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Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

Causes


The medical community has yet to reach a consensus regarding the factors that determine the occurrence of the degenerative disc disease. Moreover, the term "disease" is actually utilized very loosely in this context, because the degeneration of the discs is not technically an illness. Aging plays a major role in the deterioration of the discs and their associated loss of flexibility. To be more precise, aging related DDD includes the following alteration of the spinal column:


  • Loss of fluids and shrinkage of the disks: considering their consistency, it is only natural that the gradual "drying" of the intervertebral discs will determine a decrease in their dimensions and a reduction of their natural flexibility, placing additional stress on the solid component, the annulus fibrosus
  • Fissures in the walls of the annulus fibrosus: the extra pressure exerted on the external walls causes little tears and/or cracks, which permit small quantities of the nucleus pulposus that pack a hefty load of inflammatory proteins to escape and reach the nerve terminations.
  • The proximity of vertebrae increases with the reduction of the intervertebral discs: the spinal vertebrae draw closer to each other and are more prone to collapsing, which explains why people's height reduce as they grow older
  • The friction between the vertebrae generates anomalous growths: without the cushioning provided by the intervertebral discs, there is nothing to prevent the spinal vertebrae from rubbing against each other
  • The narrowing of the spinal canal: all the aforementioned factors determine the ligaments to increase in size and become conjoined in order to cope with the extra stress. As the spinal canal narrows, the bones exert more pressure on the cord and nerves.


Furthermore, it has been suggested by the medical community that the following category of factors as well as their combination may have an influence on the development of the DDD:


  • Genetics
  • Traumas
  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Environmental 

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