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...
Hi,
Has anyone here experienced their DDD symptoms getting better? Referred to as the Degeneraticve Cascade. I spotted this on DailyStrength.com:
"While it is true that the disc degeneration is likely to progress over time, the pain from degenerative disc disease usually does not get worse and in fact usually gets better given enough time. The degenerative cascade theory explains how this process works"
and
"In the 1970s, Kirkaldy-Willis first described the "degenerative cascade" of degenerative disc disease. He postulated that after an individual suffers a torsional (twisting) injury to the disc, the disc would degenerate in three general stages.
First, there is significant dysfunction caused by the acute back pain of the injury.
Next, there is a long phase of relative instability at that particular vertebral segment and the patient will be prone to intermittent bouts of back pain.
Finally, the body re-stabilizes the segment and the patient experiences fewer episodes of back pain."
Full article:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/degenerative-cascade-a-degenerating-disc
Has anyone here experienced their DDD symptoms getting better? Referred to as the Degeneraticve Cascade. I spotted this on DailyStrength.com:
"While it is true that the disc degeneration is likely to progress over time, the pain from degenerative disc disease usually does not get worse and in fact usually gets better given enough time. The degenerative cascade theory explains how this process works"
and
"In the 1970s, Kirkaldy-Willis first described the "degenerative cascade" of degenerative disc disease. He postulated that after an individual suffers a torsional (twisting) injury to the disc, the disc would degenerate in three general stages.
First, there is significant dysfunction caused by the acute back pain of the injury.
Next, there is a long phase of relative instability at that particular vertebral segment and the patient will be prone to intermittent bouts of back pain.
Finally, the body re-stabilizes the segment and the patient experiences fewer episodes of back pain."
Full article:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/degenerative-cascade-a-degenerating-disc
One of the big issues I've faced is that everything I've heard from my doctors, specialists and on professional websites is along the lines of the text I originally posted above. Yet whenever I speak with someone who actually has DDD, their experience, like mine, is of a gradual deterioration punctuated by plateaus of not getting better nor any worse. Essentially all downhill.
Therefore, I'm not convinced professionals are being completely honest or blunt enough with some of us and sadly whilst that can give us hope early on, after awhile we realise that there isn't going to be any improvement for us.
I much prefer honesty so I don't waste my time hoping for the impossible. Just saying.