Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease in the Lower Back

A patient could have degenerative disc disease in the lower back and not be aware of it. Another patient could have the same condition and experience severe symptoms. Why is there such a disparity? For one, each person is different and will react differently in each case. Perhaps the largest factor, however, is how a lumbar (lower back) degenerative disc and its associated anatomical abnormalities affect the components of the nervous system.

The Nervous System

The nervous system is a delicate, yet complicated electrical communications network within the body, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and hundreds of thousands of peripheral nerves. The system allows for the transmission of electrical impulses between the brain and rest of the body. When functioning normally, the peripheral nerves interpret the surroundings and send sensory (feeling) information to the brain via the spinal cord, which then relays motor (movement) commands for the rest of the body to follow. For example, when you place your hand on a hot stove, the nerves in your hand tell your brain that something is hot and painful, and your brain responds with the signal to quickly pull your hand away from the stove. Likewise, if the spinal cord or one of the many nerves in the body is damaged or compressed, the proper transmission of motor information is interrupted (causing weakness) and the message of “pain� arises. Interruption of the nerve’s signal can also result in numbness or a “pins and needles� sensation.

The lumbar spine is particularly susceptible to nerve compression, as this area is under a lot of stress from carrying the weight of the upper body and having an extreme range of motion. When an intervertebral disc begins to deteriorate, the outer wall (annulus fibrosus) becomes weaker and may be unable to hold the gel-like inner core, known as the nucleus pulposus. A bulge or a tear may form in the disc as a result. If the bulging or extruded disc material compresses the spinal cord or a nerve root in the lumbar spine, lower back pain could arise. Patients may also experience radiating pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the hips, buttocks, legs, and feet. Additionally, the damaged disc itself could become painful and inflamed if the nerve fibers that feed into the annulus fibrosus are irritated or damaged.

Related Conditions

Since degenerative disc disease in the lower back may mean that affected discs can no longer properly support the spine, a number of additional spinal conditions could develop. These might include the aforementioned bulging or herniated disc, spondylolisthesis (when one vertebra slips on top of another), or facet joint disease (when spinal joints become inflamed and stiff). The symptoms associated with these conditions are similar to those of degenerative disc disease itself, so it’s important for a patient to have his or her primary care physician or a spine specialist carefully diagnose which conditions are affecting the spine before a treatment plan is agreed upon.