Degenerative Disc Disease

To understand the effects of degenerative disc disease, it’s better to understand how it affects your discs. Most people, when they are in their younger years, have discs between their vertebra that are full of fluid. This fluid is vital for movement and flexibility. Without it, your vertebrae would knock against each other, causing agonizing pain in and around the spine.

As you get older, this fluid starts to diminish. In fact, studies involving MRI scans have found that absolutely no one over the age of 60 is immune to this deterioration. For some unfortunate people, the discs might collapse completely, which not only causes back pain but also osteoarthritis.

In short: no. it’s not a disease at all, but in fact, a condition that arises a result of fluid loss in your vertebra disc. It doesn’t just appear unannounced like a disease either, instead, gradual drying out of the discs, general wear and tear, and high-impact sports can cause this problem. These discs acquire fluid through osmosis rather than blood supply, which means they cannot be re-filled organically by the body. This is why the deterioration of such a disc can be such a problematic ongoing problem; much like a disease. Here are the more specific causes of this condition:

Drying out: Your disks are, for the most part, composed completely of water and fluid. Aging can cause your discs to get thinner and less hydrated. This means that your discs cannot effectively absorb shock as well as they used to. This, in turn, can lead to pain.

Fracture: As mentioned, degenerative disc disease can result from general day-to-day wear and tear. The real consequence of this, however, are small fractures in your vertebrae. These will affect the outer wall and can be incredibly sore. In fact, the aforementioned soft disc may start to squeeze through the cracks in these fractures. Once they start to do this, it will often result in what is referred to as a ‘slipped disc.’

The best way to find out if you have degenerative disc disease is to visit your doctor immediately. You won’t be able to determine whether or not you have this condition by guesswork alone. However, some common indicators that you have this problem include sharp pains in your thighs, buttocks, and lower back. If this pain drifts in and out or is quite sharp and severe, you should see your healthcare practitioner immediately. You will notice that this pain feels particularly bad when you’re sitting down and actually improves when you get up for a walk. Lifting, bending, and twisting, however, are likely to cause you pain.

When you experience something as painful and delicate as degenerative disc disease, you need to ensure that any physical treatment and massage you get is offered after an assessment. A licensed physician should get a sense of what care you have been receiving and the severity of your condition before you approach them for care.

When you approach your massage therapist for treatment, you should be looking for experience and a tailored approach to care. Not only should they be fully-licensed, but they should also have plenty of developed knowledge when it comes to treating conditions that relate to intense pain. A trained and experienced massage therapist will know what is right for you and your condition. Their job is to remove tension, aches, and pains, and indeed any stress you may be experiencing as a result. The last thing you want is for stress to start taking a toll on your immune system on top of an already quite serious injury.

While degenerative disc disease isn’t specifically a disease as such, it can still have a profound effect on those who suffer from it. The loss of liquid from your spinal discs can create uncomfortable side-effects, which may have an influence on your daily capabilities. It is, therefore, so important to seek treatments that benefit your comfort and general wellbeing. When you drop by one of our centers in either Miami or Hollywood you can guarantee that the therapist that sees you will be developing a tailored approach to your treatment. Their experience means that you will be in safe hands, particularly when it comes to something as serious as degenerative disc disease.