Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is an extremely common condition in the United States. In fact, almost 90% of people will show some signs of degenerative disc disease by the time they are 60 years old. While spine degeneration is normal and occurs over time, pain is not normal. However, for some people, pain is a side effect of degenerative disc disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the condition. Surgery is even unlikely to help people suffering from degenerative disc disease.

Understanding the cause of many ailments can help prevent the ailment from developing or worsening.

This is true to some extent with degenerative disc disease. Below are a few common causes of people developing degenerative disc disease, and understanding these causes can help patients make informed decisions for the future.

• DISCS DRYING OUT

• DAILY WEAR AND TEAR

• INJURY

1. DISCS DRYING OUT

The top cause of degenerative disc disease is dried-out discs. When humans are firstborn, the discs in their spine are made of 80% water. Since they are made primarily of water, they absorb shock very well. As people age, their discs begin to dry out. Therefore, they are not able to absorb shock. As time goes on, this can lead to damage in the discs, and thus pain. It also explains why a majority of people have some signs of degenerative disc disease by their sixties.

2. DAILY WEAR AND TEAR

Daily wear and tear is another cause of degenerative disc disease. As people go through life, their bodies experience normal wear and tear. This can be caused by running, jumping, lifting heavy objects, etc.

Over time, this wear and tear can cause micro-damages to the discs in the spine. Over time, these small damages add up and contribute to degenerative disc disease, which can cause pain in some patients.