There are 4 stages to degenerative disc disease which are the dysfunction stage, the dehydration stage, the stabilization stage and the collapsing stage.
Degenerative disc disease is not arthritis although degenerative disc disease can cause spinal osteoarthritis in some people.
The key difference between degenerative disc disease and arthritis is degenerative disc disease is what is happening to your spinal discs and the changes that can occur with degenerative disc disease can lead to arthritis or radiculopathy like sciatica or pinched nerve in your neck.
The best sleeping position for degenerative disc disease is on your stomach as sleeping on your stomach can help relieve any pressure on the disc.
You can also sleep on the side if you prefer but sleeping on your stomach on a firm mattress while using a flat pillow under your stomach and hips is the best way to sleep with degenerative disc disease.
The vitamins that are good for degenerative disc disease are vitamins D and Vitamins D3.
Vitamin D works for degenerative disc disease by signaling a pathway to reduce inflammation levels as well as oxidative stress in your intervertebral discs.
Vitamin D also delays the cells aging and reduces death of cells within your spine.
You can go with degenerative disc disease for the rest of your life which can be 20 to 40 years or longer as there is no cure for degenerative disc disease although treatments can help you manage the pain.
Degenerative disc disease is a lifelong disease.
Walking is good for degenerative disc disease which is a low impact exercise.
Walking can help with degenerative disc disease and help relieve pain and help strengthen your disc and back.
The activities that you should avoid with degenerative disc disease are high impact sports, heavy lifting, or high impact exercises and avoid slouching and a sedentary lifestyle.
Foods that you should avoid with degenerative disc disease are fast foods, greasy foods, French Fries sugary foods, fried foods, processed foods, red meat, dairy products, processed corn, refined grains and food with chemicals.
L4-L5 degenerative disc disease is a high risk of disc degeneration which can be caused by increased loads at the L4-L5 motion segment and also a decreased movement in the segments below that level.
Most disc herniations happen at the lower lumbar spine, especially at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels.
Degenerative disc disease can also occur in the thoracic area of the spine, most frequently at the thoracolumbar junction (where the thoracic and lumbar areas of the spinal column meet).
Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs when your spinal disks break down.
When these disks wear out, people typically experience back pain and stiffness.
You may find pain relief with nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy and spinal injection.
Degenerative Disc Disease is not life threatening, but if left untreated, can lead to debilitating pain, permanent damage, and serious conditions such as spinal osteoarthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis and potentially paralysis.
The degenerative disc disease cannot heal on its own.
Many treatments for degenerative disc disease focus on reducing symptoms.
Some people experience more severe or longer-lasting symptoms than others.
Degenerative Disc Disease is usually not too serious although it is painful.
Degenerative Disc Disease can cause pain in the hips, legs and even lower back.
However in some cases Degenerative Disc Disease can cause Paralysis if Disc herniations happen in the persons cervical spine.
Although you can become paralyzed from Degenerative Disc Disease it's very rare for it to happen and Degenerative Disc Disease is usually not that serious although just painful and debilitating.
If the degenerative disc disease gets too severe and it's in the end stage it can paralyze a person.
And unfortunately there's no cure for degenerative disc disease and there's not much you can do for it.