Does Everyone Get Degenerative Disc Disease as They Age?

Back problems affect many people, from young to old. Injuries and arthritis, along with degenerative conditions like disc disease, are common causes of back pain.

Degenerative disc disease is a prevalent condition that sometimes leads to pain, but not everyone feels it. However, most people have some form of degeneration, especially with age.

If you're dealing with back pain or DDD, Dr. Jason Ablett and the Pinnacle Health Chiropractic team offer various treatments, including chiropractic adjustments and rehabilitative exercise. He's an experienced chiropractor who provides pain management techniques for multiple musculoskeletal problems.

Understanding DDD

The intervertebral discs are spongy, round discs that sit between each vertebra to cushion and allow movement. They're relatively strong, but can wear down or suffer injury over time.

Degenerative disc disease is a condition that can affect any of the intervertebral discs. It happens when the spongy discs wear down, especially with age. However, aging isn't the only factor.

People who are obese have a higher risk of DDD due to extra stress on the intervertebral discs. Those who have injured their discs or who lift a lot of heavy objects are also at risk for developing DDD.

Once the disc deteriorates, it can't repair itself. The result is less cushioning in the spine that causes the bones to rub together, stiffness, and severe back pain. However, not everyone with DDD has symptoms or pain.

Does everyone get DDD?

Unfortunately, everyone will have some form of disc degeneration with age, although not everyone knows it. The spongy intervertebral discs wear down over time, a regular part of aging.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, everyone has some form of degenerative disc disease after age 40. Still, it doesn't always lead to symptoms or pain. Various factors play into degenerative disc disease, including:

• Injury
• Age
• Tears on the disc
• Drying out the disc

The discs are unable to repair themselves after an injury because they have very little blood supply. That means a tear from a sports injury when you're young puts you at a higher risk for DDD as you get older.

Although everyone experiences degeneration at some point, most people go their entire lives without symptoms. The older you get, though, the more likely you are to have symptoms due to other issues like arthritis and spinal stenosis.

Treating DDD with chiropractic care

The good news is that we effectively manage patients with DDD with conservative measures. Dr. Ablett evaluates your spine and symptoms to determine the best treatment route.

We provide various treatments for mild, moderate, and severe forms of DDD. The first step is manual chiropractic adjustments to release pressure around the spine. Dr. Ablett then utilizes heat, ice, and stretching to alleviate muscle tightness around the degenerated disc.

He also utilizes rehabilitative exercise to help you maintain a healthy spine and musculoskeletal system. Electrical stimulation is another option that eliminates pain for short periods, while Dr. Ablett gives other long-term options.

If conservative measures aren't enough to alleviate DDD symptoms, Dr. Ablett can recommend a specialist to discuss other therapies.

To learn more about our treatment options for DDD, call our office in Kirkland, Washington, today or request a consultation with Dr. Ablett on our website.