Hello all :wave:
I am new to this site and was hoping someone can give me information on Degenerative Disk disease. I was diagnoised last year and have terrible pain in my hip. Does anyone else suffer from this?
Thank you
Lisa

It also can be caused by an injury to the spine, and it trying to heal itself!! My tests show that it's BEGINNING to form, and the drs say that this is the cause! But, noone has answers for me, as to what to do about it!!

Hi Lisa:

First off welcome to boards am sorry you have to be here but you will get some wonderful support and advice. I to have DDD and have awful hip pain for over a year now. I am going in for my first ESI on the 23rd and I am hoping it will make it so I can go back to work on Sept 7 when our schools go back. I walk between 8 and 11 Km. every day and I really want to be able to do this again. Sorry I dont really have any advice for you except that I have heard that DDD is usually treated conservitavlly(sp)without surgery. Take care keep posting here so we can get to know you better.

Janice

Thank you so much for your reply. It is nice to know someone else has the same pain.
I stay active and I am afraid that if I stop, it will not be able to move again, but sometimes the pain is so bad, I take vioxx, seems to help.
What is a ESI?
Many thanks
Lisa

Hi Lisa:

ESI is Epidural Spinal Injections. You will hear alot of for and against stuff about them here on this site. (Burton report) but I feel for me I have to try them at least once.

Janice

I was a fan of the Burton report, but have recently learned that it may not be all that reliable. Still, I believe that ESI's have potential side effects and should only be done with fluoroscopy and no more than 3 a year.

Carol

Hi,
My husband, who is 30, has DDD. He has been having a lot of pain in his lower back (buttocks) and sciatica down his left leg. He can barely get his socks and shoes on and the pain gets worse when he sits for a period of time and drives. He can't pick up our baby from her crib (5 mos.) or play with our 3 year old. He's had an injection and has been in physical therapy and accupuncture, twice a week for each, for two months. The pain has gotten worse. He's getting a second opinion, as the orthopaedic specialist says the pain he's having is not nerve related, which obviously, it is (we've read alot about DDD and it totally can be nerve related!), and more muscle related. My husband is a black belt in tae kwon do and teaches twice a week, and is very flexible. If the exercising is not helping, not the injection or PT or accupuncture, what else can he do???
Please help with any advise.
Tari

Hi, tat2girl-

Just got my IDET done 3 weeks ago for an annular tear in my L3-L4, but I was told and had researched that it can also be used with DDD.

It involves a needle in your disc, then a wire catheter (sp?) was inserted and heated up. My discs are mush for ~2 months, but I have yet to feel my disc pain (just everything else, since I'm wearing a brace and can't sit!).

IDET's are never approved by insurance, though, so the cost would come out of your pocket (yuck). Costs around $10k (ouch).

Hi, LisaK1964 -

I agree with carol632 - ESI's should DEFINITELY be conducted using flouroscopy...no "eye-balling" in that region! She's also right about limitations (I heard 4), because steroid injections used too often can lead to muscle degeneration and bone loss. Prior to my procedure, and since those things never provided relief for more than 3 weeks (typical or no?), I would reserve mine for the winter months when the cold would just torture me.

Hope this helps!

I was just diagnosed with DDD, bone spurs, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. I just had a MRI done on the lower back, and insisted on one on my hips because i am in so much pain. Every morning when i get up it is at its worse. I do not know the result of my tests yet, or what can be done about any of it. Just wanted to say that yes, my hips bother me alot and i know what you are going through. Wish you all the best.

Hello all :wave:
I am new to this site and was hoping someone can give me information on Degenerative Disk disease. I was diagnoised last year and have terrible pain in my hip. Does anyone else suffer from this?
Thank you
Lisa

Where exactly is the pain in your hips? Could it be bursitis? Could it be from your joints? ligaments, muscles? Have you tried wearing the belt?

There is a lot of information out the about DDD. One of the most important piece of information that I have read in regards to it lately was that it can be a genetically disposed condition. I think that we all end up with it as well age, but some develop it more quickly than others. Another contributing factor is acute injury or repetitive motion.

Keep in mind, there is a wealth of info on it if you look. And, there are a lot of good people on these boards that can share thier experiences with you.