02/20/2019
Disc Degeneration? What the heck is that? If you are having a hard time visualizing the your x-ray or MRI reports, I hope this post helps you understand what is going on with your spine!
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is not really a disease, it’s a age related condition that occurs when the discs between the vertebrae breaks down; think of It as wear and tear! DDD can be seen with x-rays
Bulging discs are ‘contained’. They are protruding discs! The bulged disc doesn’t always affect the disc’s entire perimeter! You can have a bulging disc and be asymptomatic. They can be seen with a MRI or a CT scan!
A herniated disc is where the outer layer cracks and agitates the inner space layer! They are more susceptible to pinching the nerve root! They may cause weakness, pain, numbness, tingling or burning! Again some people have disc herniation and are completely asymptomatic while some people can be in terrible pain!
The thinning of a disc simply indicates degenerative disc disease. Disc fragments can block the openings, called foramina, between vertebrae where nerve roots travel from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.
Osteophytes are also known as bone spurs. They are small, smooth bony growths that may develop near the edges of a vertebral body’s end plates or the spine’s facet joints where cartilage has worn. This is age related and is caused by wear and tear and is often triggered in response to degenerative changes. They can lead to numbness down the arm or neurological deficit in the spinal cord. Osteophytes can be detected with X-rays but best seen if with MRI or CT scan.
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