Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is commonly associated with aging. As you get older, your discs, like other joints within the body, can degenerate (break down) and become problematic: That’s a natural part of growing older, the body begins to deal with years of strain, overuse, and perhaps even misuse.
Nonetheless, DDD can appear in people as young as 20, so regrettably, youth doesn’t always protect you from this disc-related spinal condition. In fact, some patients may inherit a prematurely aging spine.
Degenerative disc disease involves the intervertebral discs, or the pillow-like shock absorbers between your vertebrae in your back. These help your back carry weight and permit complex movements of the back while maintaining stability. As you get older, the discs can lose flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing features. Additionally they become thinner as they dehydrate. The discs change from a supple state that enables smooth movements into a stiff and rigid state that restricts your movement and causes pain.
You could have degenerative disk disease if you experience chronic back or neck pain. It normally happens in your lower back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine). Developing degenerative disc disease can be a slow process.
How Does Spinal Degeneration Occur?
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) can change many parts of your spine. To understand how, you first need a basic knowledge of what makes up your back. First of all, you’ve vertebrae, labeled in the picture below as the “vertebral body.” In your back, or vertebral column, you have 33 vertebrae.
Your spine is split into separate areas:
Neck (cervical spine)
Mid-back (thoracic spine)
Low back (lumbar spine)
At the low end of your back, you additionally possess the sacrum and also the coccyx, which is often called your tailbone.
Degenerative disc disease is most likely to occur in your lumbar spine or your cervical spine.
Intervertebral Discs
In between your vertebrae, you have intervertebral discs. These act like shock absorbers or pads on your back as it moves. Each disc is composed of a tire-like outer band known as the annulus fibrosus and a gel-like inner substance called the nucleus pulposus. Degenerative disc disease alters the discs and makes them less able to cushion the movements of the spine. With DDD, your intervertebral discs also become more vulnerable to injuries or conditions; they may bulge or herniate.
Together, the vertebrae and the discs provide a protective tunnel (the spinal canal) to where the spinal cord and spinal nerves are placed. These nerves run down the center of the spine and the vertebrae to various portions of the body, where they help you move and feel.
Facet Joints
Your spine also consists of facet joints, which are joints located to the posterior side (back) of your vertebrae. These joints (like all joints in your body) help facilitate movements and are extremely important to your flexibility.
Cartilage
Your spinal joints are covered by cartilage, which shields your bones as you move. Without cartilage, your bones would rub together and could be very painful. Unfortunately, your cartilage might be affected by general damage on your own back, plus it may wear away. That’s when bone spurs (osteophytes) can form as your body attempts to repair itself.
Muscles, Blood Vessels, and Ligaments, Tendons
Your back additionally has ligaments muscles, tendons, and arteries. Muscles are fibrils of tissues that power your motion. Ligaments are the powerful, flexible bands of fibrous tissue that link the bones together, and tendons connect muscles to bones. Blood vessels provide nourishment. These parts all work together that will help you move.
Further Concerns Regarding Degenerative Disc Disease
What is DDD?
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) isn’t really a disorder�it is the regular wear and tear process of aging on your spine. Unfortunately, as we age, our intervertebral discs (pillow-like pads involving the bones in your spine) lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock-absorbing features. When this happens, the disks shift from a supple, flexible state which allows flowing motion, into a rigid and stiff state that limits your movement.
What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease is generally the result of aging, and that means you are more inclined to have it if you’re older than 50. However, younger people can have symptoms of DDD as well. Injuries also can start the process that is degenerative .
The degenerative process causes your discs to lose their capability to cushion your moves. Slowly, the collagen (protein) structure of the outer portion of your disk�the annulus fibrosus�weakens. The degenerative process also affects the water content in your discs, as well as the water content is a must to preserving movement. With the water, DDD -attracting molecules in your disks decrease, making your disks become inflexible and more stiff.
Are There Non-Surgical Options to Treat DDD?
You can attempt, to help deal with pain from degenerative disc disease:
bed rest (only several days)
restricting your actions that boost the pain
light exercise (walking, swimming, etc) as recommended by your doctor
Over the counter medications
prescription medications
When Should Surgery Be Considered for DDD?
Although degenerative disc disease patients respond well to non-operative treatments, some patients do need surgery. Surgery should really be considered only after you have tried several months of non-operative treatment. You surgeon will recommend the best kind of operation for you. Here are a few common sorts of surgery used for patients with DDD:
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
Foraminotomy
Microdiscectomy
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic care is an well-known, alternative treatment option utilized to prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the spine, primarily subluxations or spinal misalignments. Chiropractic focuses on restoring and maintaining the overall health and wellness of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, can carefully re-align the spine, improving a patient�s strength, mobility and flexibility.
El Paso, TX. Chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez takes a look at sit/stand desks to see if they help with back pain and burn calories.
Regular utilization of sit-stand desks at work can help burn off calories and stop weight gain when coupled with other low-intensity tasks, according to findings from a current study in Occupational Medicine. The sit- stand desks did not increase pain or reduce productivity.
�In fact, other longer-term studies are demonstrating that using a sit-stand desk may actually reduce pain,� clarified lead writer Bethany Barone Gibbs, PhD, FAHA, Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Activity, Clinical, and Translational Science in the Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh.
For patients who have back pain or have lately experienced spinal surgery, the recommendation to stand on and off during the day is very important, commented A. Nick Shamie, MD, Chief of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at UCLA School of Medicine.
�Sitting down puts significant pressure on disks and the backbone,� Dr. Shamie said. �In addition, the pressure on discs is extremely high when one is seated and bends forward to pick something off of the flooring,� he noted.
The Way The Study Was Performed
For the study, 18 people (9 men, 9 women) performed standardized deskwork at different positions for three independent one-hour sessions: 60 minutes sitting, 60 minutes standing, and 60 minutes spent alternating between sitting and standing for 30 minutes each. Standardized deskwork contained posts that were typing from a magazine, copying definitions from a dictionary, and math exercises. Areas completed experimental sessions in a haphazard order, at least and within four weeks.
All participants were between the ages of 22 and 57 years old, had earned at least a high school degree, and worked sedentary office occupations having an average daily sitting time of 8.8 hours.
Sit-Stand Desks May Burn Off 50-60 Calories Each Day
The research found that if your person stood for thirty minutes during each hour, they might burn 5.5 more calories than they’d have by sitting for the entire hour. Standing for the full hour burned an extra 8.2 calories. Changing evenly between sitting and standing on the course of an 8-hour day�4 hours sitting and 4 hours standing �could burn off as much as 56.9 calories for guys and 48.3 calories for girls.
While the number of calories is comparatively small, it may be sufficient to stop weight gain from working a sedentary job. In reality, the researchers pointed to other studies showing that modest increases in daily activity, the equivalent of burning 100 calories per day, prevents weight gain in most individuals. Routine usage of sit-stand desks could be one of many small tasks that would help weight is maintained by office workers, the researchers noted.
The Advantages Of Sit-Stand Desks
�Sit-stand desks are an easy way to get an increase in energy cost that matches into America�s present office culture. By combining the action of standing for part of the day with other occasional actions�say, electing to walk to the printer farthest away from your work space or selecting to make use of the restroom that�s found a few flights of stairs away�you can attain a significant amount of extra energy cost while at work which could help in weight control,� Dr. Barone Gibbs said.
�It’s essential that we understand standing at work isn�t going to burn off as many calories as choosing a brisk walk or a long term,� Dr. Barone Gibbs said. �However, our findings add to an increasing area of research that demonstrates the advantages of sit-stand desks, including increases in energy and productivity, blood sugar, and lower pain, and potentially blood pressure.�
Folks can certainly go online and also read reviews of the greatest sit-stand desks and how to incorporate them into work setting, Dr. Shamie said. He included that sit-stand desks are simply one part of back care. Eating a healthy diet, sleep, regular exercise, are all factors that play a job in an overall healthy lifestyle and back care, he explained.
El Paso, TX. Chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez examines if sciatica can radiate to the arms.
Muscular pain that comes on suddenly in your lower back is indicative of a muscle spasm. Your muscles will feel as though they have locked up, and the pain can be unbearable.
Sciatica
Several lumbar spine (lower back) disorders can cause sciatica � Sometimes doctors call sciatica a radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a medical term used to describe pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms or legs caused �
No the sciatic nerve only affects the legs. No the sciatic nerve only affects the legs. Yes it can � a number of years ago i was in a car accident that left me with sever whiplash. as the years went on and i grew older the nerves between c6 �
Sciatica is defined as a severe pain in a leg along the course of the sciatic nerve. The pain is felt in the back of the leg running from the buttock down �
Another important stretch that I usually prescribe is a lumbar extension stretch. This one is especially important if the cause of your sciatic nerve pain is due to a �
Recovery time after back surgery for a herniated disc can take several weeks to months as the muscles and ligaments in the back heal. Most people who undergo such a surgery will find relief from their previous � There is also a danger of damaging the nerves of the back and spine.
Relief, Washington
Many people suffer from sciatica, a painful lower back condition caused by a pinched nerve. Sciatica can cause severe mobility problems and debilitating pain. In serious cases, the condition can lead to progressive lower extremity �
You can�t help but notice the biting, shooting pain that comes with sciatica. This condition affects the sciatic nerve that runs across the buttock and down the �
It is a widely accepted theory that a pinched nerve cause chest pain. These pinched nerves occur when exceeding amounts of pressure applied to surrounding bones �
El Paso, TX. Chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez examines scoliosis.
We all have curves in our backs, but scoliosis causes the spine to curve in the wrong direction. It causes sideways curves, and those are not the same as the normal curves of the spine. In case you looked at your spine from your side, you had see it curves out at your neck (cervical spine), in at your mid-back (thoracic spine), and out again at your low back (lumbar spine). Your back is likely to curve that way.
However, if your spine was looked at by you from behind, you shouldn’t see any curves. When there are sideways curves in the back from the back view, that is scoliosis. The curves can seem like an “S” or a “C.”
Spine Anatomy: Quick�Lesson
You first need to know what a healthy back looks like, to comprehend scoliosis. You will find four areas in your back:
Cervical Spine:
That is your neck, which begins at the base of your skull. It features seven little spinal bones (called vertebrae), which doctors label C1 to C7 (the “C” means cervical). The numbers one to seven signify the level of the vertebrae. C1 is closest for your skull, while C7 is closest to your torso.
Thoracic Spine:
Your mid-back has 12 vertebrae which are labeled T1 to T12 (the “T” means thoracic). Vertebrae in your thoracic spine connect to your own ribs, making this a part of your back comparatively stiff and stable. Your thoracic spine doesn’t move as the other areas of your back.
Lumbar Spine:
In your low back, you’ve got five vertebrae that are tagged L1 to L5 (the “L” means lumbar). These vertebrae are your strongest and biggest vertebrae, responsible for carrying lots of the weight of your body’s. The lumbar vertebrae are also your last “authentic” vertebrae; down from this region, your vertebrae are fused. The truth is, L5 may be fused with part of your sacrum.
Sacrum & Coccyx:
The sacrum has five vertebrae that usually fuse by adulthood to form one bone. The coccyx�commonly known as your tail bone�has four (but occasionally five) fused vertebrae.
Normal Spinal Curves: Lordosis & Kyphosis
When viewed in the side, you can observe the spine has both outward and inward curves. These curves help your back are also very important to flexibility and hold your weight.
There are just two types of normal curves in your back, and they’re called lordosis and kyphosis. Kyphosis means the spine curves inward, and lordosis means the spine curves out.
There are two spinal curves that are lordotic and two kyphotic in an ordinary back. Your cervical and lumbar spinal columns each possess a lordotic curve. Sacrum and your thoracic back have kyphotic curves.
While lordosis and kyphosis refer to a healthy curvature in your back, in addition they describe abnormal spinal curves which might be different than scoliosis. Lordosis that is strange is an extreme inward spinal curve. Kyphosis that is strange is a state that results in a hunchback or slouching posture, and you also will read about it in our Kyphosis Center.
Types Of�Scoliosis
Scoliosis is ordinarily associated with kids, but adults can have it, also. This generally occurs the disorder progresses aggressively or when scoliosis is not discovered during childhood. Most cases of scoliosis�more than 80%, in fact�are idiopathic, meaning they don�t possess a cause that is known.
Listed here are the various kinds of scoliosis:
Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in kids ages 0 to 3.
Congenital scoliosis happens when the spine doesn’t grow properly in the womb.
Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by brain, spinal cord, and muscular system disorders..
Syndromic scoliosis grows as part of an illness or an underlying syndrome.
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in kids ages 4 to 10.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in young people ages 11 to 18.
Adult degenerative or idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in individuals older than 18.
Along with the types noted above, your back specialist may refer to your scoliosis early-onset scoliosis�a term for scoliosis detected before 10 years of age. Syndromic scoliosis, congenital scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, infantile idiopathic scoliosis, and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis may all be considered early-onset scoliosis.
Treating Scoliosis
Scoliosis brings up images of braces and perhaps memories of being examined for it by the school nurse. Bracing is one of the most common treatment choices for scoliosis as the curve may be fixed by it without back surgery.
Sometimes, though, the curve is too extreme and bracing does not help enough. Because scenario, you could have scoliosis surgery to correct the curve. You can find out more on the topic of surgical treatment for scoliosis in scoliosis surgery for scoliosis and adults operation for kids.
For kids, particularly, it can be frightening to learn they have scoliosis. Having that label makes them different at a time in their own lives when they do not need to be different. They may not enjoy the concept of wearing a brace, either. But scoliosis is nothing to be scared or ashamed of. With the correct treatment, scoliosis doesn’t have to define your life.
A European Medicines Agency panel said on Friday it recommended granting marketing approval to Sanofi and Regeneron’s experimental drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use gave a positive opinion on the drug, Kevzara, citing its ability to reduce the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Sarilumab, the active substance of Kevzara, a treatment for adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, works by blocking a protein called IL-6, which is associated with inflammation.
The panel’s opinion will now be reviewed by the EMA.
In October, U.S. regulators declined to approve sarilumab because of manufacturing deficiencies at a Sanofi plant in France.
Regeneron said in February that it was planning to resubmit a marketing application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for sarilumab.
The drug has already been approved by Canadian health regulators to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
More than 23 million people worldwide suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Current treatments include the widely used methotrexate as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Other IL-6 inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis include Roche Holding AG’s approved Actemra and Johnson & Johnson’s experimental sirukumab.
Last Friday, the FDA declined to approve a new rheumatoid arthritis drug, Olumiant, made by Eli Lilly and Co and partner Incyte Corp.
Call your spine specialist in case you feel you may have developed sciatica. (Should you not already have a healthcare professional who specializes on spine health, you can ask a primary healthcare provider for recommendations).
You may have sciatica in the event that you’re experiencing symptoms,such as shooting pain down one or the two of your legs, or in case you have been experiencing weakness or tingling in your legs.
Through your medical visit, your physician or back specialist will ask you questions and perform some basic exams to try and identify the reason for your sciatica and create a treatment strategy for you�a method to control your pain as well as other symptoms also to help you recover. There are several spinal ailments which may lead to sciatic pain. Your treatment plan will be depending on the cause of your pain, so it’s vital that you get a precise diagnosis.
What to Expect During Sciatica Evaluations
First, your back specialist will ask about your present symptoms and remedies you’ve got already attempted. He or she will even ask some typical questions, like:
When did the sciatic nerve pain start?
Where would you sense pain? Is it all the way down your leg? Is it in both? Does it halt at your knee?
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain imaginable, rate your pain.
Are you really experiencing tingling or weakness in your legs and/or feet?
What actions did you recently do?
Does walking downhill or uphill increase pain?
What have you ever done with this sciatic nerve pain? Maybe you have attempted exercises or special drugs?
Does anything reduce the pain or allow it to be worse?
Neurological and physical examinations will be also performed by your healthcare professional.
In the physical examination, your doctor will find your position, range of motion, and physical state, noticing any movement that causes you pain. Your physician feel for muscle spasm, note alignment and its curvature, and will feel your back.
During the neurological examination, your back specialist will test your reflexes, muscle strength, and other nerve changes.
You will need to have some imaging tests, to diagnose the cause of your sciatica. You could have an x ray or a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. When it’s possible you might have a herniated disc or spinal stenosis that is causing your sciatica, your physician may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation.
Together, all these various assessments and evaluations will give your doctor a more complete picture of your sciatic nerve pain. Using this information, he or she will most likely be able to make a diagnosis of the underlying cause of your sciatica.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Whole Body Wellness
Following a balanced nutrition as well as engaging in regular physical activity and sleeping properly are all proper lifestyle habits which can help increase and maintain overall health and wellness. Many common complications associated with improper lifestyle habits, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, however, the risk of developing these can be prevented with a few lifestyle changes. In addition, visiting a chiropractor and receiving chiropractic care can help maintain and improve the overall health of the spine as well as its surrounding structures.
El Paso, TX. Chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez looks at stretches for neck pain.
Your neck is one of the hardest working parts of your body.�It is serves us well as a source of strength and balance. When it�s out of whack, your neck can be a source of unending distress. �Let�s face it�today�s use of technology has our necks being put to use in ways it was never intended. �Did you know that looking down at your phone can sometimes exert as much pressure as the equivalent of a 40lb weight?
Unfortunately for the vast majority of people, neck pain will affect them at some point in their lives. Women are more prone to neck pain but men definitely have their fair share as well.
One Of The Reasons Our Necks Pay A Price… We Sit A Lot
Whether it is at home in front of the TV or electronics or at work in front of the computer, our necks get a work out! Distresses on the neck are felt in many ways, including but not limited to: low back pain, severe headache, migraines, or even facial aching and tenderness.
What are some of the gentle ways you can give your neck a break? Good question, we are glad you asked! Thankfully, stretching our neck muscles regularly is easy to do and it can help relieve and prevent neck pain.
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