Degenerative disc disease is one of the leading causes of chronic back and neck pain in middle aged and older men and women. Dr. Gravori treats degenerative disc disease in Beverly Hills at ProMedSPINE, and has extensive experience with diagnosis and treatment of this common spinal disease.
What is degenerative disc disease?
As we age, the cushions between our vertebrae start to dry out and degenerate, becoming less resistant to everyday wear and tear. If one of these cushions becomes injured, it will continue to degenerate, causing pain in the neck or back. Neck pain will result from degeneration of a disc in the cervical region of the spine, while lower back pain will result from damage to a disc in the lumbar region.
Degenerative disc disease often leads to a herniated disc, and can cause considerable pain if not treated. Los Angeles spine surgeon Dr. Gravori is a pioneer in minimally invasive spine surgery, and will often recommend this as an effective treatment for degenerative disc disease at his Beverly Hills practice.
Degenerative disc disease symptoms
Symptoms of degenerative disc disease include chronic pain in the neck or back that becomes worse when performing any activity that involves bending the spine, such as sitting, twisting, or lifting something. Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs may also occur. If you experience these symptoms, it’s vital to visit an expert spinal surgeon for a diagnosis. While degenerative disc disease can be quite painful, it is by no means permanent if treated by an expert surgeon.
Treatment for degenerative disc disease
At first, conservative therapies may be recommended to curb the pain and stop the disease progression. Some of these treatments may include physical therapy, steroid injections, and medications. If conservative therapies fail to adequately address the problem, then surgery may be considered.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Dr. Gravori is a leading expert in minimally invasive spine surgery, and offers many minimally invasive treatment options for degenerative disc disease in Beverly Hills that may not be available elsewhere. These options include cutting-edge disc replacement surgery utilizing an artificial disc, minimally invasive spinal fusion, or percutaneous discectomy.
Artificial disc replacement surgery is the most advanced surgical option available. This surgery replaces the worn-out disc completely with a new disc made from a synthetic material. This replacement acts just like a real disc, and preserves stability and flexibility of the spine.
Minimally invasive spinal fusion joins together two vertebrae in order to preserve the stability of the spine and relieve the pain caused by the degenerating disc.
Percutaneous discectomy is a laser procedure which is used to remove protruding pieces of bone or ligament that may be compressing the spinal cord and causing pain.
Schedule your degenerative disc disease consultation today!
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Gravori to discuss whether you may have degenerative disc disease and which treatment option is best for you. To find out more information and make your appointment, call 888.75.SPINE today!