As individuals age into their 50s, 60s, and 70s, many start to develop symptoms related to degenerative spine disease.
Typically, the first sign of trouble is back or neck pain—especially during physical activity or when sitting for long periods of time. This can then progress, to the point where you may have difficulty walking long distances or performing other exercises.
Eventually, you may start to experience weakness, numbness, and tingling that radiates down the arms and legs. In severe cases, bowel and bladder dysfunction can occur. Some people eventually turn to canes or walkers to get around, or even become wheelchair-bound.
Fortunately, early intervention can help stave off the harshest symptoms of degenerative spine disease and delay the need for surgery.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Typically, you should look at conservative treatment options before considering surgery for degenerative spine conditions. Unlike other degenerative spine conditions that can develop as the result of trauma or neurological issues, degenerative spine conditions develop over a long period of time. This gives you ample time to explore other treatment methods before resorting to surgery.
There are many conservative treatment methods that can help. Pain medications are often advised as well, but there’s currently a concerted movement in the medical community to stay away from heavy narcotics in an effort to fight the opioid epidemic. Luckily, there are many ways to fight pain without medication.
Many people with degenerative spine conditions will benefit from physical therapy to improve mobility and strengthen the core. In some cases, you may benefit from TENS units, which deliver electrical stimulation to muscles and other tissues. Epidural and joint injections are another option, as well as ultrasound to break down scarring and decrease tissue inflammation. Even massage therapy can be helpful.
A well-trained physiatrist will craft a treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs.
When Is It Time to Consider Surgery?
If conservative treatments prove ineffective, the next step is to perform diagnostic imaging. Most physicians begin with a simple x-ray and progress to an MRI scan, which can provide a more precise diagnosis.
At this point, a qualified surgeon will work to devise a surgical approach that can be present to the patient that’s minimal disruption to the spine and can take care of the issue without causing a long recovery or a destructive process.
However, surgery is usually treated as the last resort. Surgery comes with risks like infection, bleeding, and nerve injury. Anytime a patient goes under general anesthesia, there’s also a small chance of stroke, heart attack, or even death. While these risks are rare—particularly if you select an experienced team with proven positive outcomes to perform the surgery—they do still exist.
Luckily, many modern spine surgery techniques are minimally invasive. This means that there is minimal tissue disruption, low levels of blood loss, and a significantly lower risk of infection.
Get on the Path to Reclaim Your Life
Getting the help you need can be life-changing. The psychological impact of chronic pain from a degenerative spine disease can be isolating and impede your life in many ways, including lack of sleep and inability to participate in activities with loved ones.
If you’re experiencing pain or disruption in your daily life, consider reaching out to a physician to see if degenerative spine disease to be a possible cause. Reach out to your primary care provider for assessment—and then go from there.
If you’re in search of a spine expert to help with diagnosis or surgery, the University of Maryland Spine Network offers advanced spine care at their practices across the state. Home to the region’s leading spine surgeons, many of our board-certified experts can provide recommendations on what kind of treatment is right for you.
Hear From Our Experts
Dr. Khalid Kurtom, Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Maryland School of Medicine, Neurological Surgeon at UM Shore Regional Health, and member of the UM Spine Network, discusses degenerative spine conditions and what to do if you think you might have one on the Live Greater Podcast.
