How many stages are there to degenerative disc disease?

How many stages are there to degenerative disc disease?

What are the stages of Degenerative disc disease? There are four stages a person will typically go through when experiencing Degenerative disc disease.

What is the best thing to do for degenerative disc disease?

Treatment may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, or both, special exercises, medications, losing weight, and surgery. Medical options include injecting the joints next to the damaged disc with steroids and a local anesthetic. These are called facet joint injections. They can provide effective pain relief.

Is degenerative disc disease a serious condition?

Nearly everyone’s spinal discs show signs of wear as they age. Not everyone, however, will have degenerative disc disease. Not actually a disease, this is a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. A wide range of symptoms and severity is associated with this condition.

Can you get Social Security disability for degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative Disc Disease, or DDD, is among the most common impairments for which the Social Security Administration (SSA) receives disability applications. While it is a qualifying disability under certain circumstances, proving your condition meets the SSA’s duration and severity level requirements can be difficult.

Can you get disability for degenerative disc disease?

When do you know you have multilevel degenerative disc disease?

When the spongy discs that cushion the spine as it moves deteriorate in more than one location along the spine, it’s referred to as multilevel degenerative disc disease. Los Angeles spine surgeons note that since DDD is slow and progressive in nature, most patients only realize it’s a problem once they start to experience recurring pain.

What does it mean to have degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease is when the discs between the vertebrae of your spine cause pain. (1) This usually happens as we grow older, as our discs begin to show wear and tear. Disc degeneration happens in everyone, as the discs take damage from the general use of them over the years.

Is it normal to lose height with disc degeneration?

Disc degeneration is a normal part of aging, and usually is not a problem. However, DDD can cause discs to lose height and become stiff. When disc height is lost, nerve impingement, bone and joint inflammation, and resultant pain can occur. Disc degeneration causes loss of the joint space, similar to arthritis pain and inflammation.

How to tell if you have lumbar disc degeneration?

Above: Sagittal (side view) lumbar MRI shows lumbar disc degeneration of the bottom 3 discs. Note the darkened color and loss of disc height suggesting disc desiccation (drying out).