Degenerative Disc Disease
As we age the rubbery discs that normally act as shock absorbers between vertebrae begin to wear and lose their flexibility. Our discs also lose fluid leading to a loss of height. Osteoporosis can cause bones to lose mass and become brittle. Combined with years of repeated daily stresses, the damage can progress to include a complete loss of space between discs and fusion of vertebrae. This type of degeneration of the spine and can have a significant impact on the quality of life.
Degenerative disorders of the spine include:
- Spinal stenosis
- Compression fractures
- Herniated or ruptured discs
- Scoliosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Degenerative disc disease
These changes can impact nerves, causing pain, weakness, and numbness.
Treatment
Treatments are tailored to the particular problem and needs of the individual patient and can range from pain medication to injection therapy to surgery. For patients who do not respond to more conservative approaches or who have severe degenerative problems, surgical options that stabilize the spine and relieve the pressure on nerves can be very effective.
With over 20 years of experience and 6,000 career spinal procedures, Dr. J. Patrick Johnson understands the problems related to the aging spine and degenerative spinal disorders. The Spine Practice treatments include:
- Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
- Degenerative Spinal Disorders
- Non-Fusion Spinal Surgery
- Artificial Disc Surgery
- Endoscopic & Thoracoscopic Spinal Surgery
- Endoscopic Sympathectomy Surgery
- Thoracic Spinal Surgery
- Spinal Tumor Surgery
- Computer Guided Spinal Surgery
- Transoral Spinal Surgery
- Spinal Deformity Surgery
- Spinal Trauma & Fractures
- Spinal Infections
- Chiari Malformation, Syringomyelia, Tethered Spinal Cord, and Cerebrospinal Spinal Fluid (CSF) Leaks and Related Disorders