What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative Disc Disease – or what I like to refer to as “wear and tear” is a normal process of aging where the outer portion of the disk (annulus fibrosis) may show tears and the interior portion of the disk (nucleus pulposus) becomes dry, ultimately leading to a thinning of the disk, and a narrowing of the disk space between the vertebra.

What are the symptoms of Degenerative disc disease?

Often times, degenerative disks are painless and are an incidental finding on imaging. However, they can become a source of pain in the process of a back injury. Disk degenerative is typically progressive but does not necessarily have to worsen. In fact, a degenerative disk can be painful at one moment, and then resolve. Therefore, one must be cautious when considering the degenerative disk as the cause of pain and exhaust conservative management prior to considering surgical intervention. If you believe that degenerative disc disease is causing your pain please reach out to our office to schedule an appointment. Our staff at Austin Spine Health is ready to treat your degenerative disc disease. Call us today to schedule an appointment and be on your way to a pain free life!