The spine, which consists of a series of bones called vertebrae stacked upon each other, bears the weight of the body, and provides structure, stability and flexibility. Between each bone resides a small disc made of cartilage and filled with a gelatin-like substance. These discs act as shock absorbers and keep the individual vertebrae from rubbing against each other. Degenerative disc disease describes a spinal condition characterized by the breakdown of the intervertebral discs. Doctors can treat the main symptom of degenerative disc disease, pain, with different types of analgesics.
Effects
Degenerative disc disease not only affects the intervertebral discs, but also affects the bones and nerves in the spine which interferes with movement and flexibility. As the discs breakdown they lose the ability to cushion the vertebra. This allows the bones to rub together which can cause abnormal bone growths. These abnormal bone growths can protrude into the spinal canal and compress a nerve. In addition, as the discs weaken, the outer disc wall cannot keep the gelatin from bulging out, a condition known as a herniated or ruptured disc. The bulging disc also invades the spinal canal causing nerve compression.
Symptoms
Although many people with degenerative disc disease fail to feel any symptoms, some experience pain so intense it becomes debilitating, according to doctors at the Mayfield Clinic. The pain due to disc damage often feels worse when sitting and better when walking or even running. Compression of the sciatic nerve, the main nerve that runs from the lower back through the buttocks and into the legs, can cause pain that radiates down the legs along with numbness and tingling felt in the legs or feet; a condition known as sciatica. Although the pain of degenerative disc disease may come and go, the severity of the pain causes patients to seek treatment.
Diagnosis
Before beginning any type of treatment, doctors must confirm the presence of degenerative disc disease and the location of any disc damage. Performing a magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scan provides doctors with a detailed picture of the bones and soft tissues in the spine. Uses images such as these can provide information on the extent of the disc damage, the location of the damage and the presence of nerve compression. This can help doctors determine the course of treatment and what type of analgesics to prescribe.
Analgesics
Since pain is the main symptom of degenerative disc disease, treatment focuses on reducing pain rather than repairing any disc damage, according to research published by Urban and Roberts in the 2003 issue of “Arthritis Research and Therapy." Pain relievers, known as analgesics, can alleviate mild to moderate pain. Common analgesics available over-the-counter include acetaminophen. Doctors can prescribe stronger analgesics known as narcotics to treat moderate to severe pain.
Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory
The damage caused by degenerative disc disease irritates the tissues in the spinal column and the muscles surrounding the spine. This attracts white blood cells and triggers the inflammatory response. Therefore, doctors commonly use medications classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, NSAIDs, to relieve the pain of degenerative disc disease. This class of medications not only relieves pain, therefore classified as analgesics, but also reduces inflammation.
