Collapsed Discs | Degenerative Disc Disease

Collapsed Discs

A collapsed disc occurs when an intervertebral disc’s outer wall has deteriorated. The main function of spinal discs is to provide cushioning to the vertebrates along the spine. As discs become compressed, they can cause vertebrae to rub against each other. Collapsed discs can appear on any part of the spine and vary in characteristic. Two of the principal areas where collapsed discs occur are in the cervical and lumbar region of the spine.

Causes of a Collapsed Disc

Age: Natural wear and tear occurs within the spine over time, which may cause discs to weaken and collapse.
Excess weight: Extra weight can place a tremendous amount of pressure on discs and cause degeneration which may lead to this condition.
Injuries: Traumatic injuries due to sports or various other accidents are some of the leading causes of this condition.
Existing spinal conditions: Conditions like bone spurs, herniated discs or spinal stenosis may put discs at risk.

Collapsed discs can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of the leading indicators of this condition are:

Symptoms of a Collapsed Disc

Once pressure is placed on the spinal nerve or cord, then patients may experience these symptoms. As with most spine conditions, some patients may experience symptoms and others may live peacefully without ever noticing the condition.

Chronic localized pain
Muscle weakness
Tingling and numbness

Nerve pain
Muscle spasms
Fatigue

Treatments

At OC Spine Center, we believe in crafting personalized treatment plans for our patients based on the severity of their condition. In our efforts to effectively treat collapsed discs, we recommend patients start with a more conservative method to alleviate pain. Treatment may include pain medication, injections and physical therapy. If symptoms remain, then our spine specialists may suggest one of our minimally invasive decompression or stabilization spine surgeries. Our spine surgeries are performed by board-certified surgeons, have a short recovery and are minimal risk.