Spinal Cord Injury

Recently a friend of mine admitted to hospital to do checkup, claiming that his back was pain causes sudden neck stiffness, flu and fever.  He perform MRI scan on his spine where the pain originated somewhere at the back near his neck and slightly below the shoulder level. I went to check out on him at the hospital just to chill him up. He told me that from the MRI scan results saying that he have a bulging disc which one of the symptom in degenerative disc disease. Having no idea what is he talking about, he elaborate further on what the doctor explain to him. Degenerative disc disease is a condition characterized by damage to the invertebral discs. It is a gel-like cushion that separates each segment (vertebra) of the backbone. Degenerative disc diseases can results in pain and stiffness in the neck, back, as well as pain that spreads (radiates) to the back of the head, trunk, shoulders, arms, hands, legs, and feet.

His effected area was between the vertebral levels of C6 & C7, which base on the source from the internet it connected to the nerve root like neck muscles, tonsils, shoulders, thyroid gland and elbow. However doctor says that his condition was not that serious, some medication and physiotherapy will do the job. His condition is getting better after 3-4 weeks later with a total of 8 therapies he attended. He is advised not to over exercise, take heavy things, walk or sit in an improper posture and not too much of cold drinks. Due to my friend’s sudden back pain condition, I search for more information on the internet, which shows the cause of the disease.

Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is mainly caused by the effects of aging on your spine and specifically on your intervertebral discs. It can also be associated with an injury to the back, but even in that scenario, your discs have usually become weak because of wear and tear on your spine. "Wear and tear" can be considered another way of saying "the effects of aging and daily life on your spine."

Before you can feel the result of degenerative disc disease—pain and other symptoms—your discs and other spine structures are changing. This is simply the natural result of the stress and strain each of us puts our backs through every day.

The causes and effects of degenerative disc disease are relatively straightforward: you age, your discs change, your bones can be affected, and you can have pain. It even helps to think of DDD as a cause and effect process or cascade: one anatomical change occurs, which leads to more degeneration and changes in your spine's structures. These changes combine to cause degenerative disc disease and its symptoms.

DDD begins with changes in your intervertebral discs, but eventually it will affect the other motion  segments of your vertebrae. (The discs and the facet joints are considered the motion segments, which mean that they help you move.) Over time, the collagen (protein) structure of the annulus fibrosus (that's the outer portion of the intervertebral disc) changes. Additionally, water-attracting molecules—and hence water—in the disc decreases. Both of these changes reduce the disc's ability to handle back movement.

The disc will become less spongy and much thinner. A thinner disc means that the space between the vertebra above and below the disc gets smaller, which causes a new problem, this time with the facet joints. They help stabilize the spine, and if the disc loses height, the way the facet joints move changes. Then the cartilage that protects the facets begins to wear away, and they start to move too much: they "override" and become overly mobile.     

This hypermobility causes another change in your spine. It tries to stop the movement with the growth of small bony elements called bone spurs (osteophytes). Unfortunately, the bone spurs sometimes pinch nerve structures and cause pain. The bone spurs can narrow the space for the spinal cord and nerves-that disorder is called spinal stenosis. Degenerative disc disease won't cause spinal stenosis in everyone, but it's something you should be aware of if you have DDD.

Your genes can also cause degenerative disc disease. You may be pre-disposed to excessive joint and disc wear and tear, so if someone in your family has or had degenerative disc disease, you may also develop back or neck pain related to DDD.

Finally, the way you're living could lead to degenerative disc disease. Smoking, for example, adversely affects your discs and can cause them to degenerate faster. Smoking actually decreases the amount of water in your discs, and water is part of what helps your discs absorb movement. With less water content, your intervertebral discs can wear out sooner.

Symptoms

The most common early symptom of degenerative disc disease is usually pain in the back that spreads to the buttocks and upper thighs. When doctors refer to degenerative disc disease, they are usually referring to a combination of problems in the spine that "start" with damage to the disc, but eventually begin to affect all parts of the spine. Problems thought to arise from the degenerating disc itself include discogenic pain, and bulging discs.

Discogenic Pain

Discogenic pain is a term back specialists use when referring to pain caused by a damaged intervertebral disc. A degenerating disc may cause mechanical (or structural) pain. As the disc begins to degenerate, there is some evidence that the disc itself becomes painful. Movements that place stress on the disc can result in back pain that appears to come from the disc. This is similar to any other body part that is injured, such as a broken bone or a cut in the skin. When these types of injuries are held still there is no pain, but if you move them they hurt.

Discogenic pain usually causes pain felt in the lower back. It may also feel like the pain is coming from your buttock area and even down into the upper thighs. The experience of feeling pain in an area away from the real cause is common in many areas of the body, not just the spine. For instance, a person with gallstones may feel pain in the shoulder or a person experiencing a heart attack may feel pain in the left arm. This is referred to as radiation of the pain. It is very common for pain produced by spine problems to be felt in different areas of the body-including the back.

Bulging Discs

Bulging discs are fairly common in both young adults and older people. They are not cause for panic. Abnormalities, such as bulging or protruding discs, are seen at high rates on MRIs in patients both with and without back pain. Some discs most likely begin to bulge as a part of both the aging process and the degeneration process of the intervertebral disc. A bulging disc is not necessarily a sign that anything serious is happening to your spine.

A bulging disc only becomes serious when it bulges enough to cause narrowing of the spinal canal. If there are bone spurs present on the facet joints behind the bulging disc, the combination may cause narrowing of the spinal canal in that area. This is sometimes referred to as segmental spinal stenosis. View animation of bulging disc.

How to prevent Degenerative Disc Disease?

Because degenerative disc disease is primarily associated with the aging process, it cannot be prevented in all cases. Moderate exercise, lifestyle modifications, and good nutrition can help prevent painful and disabling symptoms.

Exercise increases blood flow to the muscles, which supplies healing nutrients and oxygen; preserves function of the spine and surrounding muscles; and promotes the release of endorphins (substances produced in the brain that reduce pain). People who have degenerative disc disease should be sure to get moderate exercise, including low impact and strength training activities, for at least 30 minutes daily.

Lifestyle modifications include improving posture; changing positions frequently, especially if work involves a lot of sitting; learning and using correct lifting techniques; and sleeping on a supportive mattress. Avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight through good nutrition and exercise, staying well hydrated, and reducing alcohol consumption all can contribute to a healthier back and faster healing.