Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease is a common cause of chronic lower back pain. This occurs when a disc weakens, often due to either general wear and tear or a torsional (twisting) injury to the disc space. The result is excessive micro-motion at the corresponding vertebral level because the disc cannot hold the vertebral segment together adequately. The resulting micro-motion, combined with the inflammatory proteins inside the disc that become exposed and irritate the local area, can create lower back pain.

Risk Factors for Degenerative Disc Disease

Although degenerative disc disease is a common part of ageing life, there are some factors which have been linked with higher incidence of disc degeneration. These often relate to increased forces traveling through the spine, and include:

-Carrying excess body weight

-Family history of early disc degeneration

-Careers involving heavy manual labor or vibrations

-Active lifestyle

-Conditions affecting the biomechanics of the spine, such as osteoarthritis and scoliosis

Symptoms

The typical individual with degenerative disc disease is an active and otherwise healthy person who is in their thirties or forties. 

Common Symptoms:

The pain is generally made worse with sitting, since in the seated position the lumbosacral discs are loaded three times more than when standing

Certain types of activity will usually worsen the pain, especially bending, lifting and twisting

Walking, and even running, may actually feel better than prolonged sitting or standing

Patients will generally feel better if they can change positions frequently, and lying down is usually the best position since this relieves stress on the disc space

The degree of pain will usually fluctuate and may be quite painful at times (e.g. for a few days, or weeks) and then subside to a more tolerable level.

TENS Unit can be used for relief of pain associated with a wide variety of painful conditions. This may include back pain caused by spine degeneration, disc problems, or failed back surgery. Nerve pain from conditions such as chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and neuropathies caused by diabetes or as a side effect of cancer treatment may also be managed with TENS Machine.

TENS Unit, which deliver a very mild electrical stimulation to the affected area, can also provide relief for patients with degenerative disc disease. In addition, evidence suggests that spinal cord stimulation can provide patients with a significant reduction in their pain. For spinal cord stimulation, physicians implant a device near the spinal column to send electrical impulses that disturb the transmission of pain signals from the nerves within the spine.

Buy your Tens Unit today to help your Degenerative Discs