What does mild disc desiccation mean?
Disc desiccation is one of the most common features of degenerative disc disease. It refers to the dehydration of your discs. Your vertebral discs are full of fluid, which keeps them both flexible and sturdy. As you age, the discs begin to dehydrate or slowly lose their fluid.
How serious is disc desiccation?
Disc desiccation contributes to degenerative disc disease. Desiccation is reference to spinal discs dehydrating, which is a contributing factor to degeneration occurring more quickly. Disc desiccation can lead to limited range of motion as well as stiffness, numbness, pain, and weakness at the desiccation source.
Does disc desiccation require surgery?
Surgery may be necessary if these measures do not work. There are many different ways that surgery can help with a desiccated disc. Possible procedures may include: Fusion: The surgeon will join together the vertebrae surrounding the desiccated disc.
How do I stop disc desiccation?
Disc Desiccation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Posture awareness and postural changes.
- Diet and exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
- Stop smoking.
- Practicing proper lifting techniques.
- Physical therapy to strengthen core muscles and help take pressure off your spine.
Can desiccated discs heal?
Answer: Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for degenerative disc disease, and once you’re diagnosed with DDD, it’s typically a lifelong journey of learning to live with back pain, neck pain, or other symptoms. Once your discs begin to degenerate, you can’t really reverse the process.
At what age does disc desiccation start?
The spine starts degenerating somewhere between the ages of 20 and 25, explains Dr. Anand. But there’s a reason you don’t see most 20-somethings wincing from back pain: it takes a long time for spinal discs to wear down on their own. Normal aging isn’t the only cause of disc degeneration.
How do you fix mild degenerative disc disease?
Treatment may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, or both, special exercises, medications, losing weight, and surgery. Medical options include injecting the joints next to the damaged disc with steroids and a local anesthetic. These are called facet joint injections. They can provide effective pain relief.
How do you rehydrate lumbar discs?
Follow these practices to help your body regularly replenish and fortify the discs in your spine so that your back remains healthy.
- Eat fruits and vegetables, because they also contain water.
- Check your urine.
- Keep your intake to 30 to 50 ounces or 1 to 1.5 liters each day.
- Gradually drink water throughout the day.
How is a mild disc bulge treated?
Common treatment for spinal injuries should include rest, physical therapy, exercise and medications. The aim of any treatment for bulging disc injury is to allow the torn fibers of the annulus to heal with time and to encourage the return of fluid to the centre of the disc.
How common is disc desiccation?
Disc desiccation (also known as disc dehydration) is an extremely common degenerative change of intervertebral discs. The incidence climbs with age, and to a large degree a gradual dehydration is a ‘normal’ part of disc aging.
What is disc desiccation and how is it treated?
Treatment options for disc desiccation can be either through exercises and massages, physiotherapy, over the counter medication or surgery. Before considering various treatment options, it is recommended that you consult a medical professional.
What causes disc desiccation?
Disc desiccation is usually caused by wear and tear on your spine, which happens naturally as you age. Several other things can also cause disc desiccation, such as: trauma from a car accident, fall, or sports injury.
How do you treat a dehydrated disc?
Conservative approach is the most preferred way to treat Disc Dehydration. For pain relief, the patient can apply ice on the affected area for 15-20 minutes two to three times a day alternating it with heat.
What causes pain in the L5 S1?
Compression or inflammation of the L5 and/or S1 spinal nerve root may cause radiculopathy symptoms or sciatica, characterized by: Pain, generally felt as a sharp, shooting, and/or searing feeling in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, and/or toes Numbness in the foot and/or toes Weakness in the leg and/or foot muscles and an inability to lift the foot off the floor (foot drop)