become dehydrated). This severely affects the "shock absorbing" properties of the discs and they "compress" under normal pressure. Although the discs do not have a blood supply, they do have a nerve supply. This nerve supply is responsible for the back pain the DDD patients often complain about. The most common symptoms are back pain and can be associated with leg pain and/or numbness in more severe cases.

Diagnosis: Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

Degenerative disc disease can be diagnosed from a physical examination, X-ray examination and/or an MRI examination. An X-ray examination will usually show a narrowing of the disc between the vertebrae which indicates that the disc has become weak or has collapsed. An MRI examination is not usually necessary to diagnose DDD but it will show a decreased signal intensity that represents a lower water content inside the disc.

Treatment: Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

Traditional treatment includes pain killers such as: Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatories (NSAID's), Physical/Chiropractic Therapy or Surgery (in extremely severe cases). NSAID's have an inherent risk of Gastrointestinal ("stomach" and "intestines") disorders such as: ulcers, GI hemorrhage or perforation. In fact, an article in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that it has been conservatively estimated that 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur every year in the United States and conservative calculations estimate that approximately 107,000 Americans are hospitalized every year due to NSAID related GI complications. The number of deaths reported in the same study due to AIDS was 16,685. In addition to Gastrointestinal disorders, NSAID's such as VIOXX have been known to cause serious Cardiovascular (CV) events such as: Heart Attacks, Stroke and Heart Failure. There have been similar complaints from other NSAID's such as: Bextra and Celebrex.

An article in Spine reviewed the outcomes and complication rates for surgical intervention in Degenerative Disc Disease. Complication rates were as high as 55% and included: hematoma, neurologic complaints, adjacent segment degeneration, infection and hardware/instrument related issues. Another study to determine the effects of single level (2 vertebrae) and 2-level (3-4 vertebrae) spinal fusion success rates reported 53% with "good" and "fair" results with single level fusion and no "good" results with 2-level fusions. This can lead to a loss of range of motion, further pain, further degeneration and a condition known as failed back surgery/post-operative pain syndrome which is a very disabling and troubling reality of surgical intervention.

Now that you have read about the possible side effects of what traditional treatments have to offer, you may want to consider the drugless, non-surgical approach that Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression has to offer.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression: Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

The following is the rationale, based on anatomical and physiological principles of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression offers to treat the root cause of the disease - compression of the disc. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression relieves pressure from the disc and can facilitate a healthy exchange of nutrients ("Imbibition") through its "pumping action" which can rehydrate the disc (with the aid of OTC supplements such as Chondroitin/Glucosamine Sulfate), allow proper spinal motion and prevent further deterioration of the spinal column by restoring proper biomechanics. Once the "compressing" force is relieved from the diseased disc, pain decreases and function increases.