What causes disc joint disease?

• Minor rips and tears in the lining of the spinal column build up throughout your life, but most have little or no effect and heal on their own. Sometimes one of these rips may lead to inflammation, which can press down on a nerve, causing pain.
  
  

Symptoms

• Chronic back pain while walking, lifting, bending, or sitting is the major symptom of this condition. There may also be tingling feelings or feelings of weakness in the knees. Chronic neck pain may also be present.
  
  

Non-surgical treatments

• Many cases can be successfully treated without surgery. A combination of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the pain and allow the tear to heal itself.
  
  

Surgical treatments

• If nonsurgical treatments do not produce improvement, surgery becomes an option. Depending on where the swelling is and how severe it is, a doctor may chose to use one or more surgical procedures.
  
  

Experimental treatments

• New treatments for degenerative disc diseases are in development. Glucosamine injections seem to be effective in reducing pain, and the possibility of replacing the disc is under examination. Stem cell treatments also show some promise.