What is it?

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is the gradual degeneration of the discs that reside between the vertebrae in the spine. The discs in the spine act as shock absorbers for our entire body weight.  These discs break down over time. It is very common because it is a natural part of aging.

How it causes pain:

A disc herniation or bulging disc can cause pain and/or numbness by extruding into the spinal canal. The degenerative disc then causes chronic back pain by compressing the nerve roots and giving the spinal cord and nerves less room to function normally.

Can North American Spine fix it?

There is no cure for Degenerative Disc Disease.  In fact, “disease” is a bit of a misnomer in this case because disc degeneration is a normal part of the aging process. However, North American Spine can treat the pain symptoms associated with DDD.  Our back pain partner physicians actually repair the bulged or herniated portion of the disc, thereby eliminating the abnormalities that cause your chronic back pain. By eliminating most or all of the pain associated with DDD, the patient is allowed a better quality of life.

How North American Spine treats it: 

Some results of DDD include herniated, ruptured, or bulging discs. With the AccuraScope™ D.N.D., our partner physicians can visualize these sources of chronic back pain using the endoscope, and then shrink the disc herniation or disc bulge with the use of a laser and various other tools. The disc is also sealed by the laser, which we believe greatly reduces the risk of a future herniation at the repaired site.