Degenerative Disc Disease
Cause
Degenerative disc disease is a common problem of the aging spine that can lead to severe and intractable low back and neck pain.
Symptoms
Low back pain (worsens when sitting)
Neck pain
Discomfort from prolonged sitting or standing
Johns Hopkins Treatment
When the location of the pain can be attributed to the degenerated disc, then surgical treatment may be effective. Options for treatment include traditional open fusion techniques which are the gold standard for treatment. Newer treatment options include:
Minimally invasive fusion
Dynamic stabilization
Motion preservation with disc replacement / arthroplasty
The Spine Center at Johns Hopkins offers all of these approaches in the treatment of spinal degenerative disc disease.
