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  1. Degenerative disc disease
    Degenerative disc diseaseMedical condition
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  2. Degenerative disc disease - Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    Pain in the neck or back is the most common symptom. While the specific symptom depend on the position of the weak disc, which may include:

    • Pain in the legs, thighs and buttocks, lower back, neck
    • Severe pain when sitting and may feel better with walking
    • Worsens with bending or twisting
    • Occasional pain, which may last for few days to several months

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    Causes

    Verified Expert

    DDD is an age-related condition and mainly caused by the wear and tear of spinal discs.

    • Occurs due to drying out of the discs over time making the discs lose their support and function
    • DDD can also be caused by an injury or overuse due to repetitive activities or sports
    • May be due to bone spur formation
    • Herniated disc can also cause DDD and accompanying symptoms

    Risk factors include

    • Family history of musculoskeletal disorders
    • Strain on lumbar discs due to wrong sitting posture for a prolonged period
    • Obesity
    • Smoking

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    Prevention

    Verified Expert

    • Exercise regularly as it helps in the strengthening of core muscles
    • Maintain a healthy weight as excess weight puts pressure on spine and disks

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    Complications

    Verified Expert

    After a prolonged period, it may lead to complications such as:

    • Osteoarthritis in the back
    • Blood clots in the legs
    • Depression
    • Reduced back flexibility
    • Chronic pain syndrome
    • Opiate dependence

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    Treatment

    Verified Expert

    Treatment includes exercise, medication, physical therapy, pain-relieving medication, and surgery.

    Medication

    Analgesics: Used to manage pain.

    Ibuprofen . Acetaminophen

    See more
    Source: Focus Medica. For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice. | Disclaimer: Opinions are from external health professionals and should not be considered as Microsoft's opinion or a substitute for professional help. Consult a health professional for medical advice.
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    Table of Contents
    Symptoms
    Causes
    Prevention
    What are the symptoms of lumbar degenerative disc disease?
    Complications
    Health guide
    Treatment
     
  1. Common symptoms of degenerative disc disease include123:
    • Neck pain and back pain
    • Numbness or tingling in arms or legs
    • Radiating pain to buttocks and lower back
    • Pain worsens with sitting, bending, or lifting
    • Flare-ups
    • Weakness or numbness in arms or legs
    • Chronic pain
    • Bone spurs may develop as discs undergo change4.
    Learn more:
    The most common symptoms of degenerative disk disease are neck pain and back pain. You may experience pain that: Comes and goes, lasting for weeks or months at a time. Leads to numbness or tingling in your arms or legs. Radiates down your buttocks and lower back. Worsens with sitting, bending or lifting.

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symp…

    my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16912-dege…
    Symptoms of degenerative disc disease are most commonly found in the low back or neck. The pain may: • Range from mild to severe and disabling. • Primarily affect the neck and lower back. • Extend to the arms and hands. • Radiate to the buttocks and thighs. • Worsen when sitting or after bending, lifting or twisting. • Come and go.

    Degenerative Disc Disease | Arthritis Fou…

    www.arthritis.org/diseases/degenerative-disc-disease
    These are common symptoms of degenerative disc disease: Neck or back pain Flare-ups, particularly lower back pain Pain made worse by bending, lifting or twisting Pain made worse by sitting (for lumbar degenerative disc disease) Chronic pain, especially lower back pain or neck pain Radiating pain Weakness or numbness in your arms or legs

    Degenerative Disc Disease Signs & Symp…

    www.rush.edu/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease
    Degenerative disc disease can cause pain, weakness, or numbness. Exact symptoms vary depending on the location and type of disc degeneration. However, the primary symptoms of degenerative disc disease include sharp and/or chronic pain in the back and neck. As the discs undergo change, the body may react and develop bony growths called bone spurs.

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Columbia N…

    www.neurosurgery.columbia.edu/patient-care/cond…
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  3. Cleveland Clinic
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16912

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

  4. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/...

    Common Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease - Spine-health

  5. WebMD
    https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/degenerative-disk...

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, …

  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine
    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heal…

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Johns Hopkins Medicine

    WEBThe guidelines for symptoms of tingling, numbness and weakness are the same in the low back and lower extremities as they are for the neck (in the previous paragraph). Why does arthritis cause these symptoms? …

  7. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com/conditio…

    Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms - Spine …

    WEBPainful aches at the site of a damaged disc is the most common symptom of a degenerative disc. Pain may spread to the buttocks, groin, and upper thighs. This pain typically feels achy, dull, and can range from mild to …

  9. Mayo Clinic News Network
    https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/disc…

    Mayo Clinic Q and A: What is degenerative disk disease?

    WEBJan 26, 2023 · Often, people have a bulging or ruptured disk with no symptoms, but sometimes this can cause symptoms in one or both legs. A bulging disk happens when the outer layer of the disk, the annulus …

  10. Verywell Health
    https://www.verywellhealth.com/degenerative-disc-disease-7091203

    Degenerative Disc Disease: Symptoms, Causes, and More

  11. Healthline
    https://www.healthline.com/health/deg…

    Degenerative Disc Disease: Symptoms, Treatment, and …

    WEBAug 14, 2018 · Symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of DDD include pain that: primarily affects the lower back. might extend to legs and buttocks. extends from neck to arms. worsens after twisting or...

  12. Cedars-Sinai
    https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-libra…

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Cedars-Sinai

    WEBWhat are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease? Degenerative disc disease refers to a condition in which pain is caused from a damaged disc. The X-ray shows degenerated discs on the left before surgery.

  13. Spine Info
    https://www.spineinfo.com/conditions/de…

    Degenerative Disc Disease: Definition, Causes, …

    WEBPain: Pain is the most common symptom of degenerative disc disease. It can range from a dull ache to a sharp, shooting pain. The pain may be worse when sitting, standing, or walking for long periods of time. It may …