Degenerative Disc Disease
What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a condition that affects the discs in your spine. These discs act as cushions between the vertebrae, allowing your spine to move smoothly and absorb shock. Over time, due to ageing or wear and tear, these discs can deteriorate, losing their flexibility, elasticity, and ability to provide adequate cushioning. This can lead to pain, discomfort, and reduced mobility, especially in the lower back and neck.
Despite the name, it is not a disease but rather a condition that develops with the natural ageing process. It can affect anyone but is more common in people over the age of 40.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease can vary depending on the location and severity of the disc degeneration. Common symptoms include:
- Chronic lower back or neck pain
- Pain that radiates to the buttocks, thighs, or shoulders
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Increased pain when sitting, bending, lifting, or twisting
- Temporary relief from pain when walking, lying down, or changing positions
- Muscle weakness, particularly in the legs or arms
Treatments we offer:
At Alton Pain Clinic, two primary treatment options for managing Degenerative Disc Disease are Caudal Epidural Injection and Nerve Block Injection.
- Caudal Epidural Injection:
A caudal epidural injection is a minimally invasive procedure designed to relieve lower back and leg pain caused by nerve compression. This type of injection delivers a corticosteroid and an anaesthetic to the epidural space at the base of the spine, reducing inflammation and relieving pressure on the affected nerves. - Nerve Block Injection:
A nerve block injection targets specific nerves that are causing pain. By injecting an anaesthetic and a steroid around these nerves, the injection interrupts pain signals travelling from the spine to the brain, providing pain relief and reducing inflammation.
Pain Relief Mechanism of Epidural Steroid Injections
- Reduces Inflammation: Corticosteroids are delivered directly into the epidural space, reducing inflammation around the spinal nerves and discs affected by degeneration.
- Decreases Nerve Compression: By reducing inflammation, the injection alleviates pressure on the nerves caused by the bulging or thinning of discs.
- Interrupts Pain Transmission: The steroids help block pain signals from being transmitted through the inflamed nerves to the brain, reducing chronic pain.
- Promotes Healing Environment: Reducing inflammation may create a more conducive environment for the body’s natural healing processes, helping to stabilise the area and decrease discomfort.
- Relieves Referred Pain: The treatment can also reduce pain radiating to the arms or legs, often associated with degenerative disc disease.
Benefits of Epidural Steroid Injections
- Targeted Relief: The injection delivers medication directly to the affected area, ensuring more focused pain relief.
- Non-Surgical Option: Provides an alternative to surgery for managing pain and inflammation caused by degenerative disc disease.
- Minimally Invasive: The procedure is minimally invasive, performed on an outpatient basis, and allows for a quicker recovery compared to surgical interventions.
- Reduces Need for Pain Medications: By managing pain effectively, it may reduce reliance on oral medications that can have long-term side effects.
- Ultrasound-Guided Precision: With ultrasound guidance, the injection is administered with a high degree of accuracy, minimising the risk of complications and improving outcomes.
Pain Relief Mechanism of Nerve Block Injections
- Blocking Pain Signals: The injection delivers anaesthetic and steroid medication near the affected nerves, interrupting the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
- Reducing Inflammation: Steroids within the injection are designed to reduce inflammation around the affected disc and surrounding nerves, potentially alleviating pressure on the nerve roots.
- Calming Overactive Nerves: The anaesthetic helps to desensitise irritated or overactive nerves, which may contribute to the pain experienced with degenerative disc disease.
Benefits of Nerve Block Injections
- Targeted Approach: The medication is delivered directly to the source of pain, focusing on the affected nerves and tissues.
- Minimally Invasive: The procedure avoids the need for surgery, offering a less invasive option for symptom management.
- Quick Procedure: The injection is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing for minimal disruption to daily activities.
- Symptom Relief: It may help reduce pain and improve mobility, supporting everyday activities and quality of life.
Your Care Pathway With Us
- To book an appointment you can call our reception line, 0142084487, or email to info@altonpainclinic.co.uk or click the button given below.
- Comprehensive Musculoskeletal examination and testing.
- Same day Ultrasound Guided Injection for pain relief.
- Discussion of your treatment plan, treatment plan can include advanced treatments for example Caudal Epidural Injections, Nerve Blocks and various other options tailored to your specific needs.
Patient Reviews
Injection Procedure
Diagnosis and Preparation: Before the injection, the clinician will perform a physical examination and review imaging scans, such as an MRI or CT scan, to determine the exact location of the nerve compression or damage.
Injection: During the procedure, the patient will lie face down on. The area around the injection site will be numbed with a local anaesthetic. Under ultrasound guidance, the clinician will insert a thin needle into the correct location, either in the caudal epidural space or around the nerve root and inject the medication.
Post-Procedure: After the injection, patients are usually monitored for a short period and then allowed to go home. Some may experience temporary soreness at the injection site, but this typically resolves within a few days.
What our Patients say?
Anatomy of Spine and Disc Degeneration
The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae, separated by intervertebral discs. These discs are composed of a tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus) and a gel-like centre (nucleus pulposus). The discs act as shock absorbers, preventing the vertebrae from rubbing against each other. When the discs degenerate, they lose their cushioning ability, and the nerves in the surrounding area may become compressed, leading to pain and discomfort.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease typically involves a combination of physical examination, medical history, and imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans. These tests help to determine the extent of disc degeneration and rule out other causes of back pain, such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
Causes
Degenerative Disc typically occurs due to the natural ageing process. As you age, your spinal discs lose water content, making them thinner and less flexible. This can cause the discs to flatten and reduce their ability to absorb shock. In addition, small tears can form in the outer layer of the discs, leading to further degeneration.
Other factors that can contribute to this condition include:
- Repetitive strain on the spine from physical activities or poor posture
- Injury to the spine, such as a fall or heavy lifting
- Genetic predisposition to disc problems
- Smoking, which can decrease blood flow to the discs.
Other Treatment Options
Although Alton Pain Clinic focuses on Caudal Epidural and Nerve Block Injections, other treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease may include:
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility
- Medications such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs
- Lifestyle modifications, including exercise and weight management
- Surgery in severe cases (such as spinal fusion or disc replacement)
When to Consider this Treatment
Patients should consider Caudal Epidural or Nerve Block Injections when conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medications, or lifestyle changes have not provided sufficient relief. These injections may also be recommended for patients experiencing significant nerve pain, reduced mobility, or worsening symptoms that interfere with daily life. However, the suitability of these treatments depends on the individual’s condition, and a thorough assessment by your clinician is essential.