Are you experiencing pain in your neck or lower back while bending or moving? If so, these might be the early signs of degenerative disc disease, a progressive degeneration condition that occurs when one or more intervertebral discs (discs that act as cushions for vertebrae in the spine) wear out or break down due to aging, injury, or other factors. These discs play a crucial role in providing flexibility and absorbing the forces during movements like walking, running, and lifting. Wearing down of these discs can cause problems during these movements and can lead to other complications. However, noticing these early signs of degenerative disc disease and seeking medical help allows better management of symptoms and improved quality of life. Learn about the early signs of degenerative disc disease and when to seek help for this condition in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org. to schedule an appointment with us.
Early signs of degenerative disc disease
Degenerative disc disease’s most common symptom is pain (like shooting, burning, or numbing kind of pain), which develops over time in different parts of the body or when you move in different positions. It may include:
- Back pain:
You may experience pain when you sit for a long time. This happens because the discs are used to maintain spaces between our vertebrae, which provide the nerves room to travel through the spine and exit before traveling to the arms, legs, and other parts of the body. When these discs start to degenerate, that space shrinks, and nerves in the back start to get compressed. This causes pain, especially when you sit for a long time, putting more load on them than when standing.
- Neck pain:
Bending or looking sideways, or twisting your neck, can cause pain. This happens because the neck has the cervical spine, the part of the spine that is very mobile. When your disc is affected, turning or bending your neck pinches the nerves and causes pain.
- Pain or numbness in your arms or legs:
You experience radiating pain or numbness in your arms or legs in certain positions. This happens when the disc degeneration causes nerve compression, so you experience symptoms anywhere along the path of the nerve. This means pain, numbness, or tingling can go down to your arms or legs, depending on which disc or nerve is affected.
- Weakness or loss of coordination in your legs:
You lose coordination in your legs or feel weak when you walk after resting. This happens because the nerves in your spine not only control sensation but also your movements as well. When your nerves are compressed due to disc degeneration, you may find your arm or leg movements also affected, which may make it difficult for you to perform coordinated tasks like walking or buttoning a shirt.
- Pain when sitting down:
This is a very common symptom in people with disc degeneration because sitting for a long time puts more pressure on your spine, increasing compression on the affected nerves of the damaged disc.
- Pain when bending:
When you bend over or twist yourself from side to side, you may experience pain. This happens due to compression around the damaged disc, along with increased pain in your back or neck. This pain gets worse if you bend or twist while bearing weight or lifting.
- Pain that’s relieved when changing positions:
The pain you experience during twisting or bending lessens when you lean forward or walk around. This happens because the nerve that gets compressed between a damaged disc or vertebra changes its position, which helps relax the spine and relieve the compression temporarily.
If you’re experiencing any of these early signs of degenerative disc disease, you should seek medical help. Need help with Degenerative Disc Disease? Visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!!! If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. Visit Doral Health & Wellness Pain Relief Department in Brooklyn, to get professional help and guidance on how to manage your problem. Call us on + 1-718-367-2555 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Log on to www.doralhw.org. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.