Those people diagnosed with degenerative disc disease wonder if the term degenerative means they will be crippled in the future. This is especially true for those that have back problems. The information about this condition can be helpful in getting treatment.

The spine is made up of bones called vertebra. In between these bones are cushions called discs. The discs are made up of fibrous tissue around the outer edges. These outer edges are named the annulus. This is where the degenerative process in this disc disease begins.

Tearing in the outer layers of discs comes from injury in most cases. When these tears heal, they leave behind scar tissue. The areas of scar tissue are weaker than healthy tissue. Growing old also causes the disc to become worn as well. As that protective fibrous tissue gets weaker, the core of the disc, the nucleus, is in danger of being affected.

When the annulus becomes too weak to provide protection of the center of the disc, the nucleus, the water that is in it begins to diminish. Once there is no water left, the disc rupture and allows the bones to begin rubbing together. This friction between bones causes bone spurs.

Once a person has bones spurs, the pain they might experience can be really bad. Many times, the only way to get relief is to lie down. When they have to do this more often than not, their daily activities become limited. This can be detrimental to the lifestyle the person is used to living.

Up until recent years, those that suffered with disc troubles were either treated the rest of their lives with pain killers or they had surgical invention with the fusing of vertebra together. This surgical procedure caused real and permanent limitation in mobility. Talk to your doctor about the latest in disc replacement surgery and find out if you could be a candidate for it.

To learn more about degenerative disc disease as well as possible treatment options, visit Dr. Dirk Kancilia’s site www.CaliforniaDiscInstitute.com