Herniated & Degenerative Discs

If you’re like most people with back pain, your greatest worry is that your condition is caused by a catastrophic joint or disc problem that will result in permanent pain or disability. The truth is that 40 percent of normal, pain-free adults have degenerative joint disease and herniated discs, and only a small percentage of neck and back pain sufferers will ever have to undergo surgical corrections. And although joint and disc problems can cause significant pain, most respond very well to conservative, noninvasive treatments.  What is so interesting about these diagnoses is that while millions of people complain every day about disc degeneration and herniations, millions more have the exact same conditions with absolutely no symptoms whatsoever.  Once assumed to be severe and debilitating, these conditions are now seen as a normal function of aging, with most patients continuing to lead active, athletic, and highly functioning lives.  Herniated and degenerative discs are typically diagnosed as follows:

Degenerative joint- or disc-induced pain:

History:
-Pain that begins gradually or after a prolonged period of no movement
-Pain that begins after a brief period of repetitive movements
-Pain that starts or gets worse after minimal work or activity

Characteristics:
-Pain that is fairly constant or relieved only by rest
-Pain that is tolerable in the morning but gets worse as the day goes on
-Pain that occasionally produces a burning or tingling in a distant part of an arm or leg

Location:
-Pain that is felt directly on the spine
-Pain that can cover an entire region of your neck or back and also a separate, distant part of an arm or leg.

Herniated disc–induced pain:

History:
-Arm or leg pain that began gradually and has gotten steadily, progressively, and relentlessly worse
-Arm or leg pain that began after a severe, sudden, forceful traumatic event

Characteristics:
-Arm or leg pain that is constant or relieved only by rest
-Arm, leg, or back pain that becomes severe as soon as you stand upright
-Arm or leg pain that produces a constant burning or numbing sensation

Location:
-From your spine through your entire arm or leg, with or without neck and back pain