DEGENERATIVE DISK DISEASE

Degenerative disk disease is when your spinal disks wear down. Spinal disks are rubbery cushions between your vertebrae (bones in your spinal column). They act as shock absorbers and help you move, bend and twist comfortably. Everyone’s spinal disks degenerate over time and is a normal part of aging.

When the cushions wear away, the bones can start to rub together. This contact can cause pain and other problems, such as:

• Adult scoliosis, where the spine curves.
• Herniated disk, also called a bulged, slipped or ruptured disk.
• Spinal stenosis, when the spaces around your spine narrow.
• Spondylolisthesis, when vertebrae move in and out of place.

HOW COMMON IS INTERVERTEBRAL DISK DEGENERATION: -

Almost everyone has some disk degeneration after age 40, even if they don’t develop symptoms. It can lead to back pain in about 5% of adults.

Who might get degenerative disk disease: -

Degenerative disk disease is most common in older adults. Some factors increase your risk of developing degenerative disk disease, including:

• Acute injuries, such as falling.
• Obesity.
• Biological sex, with women being more likely to experience symptoms.
• Smoking.
• Working a physically demanding job.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES: -

SYMPTOMS: -

The most common symptoms of degenerative disk disease are neck pain and back pain.

One may experience pain that:

• Comes and goes, lasting for weeks or months at a time.
• Leads to numbness or tingling in your arms or legs.
• Radiates down your buttocks and lower back.
• Worsens with sitting, bending or lifting.

CAUSES:-

Spinal disks wear down as a normal part of aging. Especially after age 40, most people experience some disk degeneration. However, not everyone experiences pain.

One might have pain if your spinal disks:

Dry out: Your disks have a soft core that mostly contains water. As you get older, that core naturally loses some water. As a result, disks get thinner and don’t provide as much shock absorption as they used to.

Tear or cracks: Minor injuries can lead to small cracks in your spinal disks. These tears are often near nerves. Tears can be painful, even when they are minor. If the outer wall of your spinal disk cracks open, your disk may bulge out of place, known as a herniated disk, which may compress a spinal nerve.

What does degenerative disk pain feel like:-

• Degenerative disk pain
• Can happen in the neck or lower back.
• May extend into the arms and hands or into the butt and legs.
• Can be mild, moderate or severe.
• May start and stop.
• Can get worse after certain activities such as bending, twisting or lifting.
• Can get worse with time.

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT: -

The medicines that can be thought of use are:-

• Ruta
• Bryonia
• Kali carb
• Sepia
• Rhus tox
• Thuja