Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis

righttopWhat Goes into a Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis Receiving an accurate degenerative disc disease diagnosis from a licensed medical professional is absolutely essential before any treatment regimen can begin. The problem with degenerative spine conditions is that they often have similar symptoms to one another, which can make determining the root cause of a patient’s pain somewhat difficult. A herniated disc, for example, may cause chronic back pain, but vertebral misalignment, bone spurs, osteoarthritis, and spinal stenosis all may lead to very similar symptoms. By having a doctor diagnose the source of the pain and help develop a treatment plan that is carefully tailored to your specific condition, the long-term prognosis is must brighter and treatment will have a better chance for being successful, more quickly. A Brief Word on Degenerative Disc Disease To understand what goes into the degenerative disc disease diagnosis process, it can be helpful to have a basic knowledge of what the condition actually means. For starters, degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease at all. This simple distinction is incredibly important because, in reality, the condition isn’t caught or transferred but rather is the result of nothing more nefarious than the natural aging process. In the spine, the individual vertebrae are cushioned and separated by intervertebral discs that act like de facto shock absorbers for the back and neck. These discs are highly resilient but also flexible enough to allow for the full range of mobility that we require from our spine. In order to serve these dual roles, each disc has a distinct outer shell (annulus fibrosus) and a gel-like nuclear material (nucleus pulposus). It is the annulus fibrosus that gives the disc its strength and shape, while it is the nucleus pulposus that makes the disc flexible and adaptable. The problem is that over the years regular wear and tear tends to take its toll on the spinal anatomy and the intervertebral discs have a tendency to become thinned and weakened. Degenerative disc disease is the term doctors use to describe wholesale deterioration of one or more intervertebral discs in the spine and can lead to both bulging and herniated discs. 
Bulging discs – The annulus fibrosus thins to the point that pressure from the nucleus pulposus causes the disc to bulge beyond its normal boundary. Additional strain on part of the disc itself may also cause the disc wall to bulge.
Herniated disc – A tear develops in the annulus fibrosus, allowing the nucleus pulposus to seep into the spinal column.
It is important to note, however, that the mere presence of degenerative disc disease (and any other degenerative spine condition, for that matter) may not necessarily be symptomatic. A bulging or herniated disc usually only becomes problematic when the swollen disc or extruded disc material comes in contact with one of the nearby nerves in the spinal column. It is this nerve compression that actually causes the bulk of the symptoms associated with disc deterioration. As such, treatment for the condition is normally contingent on identifying the precise location of the nerve compression and working to alleviate the irritation. The Diagnosis Process The degenerative disc disease diagnosis process may vary from doctor to doctor, but will generally include a thorough review of the patient’s medical history, a physical examination, and often the use of medical imaging technology. The most important thing that a patient can do to assist the doctor in the diagnostic process is to be as thorough and forthcoming with the doctor as possible. Many doctors even recommend that their patients maintain pain journals prior to the appointment to record the specific symptom, duration, and severity, so no detail is overlooked. left2654935Medical History Review The first step in most doctors’ appointments is for the doctor to review the patient’s medical history to attempt to better understand the patient’s condition and symptoms. This is particularly important when the cause of the patient’s pain is not readily known, as is often the case with degenerative disc disease. Normally, this is a relatively informal process where the doctor will ask a series of questions and engage in a dialogue with their patient to learn what they can. One of most important components of this session is for the doctor to consider the potential causes for the patient’s pain by learning more about the individual’s lifestyle and looking for obvious red flags for spinal problems. Some factors that may contribute to or accelerate spinal deterioration include: 
Obesity – Excess body fat can put additional strain on the spine, exacerbating natural degeneration.
Poor posture – Improper spinal alignment can also put undue strain on the various anatomical elements of the spine.
Participation in high-impact sports – Hockey, football, gymnastics, and other similar activities can damage the spine and vertebrae.
Career choice – Having a line of work that requires frequent bending, twisting, lifting, or repetitive mechanical activities can lead to spinal deterioration.
Family history – Spinal degeneration is thought to be somewhat influenced by genetics.
Age – Individuals who have reached or exceeded middle age are far more at risk for spinal degeneration than younger individuals.
Physical Examination Once the medical review is completed, the next step is for a complete physical examination. At this point, the doctor likely has an idea of what is behind the patient’s pain, and the examination will go a long way toward confirming or altering the initial diagnosis. During this session, the doctor will conduct a series of physical tests, many of which may be somewhat uncomfortable for the patient depending on the severity of their condition. Tests will vary depending on the location and expected cause of the problem but, in general, the doctor will palpate (apply pressure to) the area surrounding the back and neck, test reflexes and neurological response, as well as note the patient’s range of motion. 41446451506855Medical Imaging The final step in the degenerative disc disease diagnosis process is often for the patient to receive an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to confirm the diagnosis, pinpoint the source of the problem, and ensure that another underlying issue isn’t behind the patient’s symptoms. Typically, an X-ray can show a loss in disc height and the presence of bone spurs that may indicate degeneration, while an MRI or CT scan can give the doctor a three-dimensional view of the segment of the spine, including a clear image of the disc and any potential nerve compression. Treatment Once a degenerative disc disease diagnosis is made, the doctor will work closely with the patient to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for their specific condition. Factoring in variables such as the cause and severity of the condition as well as the patient’s age and health, the doctor will recommend a series of techniques to alleviate pain. In most cases, treatment will begin conservatively with some combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hot/cold therapy, low-impact exercise, stretching techniques, and other similar approaches. Occasionally, should all other more conservative treatments fail to provide the patient with the pain relief they require, decompression surgery may be warranted. In this case, there are several different surgical procedures ranging from an outpatient endoscopic technique to open spine fusion surgery that may be considered. To learn more about the degenerative disc disease diagnosis process and the various treatment options currently available, speak with your doctor today.

Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis

by lspineinstitute on Sep 29, 2011

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Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis — Document Transcript