In-depth information on the causes of degenerative disc disease and different treatment options for degenerative disc disease, such as lumbar spine fusion surgery and artificial disc surgery
Multilevel spinal fusion for lumbar degenerative disc disease
August 30, 2007
Multilevel fusion as a primary treatment for low back pain from degenerated discs is a controversial topic in spine medicine. Only rarely is a two level fusion indicated, and lumbar spine fusion for three or more levels of the low back as a primary treatment for back pain is very rarely, if every, recommended. Read
more...
By: Jeffrey Spivak, MD
Leg pain and numbness: What might these symptoms mean?
April 18, 2007
Quite often leg pain or foot pain does not mean that there is a problem with the leg, but rather that there is a problem in the low back, causing pain and possibly other symptoms to radiate, or be referred to, the leg or the foot. Read more...
By: Grant Cooper, MD
Living with degenerative
disc disease
February 16, 2007
This article outlines the four key components of a self-care program for
patients to manage the low back pain and other symptoms of degenerative disc
disease and avoid surgery. Read more...
By: J. Talbot Sellers, DO
Cervical artificial disc replacement technologies
February 5, 2007 (originally published
August 17, 2006)
A number of disc arthroplasties are currently in various phases of development and clinical testing in the United States. These devices use a variety of materials and design concepts. Read more...
By: Alok D. Sharan, MD and Jeffrey A. Goldstein, MD
Mobi-C® Cervical
Artificial Disc Replacement Clinical Trial
December 27, 2006
A clinical study of the Mobi-C® Cervical Artificial Disc for the
treatment of neck pain and possibly arm pain associated with degenerative disc
disease in the cervical spine. The Mobi-C® is a total disc replacement
for one or two damaged adjacent discs in the neck. Read
more...
Deciding on surgery
for degenerative disc disease
November 9, 2006
If patients are making concessions in their everyday activities due to back pain
from a degenerated disc, then it is reasonable to consider back surgery. However,
prior to making the decision whether or not to have surgery a patient should
consider the following criteria. Read more...
By: Jack Zigler, MD
Lumbar
degenerative disc disease
November 6, 2006
Most patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease will experience only low-grade
continuous but tolerable pain that will occasionally intensify. For others, however,
lumbar degenerative disc disease can cause severe pain and possibly disability. Read
more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Cervical
degenerative disc disease
November 2, 2006
In addition to having the neck pain or stiffness, many patients with cervical
disc degeneration have numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the neck, arms,
or shoulders as a result of nerves in the cervical area becoming irritated or
pinched.Read more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Lumbar
spine fusion for degenerative disc disease
November 15, 2000 (updated May
30, 2006)
Lumbar spine fusion surgery is best at treating low back pain caused by severe
degenerative disc disease and is an option for patients who have failed to respond
to conservative treatment, who continue to have back pain, or in whom a specific
disc space causes the back pain. Read
more...
By: Paul C. McAfee, MD
Low
back pain and degenerative disc disease treatments
June 7, 2000 (updated
May 2, 2006)
The treatment options for degenerative disc
disease are either passive or active. Usually a
combination of treatments is used to help control
the symptoms. Passive treatments are rarely effective
on their own - some active component is almost
always required. Read
more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
What is degenerative
disc disease?
May 5, 2000 (Updated
November 29, 2005)
Don't let the term "degenerative" confuse
you; degenerative disc disease does not
necessarily get worse with age. While
the disc degeneration is likely to progress
over time, the associated pain usually does not get worse
and in fact usually gets better over time. Read
more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Sciatica symptoms
and causes
March 30, 2000 (updated September
22, 2006)
Common conditions that can cause sciatica, or pain along
the sciatic nerve include lumbar herniated disc, lumbar
spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, piriformis
syndrome, isthmic spondylolisthesis, and sacroiliac joint
dysfunction. Read more...
By: Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD
Lumbar
artificial disc surgery for chronic back pain (Research
article)
August 4, 2005
An artificial disc offers several theoretical benefits
over spinal fusion for treatment of chronic back pain,
including the potential for enhanced pain relief and
to avoid premature degeneration at adjacent levels of
the spine. This article provides an in-depth review of
lower back disc replacement surgery and clinical trials. Read
more...
By: Jack Zigler, MD
What's
a herniated disc, pinched nerve, bulging disc...?
October 13, 2000
(updated July 18, 2005)
There are many terms used to describe spinal disc pathology,
but it is best to focus on an understanding of the medical
diagnosis. This article explains conditions such as a
herniated disc, pinched nerve, and degenerative disc
disease. Read more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Wallis
Stabilization System Clinical Trial
(sponsored clinical trial listing)
March 7, 2005
The US Clinical Study of the Wallis Stabilization System
is a multi-center prospective, randomized clinical trial
currently enrolling patients to compare the safety and
effectiveness of the Wallis Device, a non-fusion surgical
device, to conservative care for treatment of degenerative
disc disease. Read
more...
Exercise
for sciatica from degenerative disc disease
December 14, 2000 (Updated
February 3, 2005)
One form of sciatica may be caused by degenerative disc
disease and can typically be treated by exercise. Alleviating
sciatica pain caused by degenerative disc disease includes
back exercises that train the body to maintain the most
comfortable position for the lumbar spine and pelvis
during activities. Read
more...
By: Ron S. Miller, PT
Artificial
disc for cervical disc replacement
(Research article)
April 12, 2004
One treatment option for pain from cervical degenerative
disc disease is artificial disc surgery. The intent of
the artificial cervical disc device is to preserve motion
at the disc space, providing an alternative to the use
of bone grafts, plates and screws that are used in a
spine fusion. Read
more...
By: Mark Mikles, MD and Jeffrey A. Goldstein, MD
Facet
technologies (Research
article)
July 1, 2002 (updated March
15, 2004)
Facet joint degeneration and disc degeneration frequently
occur together. Facet arthritis (degeneration of the
facet joint) is currently a contraindication for any
type of disc replacement to treat degenerative disc disease. Read
more...
By: Jack Zigler, MD
Pain
generated by the spinal disc
July 1, 2002 (Updated March
15, 2004)
Mechanical dysfunction of a disc may cause disc degeneration
and pain (e.g. degenerative disc disease). Artificial
disc surgery may be one treatment option from pain related
to degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc. Read
more...
By: Jack Zigler, MD
Spine
fusion surgery vs. alternative treatments for degenerative
disc disease
November 15, 2000
The decision to have a spine fusion procedure to treat
low back pain from degenerative disc disease is a very
personal one, and it is entirely the patient’s
decision. The spine fusion surgery works best for
treating degenerative disc disease at one level of the
spine, although two levels can be fused if the patient
has severe low back pain. Read
more...
By: Paul C. McAfee, MD
Multi-specialty
case review—degenerative disc disease
August 2000
A case of degenerative disc disease is reviewed by spine
specialists from 3 different fields, including physiatry,
surgery and chiropractic. Read the physiatrist, spine
surgeon and chiropractor treatment plans and comments
for degenerative disc disease. Read
more...
By: Steven G. Yeomans, DC, FACO, Donald J. Frisco, MD,
and Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Comparing
spinal fusion with artificial disc replacement:Back
Pain Radio transcript
Both a spine fusion surgery and artificial
disc replacement surgery have their advantages
and disadvantages for patients with low
back pain from degenerative disc disease.
Read what Michael Janssen, DO, a Colorado
orthopedic spine surgeon and member of
Spine-health.com, and Grant Cooper, MD,
host of Back Pain Radio, had to say on
the June 20, 2005 show. Read
transcript...
Degenerative
–The doctor is in!
April 19, 2005
This section addresses patients’ questions about
degenerative disc disease diagnosis and treatment, with
answers provided by Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., M.D., an orthopedic
spine surgeon and Medical Director for Spine-health.com.
Patients’ inquiries about degenerative disc disease
were submitted by e-mail, and we’ve published answers
to some common questions here. Read
more…
Back
Pain Radio transcript: deciding on artificial disc
April 20, 2005
The decision to have artificial disc surgery is based
on a combination of the patient’s history, response
to conservative treatments and results from diagnostic
tests, such as an MRI scan, x-ray and discogram. Read
what Justin Tortolani, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in
Maryland and a member of Spine-health.com, and Grant
Cooper, M.D., host of Back Pain Radio, had to say about
the decision process for when to have artificial disc
replacement surgery on the April 18, 2005 show. Read
transcript…
Understanding
disc pain—Spine-health.com Newsletter
Pain generated by the spinal disc (from degenerative
disc disease, a herniated disc, and other conditions)
is quite often misunderstood. The goal of this newsletter
is to help you better understand how the disc can cause
pain and what’s important to know about it. Read
more...
Getting
better care for your back pain—Spine-health.com
Newsletter
Because pain is a uniquely personal experience and because
many back pain treatments don't work the same for all
patients even when they have the same diagnosis (such
as for degenerative disc disease) there are not that
many absolute rules for how to treat back pain. Read
more...
Figuring out your pain diagnosis—Spine-health.com
Newsletter
Obviously, even the best treatments won't do much good
if your diagnosis is not correct. However, a clinical
diagnosis for a condition like degenerative disc disease
can be a challenge to obacktalkain and can be difficult
to understand. This newsletter includes several guidelines
about how to get an accurate diagnosis, which in turn
will help you get started with the right treatment plan. Read
more...
Getting an accurate back pain diagnosis—Spine-health.com
Newsletter
Getting an accurate diagnosis for your back pain is critical
because different diagnoses will require very different
treatment approaches for pain relief. This newsletter
helps patients understand confusing terminology, different
diagnostic tests and the option of working with an integrated
spine clinic for a diagnosis and treatment program. Read
more...
