Lumbar Disc Disease: What it is, its symptoms, and how it is treated

With age, many succumb to various types of back problems, which in almost every case lead to pain and discomfort. Many choose not to visit a doctor, but with a proper diagnosis, the problem can be traced back to some lumbar disc disease. This condition can arise due to one or a culmination of many degenerative spinal problems, resulting in lower back pain or sciatica. 

Certainly, age is a dominant factor for the following lumbar disease, but severe injury, trauma, and neurological problems contribute to the cause. When kept untreated, the back pain can worsen so it is advisable to consult a medical professional.

The following article will explore everything you need to know about lumbar disc disease expanding on its symptoms and treatments. 

What is lumbar disc disease?

For starters, you must understand that lumbar disc disease is not a specific condition but a collection of various disc-related problems which cause lower back pains in adults. It is mainly associated with disc disruption, degenerative disease, or segmental instability. 

The condition can also devolve from a bulging disc where the fluid and water content in the disc dries, leading to severe compression. When that happens, its outer layer cracks, and the disc pops out from its spot, causing back pain.

Alternatively, herniated discs can also progress into lumber disease. It happens when a portion of the disc is pushed out of the annulus, which pinches on the spinal nerves. In most cases, it leads to numbness, burning sensation, and pain around the area. 

What are the symptoms of lumbar disc disease?

As mentioned previously, the most common symptoms that arise as a result of the disease are lower back pains. However, depending on the affected area, the symptoms may vary. The following list contains every indicator for lumbar disc disease that one should know. 

• Prolonged back pain which worsens with movements. It can spike up whenever you try to sneeze, cough, or change posture. 
• Muscle spasms in the lower back arise from past trauma.
• Numbness below the torso region expands to the leg and foot when the spinal nerves are compressed.
• Changes in bladder and bowel functionality. 
• Symptoms get unbearable as the degenerative disease progresses to segmental instability. 

How is lumbar disc disease diagnosed?

You must prioritise getting yourself diagnosed when the symptoms mentioned above worsen. Naturally, the doctor will go through these needful steps to identify the problem and recommend an informed treatment option. 

• The person will review your medical history to learn about past accidents or injuries and a preliminary physical exam. 
• An X-ray test shows your bones and tissues around the affected area. They can also use Myelogram for better visibility on the X-ray.
• Magnetic resonance imaging to double-check using computer-made images for more precise checking of the bones, organs, and soft tissues. 
• CT scan to create refined images of the back portion where every bone and organ will be laid out in the horizontal or axial format. 
• Blood test to clear out the suspicion of infection or tumor.
• Lastly, Electromyography is required to check the muscle response and its nerve stimulation around the vertebrae.  

How is lumbar disc disease treated? 

Before jumping into a surgical method, the doctor will recommend various alternative treatment options to release the pain and enable the natural healing process, which is as follows: 

• Proper rest for a dedicated period to relax the area, which will disperse the back pain.
• Prescribed medical treatment for disc disease, pain relievers and muscle relaxants.
• Proper physical therapy strengthens the muscle around the area and keeps the nerve active. 
• A lumbosacral back support for maintaining a posture which helps in the healing process. 

This summarizes everything you need to know about lumbar disc disease. For more assistance regarding your back problem, consult Dr.Akhil Tawari – Expert Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgeon today. He is an expert pediatric orthopedic Spine Surgeon in Mumbai who excels at specialized treatments for severe spinal conditions.