Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment
Degenerative disc disease is not really a disease. It describes discs that have dried out, thinned, or torn with time. Many people have these changes on an MRI without pain, but for some, a worn disc is a real source of back or neck pain.
Dr. Kris Radcliff is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurological Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, and part of Progressive Spine & Orthopaedics. He has performed thousands of spine surgeries and specializes in endoscopic spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, and other alternatives to fusion.
What are the symptoms?
Ongoing low back or neck pain that is often worse with sitting, bending, or lifting, and may flare up from time to time. If the disc presses on a nerve, there can also be arm or leg pain.
How is it treated without surgery?
Most people do well with exercise and physical therapy, staying active, weight management, medications, and sometimes injections. For some patients with chronic low back pain, basivertebral nerve ablation, a minimally invasive procedure, may be an option.
When is surgery considered?
When pain has lasted many months, limits life despite good nonsurgical care, and testing shows one or two specific discs are the cause.
Is fusion the only surgical option?
No. For many patients, artificial disc replacement in the neck or low back replaces the worn disc with a moving implant, preserving motion instead of fusing the bones. Dr. Radcliff has performed disc replacement for many years and has published research on it.
Will I need surgery if my MRI shows degeneration?
Not necessarily. Degenerative changes are common and often painless. The key is matching the MRI to your symptoms and exam.
How Dr. Radcliff can help
Go to the emergency room if you have new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or rapidly worsening weakness in your arms or legs.
Schedule a consultation or second opinion
Call 609-800-3472. Dr. Radcliff sees patients in Somers Point, Cherry Hill, and Brick, New Jersey, as part of Progressive Spine & Orthopaedics.
Already have an MRI? Send it to us online before your visit. Fax: 609-842-4040.
Dr. Radcliff accepts most commercial insurance plans and is out of network with most of them. Many Pennsylvania and New Jersey plans have out-of-network benefits, and we can help review your benefits and explain them. Don’t worry. We are all about helping the patients.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your treatment should be based on an evaluation by your own physician.