Understanding Lower Back Disc Degeneration
If you’ve been dealing with ongoing lower back pain or stiffness, you’re not alone. One common cause is lumbar degenerative disc disease. The discs in your spine act like natural “shock absorbers,” helping cushion the bones in your back and allowing you to move comfortably. Over time, these discs can gradually wear down, which can lead to pain, numbness, or tingling sensations in the lower back and legs.
Why Does It Happen?
There isn’t always a single cause for disc degeneration, but several common factors may contribute to it:
- Aging: As people get older, spinal discs naturally lose water content, making them thinner and less flexible. This can make them more prone to tears or damage.
- Injury: Falls, sports injuries, accidents, or repetitive strain can damage spinal discs and trigger pain or inflammation.
- Genetics: Some individuals may be more likely to develop disc problems because of family history or inherited spinal conditions.
- Lifestyle: Habits such as smoking, poor posture, prolonged sitting, lack of exercise, or excess body weight may place additional stress on the spine.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment depends on how severe the symptoms are and how much they affect daily life. Common treatment options include:
- Medications: Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or naproxen are great for reducing swelling. In more severe cases, doctors might prescribe muscle relaxers or stronger pain relief.
- Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles that support the spine, improve flexibility, correct posture, and reduce pressure on irritated nerves. Therapists may also use heat, ice, massage, stretching, or other techniques to relieve discomfort and muscle spasms.
The exercises provided during therapy often depend on the patient’s pain level and condition. These were some of the exercises I personally performed during physical therapy at Makati Medical Center before the pandemic:- Cat and Camel
- Bicycle Crunch
- Crunches
- Elbow Plank
- Plank with Opposite Arm and Leg Lift
- Scissors and Flutter Kicks (with hands placed under the lower back for support)
- Leg Crossover Stretch
- Hamstring Stretch (using a towel)
- Glute Bridge
- Bicycle Crunch (repeated)
- Spinal Decompression (a machine that gently stretches the spine to help relieve pressure on discs and nerves)
- Injections: Doctors may inject medications such as corticosteroids or anesthetics into the affected area to help reduce inflammation and pain. The effects are often temporary and may require repeat treatment.
- Surgery: If other treatments do not provide enough relief, surgery may become an option. Procedures may include removing part of a damaged disc, spinal fusion, or artificial disc replacement. Like any major procedure, spinal surgery also carries risks and possible complications.
When I asked about the estimated cost of surgery, my doctor mentioned it could reach around 1 million Philippine Pesos. That became one of the reasons I focused seriously on physical therapy instead.
Living with lumbar degenerative disc disease can be challenging, but many people are able to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life through proper treatment, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments. If you continue experiencing persistent or severe lower back pain, it’s best to consult a medical professional for proper evaluation and treatment recommendations.
- Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Degenerative disk disease: Causes, symptoms & treatment [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16912-degenerative-disk-disease
- Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Degenerative disc disease [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/degenerative-disc-disease
- Dube, B. (2023, May 9). What is degenerative disc disease? [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.health.com/degenerative-disc-disease-overview-7489248
- Felman, A. (n.d.). Degenerative disc disease: Causes and treatment [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266630
