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Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
Cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) is often a common
scapegoat
for a variety of
misdiagnosed back pain
conditions. Degenerative disc disease is a ridiculous name for this condition, since it is not a disease at all. It is a normal part of aging and it affects people almost universally as they get older. DDD is rarely the exclusive cause of serious
chronic back pain
or other symptoms. Detailed information about the full range of cervical spinal conditions can be found in my
neck pain
section.
Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Facts
The cervical
intervertebral discs
are thinner than other regional spinal discs. This makes degeneration and loss of disc height more noticeable even at lesser amounts. The cervical discs wear faster than discs in the rest of the spine, except the lower lumbar discs. This occurs due to the amount of movement generated in the cervical region from the constant bending and flexing of the neck. Noticeable cervical disc degeneration is normal to experience by the age of 30 and may begin far earlier..
Realities of Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
It is completely normal for adults to demonstrate degeneration in the cervical discs and vertebrae. The vast majority of people do not have any symptoms, even though their cervical discs show identical degenerative changes as symptomatic patients. DDD is often blamed for cases of
idiopathic back pain
when no other
spinal abnormalities
are present.
Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Nocebo
The diagnosis of DDD can be devastating to a patient. The actual words,
Degenerative Disc Disease,
paint a mental picture that is sure to scare any patient. This is even more true if the patient does not have any pre-existing knowledge of the condition. The way the diagnosis is presented to a patient can make a big difference in its effects. Before becoming frightened half to death by the
nocebo
reaction of this frightening sounding condition, learn the facts and realize that DDD is completely NORMAL.
Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Advice
DDD is almost never to blame as the exclusive cause of chronic or
acute neck pain.
If you have been diagnosed with DDD, do not assume that this is the actual cause of your suffering. The majority of chronic neck and back pain syndromes are
psychosomatic.
Don’t waste time and money suffering through a variety of
back pain treatments
directed at a physical cause (DDD), when all along, your pain is coming from an psycho-emotional causation. I recommend trying
knowledge therapy
before getting involved with any drastic treatments for your probably benign cervical DDD.
Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease to Back Pain Home
5/2/07 Revised 8/25/08
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