Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms in the Lumbar Spine

Pinpointing degenerative disc disease symptoms as such can be difficult, as there are varying degrees of pain that an individual may experience from day to day. The most common symptom associated with the condition is lower back pain, as degenerative changes within the spine frequently affect the complex, weight-bearing lumbar (lower) region of the spine.

Types of Lower Back Pain

Degenerative disc disease, a condition characterized by the deterioration of the intervertebral discs, can cause several types of lower back pain in an affected patient. In most cases, the pain is intermittent, and becomes worse with activity. Some patients experience chronic (long-lasting) discomfort - ranging from low-level irritation to severe pain - interspersed with episodic flare ups of extreme pain. Additionally, as a degenerating disc weakens, it may not be able to fully support the vertebrae above and below, which could cause abnormal, microscopic shifting. This movement, called micro-motion, can lead to an inflammatory response within the disc, which, in turn, can irritate the nerve fibers in the disc wall (annulus fibrosus) and cause disc pain. The back muscles may spasm in an effort to correct and stabilize the abnormal motion, adding another layer of discomfort in the lower back.

Radiating Symptoms

While lower back pain is the main symptom of degenerative disc disease, referred pain, or pain that is felt in an area of the body away from the true source of pain, can also develop. A disc experiencing micro-motion can weaken to the point of bulging past its normal boundary, or it could tear and release the inner gel-like core (nucleus pulposus) into the spinal canal. If bulging or herniated disc material compresses the spinal cord or a nerve root in the lower back, symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness could affect the hips, buttocks, thighs, calves, and feet.

Managing Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms

In most cases, a doctor will recommend that a patient complete several weeks or months of conservative (nonsurgical) treatments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics, cold/heat therapy, and physical therapy, among others. These methods are usually able to help symptoms subside, but in the event that debilitating pain persists, surgery may become an option. Patients should carefully consider each of their surgical options before consenting to any procedure.