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What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?
Question: I just got back my MRI results & I have advanced degenerative disc disease L2 through L5 & s1 Dr gave me 2 options shots or surgery. & everyone I talk to gives me different opinion. which would be best?
Brief Answer:
Please try shots first and if it doesnt help then discuss surgery
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. Though the pressure on nerve roots at strategic locations and symptoms are relieved by doing surgical procedure, some patients might often complain severe lower back pain even after surgery. This happens in about 20 to 40 percent of patients and the reason is that the affected nerve roots are still under pressure in areas other than where surgical manipulation has been done.
2. Keeping the above in mind, I would recommend trying shots first and getting surgery done only when treatments like shots and nerve blocks do not work for you.
3. The usual course of treatment for advanced degenerative disc in lumbar spine is the following
(i) Initially physical therapy for few months and mild pain relievers
(ii) Increasing dose of pain relief medications and including specific medications and opioid analgesics.
(iii) Epidural injections
(iv) Facet joint procedures—intraarticular joint steroid injection, medial branch block, and radiofrequency ablation.
(v) Surgery and Disc Interventions
(vi) Spinal Cord Stimulation and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation can be given for persistent pain after disc surgery.
4. It is better to go with the shots first and keep surgery as a later option if pain cannot be controlled with medical treatment.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please try shots first and if it doesnt help then discuss surgery
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. Though the pressure on nerve roots at strategic locations and symptoms are relieved by doing surgical procedure, some patients might often complain severe lower back pain even after surgery. This happens in about 20 to 40 percent of patients and the reason is that the affected nerve roots are still under pressure in areas other than where surgical manipulation has been done.
2. Keeping the above in mind, I would recommend trying shots first and getting surgery done only when treatments like shots and nerve blocks do not work for you.
3. The usual course of treatment for advanced degenerative disc in lumbar spine is the following
(i) Initially physical therapy for few months and mild pain relievers
(ii) Increasing dose of pain relief medications and including specific medications and opioid analgesics.
(iii) Epidural injections
(iv) Facet joint procedures—intraarticular joint steroid injection, medial branch block, and radiofrequency ablation.
(v) Surgery and Disc Interventions
(vi) Spinal Cord Stimulation and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation can be given for persistent pain after disc surgery.
4. It is better to go with the shots first and keep surgery as a later option if pain cannot be controlled with medical treatment.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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