Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Lumbar degenerative disc disease is a potentially painful condition that occurs when discs in the lower spine begin to break down or deteriorate. As the discs degenerate, they no longer act as a cushion between the vertebrae in the lower back. Proteins released from the disc material may irritate nerves in the spinal column and lead to episodes of mild to severe lower back pain.
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Symptoms
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Lower back pain is the most common symptom of lumbar degenerative disc disease. Pain also could radiate through the hips and down one or both legs. However, this pain does not normally go below the knees. Activities such as prolonged sitting, bending, twisting and/or lifting may worsen the pain. Less commonly, lumbar degenerative disc disease can lead to numbness or tingling in the legs and muscle weakness. In some cases, people have no symptoms of lumbar degenerative disc disease.
Causes
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Lumbar degenerative disc disease might be part of the natural aging process. As you age, the spinal discs gradually lose the fluid that enables them to act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. Lumbar discs also can deteriorate as the result of an injury to the lower back, including a fracture. Genetics or environmental factors could also play a role in the development of lumbar degenerative disc disease.
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Diagnosis
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Doctors might use X-rays, CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to help properly diagnose lumbar degenerative disc disease. These various scans, particularly the MRI, can show changes in the lumbar discs, including annular tears, that indicate some degree of disc deterioration. By combining the results of scans with a thorough patient history of symptoms, a doctor can confirm a diagnosis of lumbar degenerative disc disease, and treatment can begin.
Treatment
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Treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease can be conservative or more aggressive, depending on the severity of the patient's symptoms and the degree of deterioration. Oral medications might be prescribed to help control pain. These may include anti-inflammatory medications, such aas ibuprofen or naproxen. Narcotics also could be prescribed for short-term pain relief. Some patients might need physical therapy or epidural steroid injections to ease symptoms and control inflammation.
Surgery
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If conservative methods of treatment fail, surgery might be the next step. A patient with debilitating, severe and/or chronic pain might be a candidate for spinal fusion surgery. This type of surgery is performed if the deterioration of one or more lumbar discs causes the spine to become unstable. Spinal fusion surgery involves a surgeon removing any remaining disc material, then fusing the vertebrae together.
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