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Back Pain Diagnosis
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disorder.
Back pain is the most common symptom of degenerative disc disorder. Back pain can be acute or chronic. People with degenerative disc disorder can be very active and not experience pain all the time. The pain may flare up once in a while due to physical activities such as lifting heavy objects. The pain may then subside and completely disappear or remain a dull ache. Disc degeneration is a natural process that occurs in all individuals as they age.
Early diagnosis of the condition can allow the prevention
of the adverse effects of degenerative disc disorder.
Back pain is the first symptom of degenerative disc disorder. When the condition is causing the compression of nerve roots, pain is experienced radiating down the legs to the feet. You may also experience tingling sensations and/or numbness in the legs. If degenerative disc disorder affects the lumbar vertebrae, the nerves in these are compressed resulting in sciatica and lower back pain. In extreme cases weakness is experienced in the lower extremities
Back Pain - a Common Symptom
As back pain is a common symptom for various back conditions, a full examination by a doctor is required for the back pain diagnosis of degenerative disc disorder. A full physical examination of the body is carried out. Special attention is paid to the lower back and extremities. To determine whether the nerve roots are being affected, flexibility and range of motion of the back are examined. Signs that suggest that the nerve roots are being affected are tested through muscle strength and reflex reactions.
X-rays are also used in the diagnosis of degenerative disc disorder. Doctors can use x-rays to determine the extent of narrowing between the vertebrae. Narrowing of the intervertebral spaces indicates that the discs have collapsed. MRI or CT scans are also used to create a clearer picture of degenerative disc disorder and the extent of damage. MRI gives images that allow doctors to accurately pin point areas of disc herniation and nerve root compression. CT scans are used to evaluate the vertebrae of the spine and determine the amount of space available for the nerve roots.
Back Pain Diagnosis
Prevent the development of degenerative disc disease.
Article published December 30th, 2010
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