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Treatment for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

Person in wooded area grasps lower back with both hands in pain

 

Treatment for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease in New Jersey

Low back pain is a common experience in the U.S. In an analysis based on the NIH National Health Interview Survey in 2022, back pain was cited as the most relevant culprit of job-related disability. Lumbar degenerative disc disease frequently causes lower back pain. It occurs naturally as a part of aging and is not always painful. It’s important to consult an experienced spine specialist when low back pain occurs. This symptom can indicate more serious issues, such as lumbar degenerative disc disease.

Branko Skovrlj, MD, and the medical team at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute offers a variety of procedures to treat lumbar degenerative disc disease and other spine conditions. Located in New Jersey, with offices in Paramus, Woodbridge, Toms River, Jersey City, and Holmdel, NU-Spine can assist people with back and neck pain. Learn more about lumbar degenerative disc disease and the treatments available at our facility.

What Is Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease?

As a chronic condition related to osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease occurs when the intervertebral discs deteriorate in the lower back or lumbar-sacral area. Our spinal discs lose fluid as we age, becoming drier and flatter. The cushioning properties of these fibrocartilage-based structures provide shock absorption and padding between the vertebrae.

The outcome is varied when this loss of cushion causes damage. Problems can include:

  • Loss of stability
  • Vertebral bones that rub against each other
  • Damaged or herniated discs
  • Narrowing of the spinal canal, known as spinal stenosis

Bone spurs also can form and cause further damage by pressing on the spinal cord and nerve roots. When these types of conditions create chronic pain, medical intervention is necessary and recommended.

Lumbar degenerative disc disease has similarities with lumbar degenerative joint disease. However, disc disease is confined to the disc, not the joint as a whole. Sometimes, patients won’t experience symptoms while either of these conditions progress. Symptoms usually are related to lower back stiffness, especially after sitting for long periods or participating in strenuous activities.

Regardless of the reason for low back pain, help is available at NU-Spine. Our founder and board-certified lead neurosurgeon, Dr. Skovrlj, and the team at NU-Spine offer a variety of solutions for back pain. This includes noninvasive treatments and minimally invasive spine surgery. NU-Spine provides state-of-the-art medical technology and experience with complex surgeries. Our goal is to help patients with back pain get back to an active lifestyle.

Why Does Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease Happen?

One of the main reasons that lumbar degenerative disc disease occurs is the aging process. As we grow older, the intervertebral discs lose fluid. This lessens the cushioning available to our spine. The increasing dryness can lead to cracks or breaks, and ruptured discs can cause unevenness or further damage. When the bony structures in the spine rub against each other, the spine may adjust by creating bone spurs. Chronic pain is often the result, as bone spurs can affect the nerve endings in the spine.

Alongside usual wear and tear over time, lumbar degenerative disc disease can arise during other circumstances. Some activities, as well as genetic and lifestyle factors, can hasten deterioration. Reasons for lumber degenerative disc disease include:

  • Shock and Trauma: A severe impact can damage the lumbar discs. In some cases, the damage won’t heal naturally, regardless of age. After the initial injury, the degeneration can progress, increasingly causing pain and discomfort.
  • Wear and Tear: A person’s occupation can be related to lumbar degenerative disc disease development. Work that involves heavy lifting and manual labor, or vibratory shocks to the body, can be a factor in creating this spinal condition. Wear and tear also occur with repetitive motion, which includes some strenuous athletic activities. Spondylosis can develop when the disc’s condition damages the facet joints that connect the vertebrae.
  • Dry Discs: Over time, spinal discs naturally dry out. This can cause increased friction or damage within the spinal column, often leading to chronic pain. While discs are characterized as padded or cushioned, they also have an outer layer (called the annulus fibrosus) that protects a softer jelly-like interior (the nucleus pulposus). In the case of a rupture (also known as a lumbar herniated disc), the pulpy center can leak into the spinal column, which weakens the disc and can cause nerve pain.
  • Family History: If degenerative disc disease affects your parents or other close family members, there may be a greater risk of developing this spine condition. Researchers have identified several genes thought to be related to lumbar degenerative disc disease.
  • Obesity: Extra weight puts pressure on the spine, adding stress that can cause damage. This can affect the lumbar spine, especially when weight is carried in the middle of the body.
  • Smoking Tobacco: Studies show that smoking tobacco can increase the risk of degenerative disc disease. If you already experience pain related to this spine condition, smoking may increase symptoms. Another aspect to consider is that smoking can raise the risk of complications if back surgery is required.

What Are the Symptoms of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease?

While it’s true that some people are asymptomatic and may not realize they have lumbar degenerative disc disorder, symptoms usually arise for most patients. The signs of lumbar degenerative disc disease may include:

  • Increasing pain while sitting or bending and twisting
  • Intermittent low back pain, or pain that radiates to the extremities
  • Weakness, numbness, and tingling in the legs
  • Difficulty walking
  • Poor balance
  • Aches and discomfort in the lower back that does not respond to chiropractic treatments or massage therapy
  • Problems controlling the bladder or bowel

Some patients may notice these symptoms as early as their 30s or 40s. Others have performed repetitive motions during work, hobbies, and sports that accelerated degeneration. When back pain continues for more than several days and doesn’t respond to other treatments, it’s time to make an appointment with a qualified spine specialist.

The medical team at NU-Spine is available for examination, diagnosis, and treatment of back pain. We recommend treating degenerative diseases as soon as possible to avoid disruption to your typical lifestyle and activities.

What’s the Best Treatment for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease?

At NU-Spine, patients usually are prescribed at-home treatments to reduce back pain. These include:

  • Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medicines
  • Muscle relaxers
  • Steroid injections
  • Massage

We also may recommend physical therapy to help strengthen core muscles and other areas that support the back. If these noninvasive treatments do not relieve back pain or the discomfort continues, minimally invasive spine surgery treatments will be considered. These procedures may include:

  • Laminectomy, to provide more space for nerves and reduce pinching
  • Minimally invasive laminectomy, to relieve the pressure caused by bone spurs
  • Discectomy, to remove pieces of the errant disc that’s pressing on the spinal cord or nerve root
  • Spinal fusion, to fuse the lumbar vertebra using bone or bone-like material as a graft, forming one larger vertebra

If you are experiencing low back pain, our medical team of spine specialists and neurosurgeons at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute can help. We offer procedures and treatments for lumbar degenerative disc disease and other conditions. We have several locations across New Jersey, including Paramus, Woodbridge, Toms River, Jersey City, and Holmdel. For more information, contact us today.

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Spine Center Locations

1. Paramus
37 W Century Road Suite 105A
Paramus, NJ 07652

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3. Woodbridge
573 Amboy Ave.
Woodbridge Township,
NJ 07095

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5. Toms River
1901 Hooper Ave. #B
Toms River, NJ 08753

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2. Jersey City
631 Grand Street, Suite 2-100
Jersey City, NJ 07304

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4. Holmdel/Bell Works
101 Crawfords Corner Rd.
Suite 1116-B
Holmdel, NJ 07733

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6. Freehold
1000 West Main Street
Suite 201
Freehold, NJ 07728

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