Can degenerative disc disease cripple you?

Can you live a normal life with degenerative disc disease? The answer is yes, even it forces you to be out of work for an extended amount of time. Do not give up. There are many methods of pain relief that you can do at home that can help you live a normal life.

Can degenerative disc disease affect walking?

Degenerative disc disease may cause back and/or leg pain, as well as functional problems such as tingling or numbness in your legs or buttocks, or difficulty walking.

Does degenerative disease mean death?

A degenerative disease is defined as a disease characterized by the worsening condition due to the deterioration of the function and structure of the affected body part, thus causing disability, mortality, and morbidity, which could be prematurely.

Can you become paralyzed from a bulging disc?

With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.

What happens if degenerative disc disease is left untreated?

Without appropriate treatment, degenerative disc disease can cause lasting, debilitating back pain. The pain may become so severe that you find it difficult to carry out your normal daily activities. It can interfere with your mobility and your overall quality of life.

Can degenerative disc disease cause bowel problems?

It is more common to have these ruptured discs in the low back where they also can cause trouble with the bowels (constipation or loss of control) or the bladder (inability to urinate or to control the urination).

How long can you live with degenerative nerve disease?

The average life expectancy from the time of diagnosis is 3 years. Twenty percent of those affected may live 5 years, and an additional 10% may survive 10 years.

Does degenerative joint disease qualify for disability?

Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease can cause pain and other symptoms that can impact your ability to work. Social Security Disability benefits may be available to you if you are diagnosed with OA/DJD.

What causes degenerative disc disease flare ups?

These flare ups can be caused by a simple action, such as bending over to tie your shoes, or twisting. Or, you can just experience this discomfort without being able to pinpoint the exact cause. You may experience a rise in pain for several days to several weeks before it diminishes.

Can a degenerative disc disease make sitting difficult?

First and foremost, it’s not surprising to me that your degenerative disc disease has made sitting difficult for you. One of the classic symptoms of DDD is pain that worsens when you’ve been sitting for a lengthy period of time.

Which is worse for DDD sitting or standing?

One of the classic symptoms of DDD is pain that worsens when you’ve been sitting for a lengthy period of time. This is because sitting puts much more pressure on your low back than when you’re standing. But that does not mean that standing alone is the answer to your problems.

Is it bad to stand for long periods of time?

But standing in one place for long periods, even if you do make an effort to keep proper posture, can still cause pain. In fact, workers who stand during most of the workday face their own set of potential pitfalls, and you can read more about them in an article about back care and standing work.

What does hunching over of the spinal cord mean?

It’s not uncommon to see senior aged people walking with the distinct hunching over of spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord fits). Hunching over is called lumbar flexion and relieves the pain, which is why patients do this.