Degenerative Disc Disease Support Group

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is often called "degenerative disc disease" (DDD) of the spine, DDD is in fact a condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the quality of one's life. While disc degeneration is not a normal part of aging and for most people is not a problem, for certain individuals a degenerated disc can cause severe constant...

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Muscles & Bones
/ Degenerative Disc Disease Support Group

20 and diagnosed with DDD

20withDDD
20withDDD

I am looking for some people to relate with as I take on this new journey of being diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease. I am currently 20 years old and have had back issues for 4 years now!! When I was just 16 years old I had a Microdiscectomy due to a buldged disc in my L5 S1. The pain never went away, and after 4 years of trying to get my life back to normal, I was finally offered a swimming scholarship to the college of my dreams!! I was there about 2 months and that's when things started to go wrong. Needless to say, many tests and second opinions later, I have been diagnosed with DDD!! My doctor refuses to do surgery on me at my age, so I am having to wait at least another 3 years until I can have the surgery. In the meantime, I am trying to figure out how to manage my pain and get different opinions from others who have the same struggles as I do. I fully plan to continue to swim in college, and go about my life as normal as possible until I can have the surgery. If you have the same issues as I do, or maybe not even close and think you might have some ways to help me manage my pain, your strategies are greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

tmbrowning
tmbrowning
Hi! I know exactly what you are going through, except mine may be a little more complicated. I started having problems since I was about 15 years old and wasn't diagnosed with anything until I moved cities to go to college at age 18. That's when I was diagnosed with DDD, three bulging discs, scoliosis, and an annular tear at L5/S1. I am now 22. I did all the "conservative" treatments. PT on several occasions, epidural steroid injections, rhizotomies, and just had a discogram done last week. It showed that now all three affected discs were also torn. My doctor and I decided that disc replacements at L3/L4, L4/L5, and to fuse L5/S1. I am not able to have a regular job due to not being able to sit or stand for long periods of time. And by that I mean about 30-45 minutes. They just scheduled me for surgery today and my day is in August. Please let me know if you have any questions about tests or anything for that matter!

-Taylor
Pam1100
Pam1100
Hi... I have had DDD for over 10 years are more. They wanted to do surgery on my neck but I refused. I was told that I would be in more pain after surgery. I was diagnosed with DDD in my 20's and now I am 41 years old and now I have Fibro. Pain all over my entire body. I would just say resting is good, massages, swimming, and taking something for the pain. I have had several steroid injections and will start getting them again because the pain never goes away. I may have good days and bad days..... Pam.
ForTheSunrise
ForTheSunrise
This is my first time posting anything on here, but I thought we might be a good match. If you're looking for someone at a similar place in life, dealing with similar issues, feel free to reach out. It's rare to find someone that understands.

I'm currently 19 years old. I started getting back pain somewhere between age 15 and 16. I was diagnosed with DDD after herniating my L4 and L5 a couple weeks into my senior year in high school. Doctors all said I was and still am too young for surgery, so I've been doing what I can for now to deal with and help lessen the pain on a daily basis. It has been quite the journey, but I'm a sophomore in college now, still dealing with pain pretty much all the time. Amongst other things, I had to give up soccer and running when I was seventeen, but I still run and play on a good pain day, even though I probably shouldn't.

Physical Therapy makes it easier, but I'm sure you know that it can be exhausting sometimes living in pain and just trying to be normal. Hope to hear from you!

- Jenn