Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a biproduct of Arthritis. In otherwords, you can have arthritis in your back but it takes some time b4 DDD shows up. DDD is the degeneration of the discs in your spine-when it gets to this point, you have lost the fluid sacs that fit btw your discs so that, if left untreated, you will eventually wind up w/bone on bone (I did and trust me, it's very painful). Usually if you have DDD the doc will send you for a discogram or a milegram. And I don't mean to scare you but one of these tests must be performed to determine which disc is causing your pain. See, you can have DDD in all your levels, but not necessarily have pain from all those levels. And, some people can actually have DDD and not even have pain in their back at all. I opted for the discogram (both are relatively painful but I had heard that most people who have the milogram (SP?) have really bad headaches and I have occipital neuralgia which gives me headaches enough.
Hope this helps answer your question. Good luck!
donna
QUOTE:: If you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
You said you have bone on bone. You found out how bad it was after that test. What is that test really. What did you do for your condition? My neck is bone on bone I used to go to a chir dr and he said that was happing to my neck? I really do not understand I have the pain does that also mean I will not be able to move my neck. I did not think my oa would be so bad
An MRI, discogram or a Mylogram can all tell you how advanced your DDD is, a simple x-ray does not give enough detail but can give a general idea of what is going on.
Traction can help to alleviate the pressure caused by DDD and the last option is disk replacement which is pretty major surgery. If there are too many levels involved then some doctors will not do it. The new plastic disks have been having some failure rate and it has been said they are only successful if one disk is done as opposed to several. There is no literal "cure". Anti-imflamatories may prove useful in keeping swelling to a minimum as well as muscle relaxers are the general medicinal routes.
The spinal cord disorders board is very helpful for DDD and herniations of the c-spine. Be careful with Chiropractors, it has been reported that they can sometimes cause more damage than good.
Thank you for your reply. It answered my question. I quite my Chiropractor he said I would have to go like twice a week for like the rest of my life. I also have bone lose (ostepenia) I did not want cracking on my neck and back.
Hi I have DDD also and as you know the pain is unbearable at times. My DDD has put me in a chair going on 3 yrs now, cant stand or walk, it has cause body and nerve damage. I hope that one day someone can help us understand this DDD problem a little better.
Hi Sulfur8...............the post you responded to is 4 years old so I don't know if that same person is around here anymore. But you might get some people talking to you on the Back Problems Board as DDD affects the spine.
I have severe DDD as well and am headed to my 3rd cervical spine surgery soon. I know how you feel.
If you have problems with your neck too, most of the neck people meet down on the Spinal Cord Disorders board and you are welcome there too.
DDD is a tough problem....have you ever seen a spine surgeon about having one or two of the new artificial disks put in where you need it most? Or are you in the chair for life at this point. I have a friend who is in one too....just way too extensive and she hates surgery. I'm still trying to fix what I can while I can.
Sorry for your pain, my friend, I know your pain all too well.
