Did You Know?

What is a better minimally invasive surgery that would provide you with relief from pain caused by disc degeneration?

  • Endoscopic Foraminotomy
    An endoscopic discectomy is a better minimally invasive invasive surgery available for the treatment of disc degeneration. With the use of endoscopic techniques the incision is kept small and the recovery time is minimal. The painful tissue can be visualized and removed. Treatment of disogenic pain (pain from the disc degeneration) with endoscopic discectomy is very effective. For more information about how an endoscopic foraminotomy procedure is performed click here.
  • Spinal Fusion
    A Spinal Fusion is an open back surgery that fuses together two or more of your vertebrae. This is an aggressive surgery and will have a large incision. The entire disc is removed. Bone grafts and hardwares are required.The recovery for a spinal fusion can take up to a full year and requires extended rehabilitation. This is not a minimally invasive surgery, try again
  • Total Disc Replacement
    The surgery is traumatic.It involves generatl anesthesia and hospitalization with a long term of revovery. Artifical disc is inserted. Up to now, the results of total disc replacment may have similar outcome as spinal fusions. This is not a minimally invasive surgery, try again

What is Disc Degeneration?

Disc degeneration refers to the changes of the spinal discs resulted from chronic wear and tear, or injury. These changes include loss of water in the central disc (disc desiccation), disruption of the disc annulus, and newly growth of pain nerve fibers into the damaged discs.

Symptoms of Disc Degeneration

Degenerative disc disease presents itself with pain localized to the area that may worsen depending on certain activities. A patient suffering from lumbar disc degeneration will feel more pain when sitting as the lumbar spine is carrying a greater load in the seated position. Because of the weakened disc material, activities such as bending lifting and twisting will increase the amount of pain felt. This holds true with as well with other acts such as sneezing and coughing.

Along with localized pain there may be pain and numbness felt in the extremities from nerves and other nearby structures being irritated by the disc materials due to inflammation. In addition they may also be pinched or compressed due to disc herniations or bone spurs associated with disc degenerations. Nerve compression symptoms caused by cervical disc degeneration would be felt in the shoulders, arms, and hands where as symptoms of lumbar degeneration would be felt in the buttocks, legs, and feet.

What causes Disc Degeneration?

The process of disc degeneration most often starts through trauma to the intervertebral disc itself. Because there is not a lot of blood that flows to a intervertebral disc, our bodies natural healing process will not repair it. Pain will flare up with certain activities until the body begins to stabilize the area.

Treatment Options for Disc Degeneration

Initial treatment of disc degeneration will be conservative in nature unless there is worry that permanent neurologic damage. Conservative treatment methods include activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, and core strengthening exercises. If satisfactory results are not attained surgery should be attempted to relieve pain.

An endoscopic spinal surgery such as discectomy and foraminotomy offers the least invasive form of surgical treatment available with minimal recovery time. To learn more about this procedure or to find out if you are a good candidate please click here.

How Can We Help

Atlantic Spinal Care has been successfully treating Disc Degeneration in hundreds of patients every year. If you are interested in learning more about how Atlantic Spinal Care can help you relieve the pain you suffer as a result of Disc Degeneration please consider one or more of the following options: