Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) (3)

Treatments

There are various methods of treating low-back pain including both non-surgical, and surgical techniques. Your doctor will work closely with you to isolate the source of your low-back pain and recommend the course of treatment that is most appropriate for you.

In most cases, a non-surgical treatment will be recommended. Treatments can range from exercise and behavior modification, to medications that reduce pain or swelling, or epidural injections. While some patients may improve with non-surgical treatments, others may try several treatments without success. In such cases, doctors may recommend a surgical treatment.

Fusion techniques

There are several surgical techniques available for spine fusion. Traditional techniques approach the spine directly through open incisions, while newer, minimally invasive techniques approach the spine through small incisions. If you require spine fusion, the fusion techniques selected may depend on the treatment required for your particular case, individual anatomy, or on the preferences of your surgeon.

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) (2)

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward in relation to an adjacent vertebra. The symptoms that accompany spondylolisthesis include pain in the low back, thighs and/or legs, muscle spasms, weakness, and/or tight hamstring muscles.

-Degree of slippage classified in grades, Grade I being the least amount, Grade IV the most

-Many people affected experience no pain or symptoms

-May result from improper lifting of heavy items, weightlifting, or high impact sports, such as football or gymnastics

Common symptoms

-Low back pain

-Lordosis (swayback)

-Pain and/or weakness in legs

-Tightness in the hamstrings (muscles at back of thigh)

-Symptoms grow worse with exercise

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the canal that surrounds the spinal cord. The narrowing can be caused by the enlargement of joints, arthritis, bone spurs or the calcification of ligaments in the spine. As the canal narrows, pressure may be placed on nerves causing pain and/or numbness felt in the back and legs.

-A degenerative condition that is most common in older adults

-Years of wear-and-tear contribute to the condition

-It is possible to be born with spinal stenosis

Common symptoms

-Low back pain

-Weakness, tingling, numbness or pain in legs

-Standing or walking brings on symptoms

-Rest may reduce symptoms

-Leaning forward often relieves symptoms

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

Degenerative disc disease is not truly a disease. It’s a term used to describe the gradual deterioration of intervertebral discs that may occur naturally with the aging process or as result of injury.
-loss of hydration in the disc can shrink the disc and compromise its ability to act as a shock absorber between each vertebra

-loss of disc height can place pressure on the nerve roots causing pain in the buttocks and legs

-ruptured discs can bulge and put pressure on nerves causing leg and back pain




Common symptoms

-Low back pain
-Pain in legs and/or buttocks
-Pain may increase while sitting or standing for extended time
-Pain may decrease while walking, or laying down

Conditions contributing to low back pain

Painful conditions of the spine may be difficult to understand because often the pain is felt elsewhere, such as in your legs or buttocks. This pain is caused by pressure placed upon the nerves that pass through your spine and extend through the rest of your body.


We’ve seen how the healthy spine works to protect its own structure, including the spinal cord and the nerves that pass through it. We’ll now focus on some conditions that can compromise the normal structure of the spine resulting in nerve compression and pain:

-Degenerative Disc Disease
-Spondylolisthesis
-Stenosis








It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Why do I need surgery?(2)

Preparing for surgery

You may be told to see your general practitioner before surgery to check your overall health. Tell your doctor what medications you are taking, and ask if you should stop taking any medications before surgery. To make your recovery easier, prepare your home for life after surgery. Place important things within easy reach. Remove safety hazards that might cause you to lose your balance. Arrange for someone to help you at home and around the house after surgery. You will most likely be told not to eat or drink the night before the surgery. Be sure you read and understand this entire booklet. Your surgeon is required to let you know of the potential risks, as well as benefits, of this surgery.

After surgery

Ask your surgeon about your specific recovery plan following surgery. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to recover from surgery as quickly as possible and increase your chances of a successful outcome.

After surgery your surgeon may refer you to physical therapist who will teach you exercises to improve your strength and increase your mobility. The goal of physical therapy is to help you become active as soon as possible, using safe body movements that protect your neck.

Recovering from pain and surgery is an ongoing process. How fast you recover depends on your commitment to working closely with your physical therapist, and moving and exercising correctly, as recommended by your surgeon.

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.

Why do I need surgery?(1)

As discs lose their water content because of disease or age, they lose their height and bring the vertebrae closer together. The consequence is a weakening of the shock absorption properties of the disc and a narrowing of the openings for the nerves in the sides of the spine. Additionally, a loss of disc height may cause the formation of bone spurs, which can push against your spinal cord and/or nerves.

When a disc ruptures in the cervical spine, it puts pressure on one or more nerve roots (called nerve root compression) or on the spinal cord, causing pain and other symptoms in the neck and arms. Living with this pain or weakness and tingling in the arms can be disabling.

Disc degeneration

With the advice of your doctor, you may have tried other treatments for some time now which did not relieve your pain or dysfunction. Or perhaps your doctor has determined that irreparable damage would result without surgery. Your doctor has recommended that you consider the PRESTIGE® LP Cervical Disc Prosthesis, which provides for motion following surgery, instead of the more common fusion procedure.

What is involved in a PRESTIGE® LP Cervical Disc System procedure?

This surgery involves the use of a new medical device, which is designed to replace the disc which sits between the vertebrae in your neck. Your disc, which is damaged or diseased, is surgically removed through an incision made in the front of the neck.

In its place, your surgeon will prepare a space and insert a PRESTIGE® LP Cervical Disc Prosthesis. The device utilizes a ball and socket design which is designed to allow for motion to be preserved.

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your orthopedic doctors for diagnosis and treatment.