5 symptoms of a degenerative spine condition

Lower back pain is one of the most common types of body aches, affecting more than 615 million people around the world. It’s also the leading cause of disability. Neck pain is close behind as the fourth leading cause of disability, with an annual incidence rate of more than 20%. 

While lower back and neck pain are often chalked up to muscle sprains or poor posture, they may also stem from a medical condition that can develop over time, such as a degenerative spine condition. The term itself can cover a variety of conditions, and there are many symptoms that can indicate when it’s time to see a doctor for a potential diagnosis, including back and neck pain.

We’ll talk about symptoms of a degenerative spine condition to be aware of. Then we'll discuss the type of conditions that you may develop.

5 symptoms that may indicate a degenerative spine condition

For a basic definition, a degenerative spine condition refers to your spine gradually losing its structure, strength and function over time. It can affect everyone differently depending on the severity and type of the condition you may have. We’ll discuss the types of degenerative spine conditions in the next section. For now, let’s cover the most common symptoms you can experience with a degenerative spine condition:

1. Pain — One of the most common indicators across most degenerative spine conditions is pain, specifically pain in the neck and lower back, though it may affect your lower limbs as well. The pain can be felt either at rest or while in motion. It’s often referred to as a stabbing sensation.
2. Deformity — It’s possible to develop a curvature or misalignment of your spine over time from a degenerative spine condition. While some may be recognizable to the naked eye, others may require a diagnostic test, especially for misaligned spinal discs.
3. Limited mobility — As your spine degenerates, you may experience stiffness that affects your mobility in both your neck and back.
4. Weakness — Nerve damage is common as the spine slowly breaks down, often resulting in weakness in the muscles of the affected areas.
5. Digestive issues — It’s possible for a degenerative spine condition to affect your digestive system. The nerve signals to the digestive system are sent by the spinal cord, so when the function of the cord is impacted, it can interfere with nerve communication for digestion.

Types of degenerative spine conditions

As we’ve mentioned, degenerative spine condition is a general term that can refer to a few different medical conditions that impact the function of the spine. Your health care provider can give you a proper diagnosis based on the symptoms you’re experiencing with the help of diagnostic tests.

Here are different types of degenerative spine conditions that can cause pain, reduced mobility and nerve damage:

• Degenerative disc disease — When you look up “degenerative disc conditions,” degenerative disc disease is probably one of the first things to come up. It causes the spinal discs to wear down, though it also affects the ligaments and joints. It can be caused by aging, injuries or arthritis. 
• Osteoarthritis — The most common type of arthritis that can develop in the spine is osteoarthritis. It refers to the cartilage of the spinal joints slowly breaking down due to wear and tear over time. It usually impacts the lower back.
• Spinal stenosis — Lumbar spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition that causes the spinal canal to narrow in the lower back. It results in nerve compression that causes pain and weakness, especially in the lower legs. 

Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT to treat your degenerative spine condition symptoms

No matter what type of degenerative spine condition you have, the symptoms can interfere with your overall quality of life. They can impact your ability to carry out your daily activities, from walking up the stairs in your house to taking a stroll in the park. The good news is that physical therapy can help.

Alliance PTP can make sure that you find the help you need for your symptoms through one of our partners. With a personalized physical therapy treatment plan, you can manage your pain, alleviate your symptoms and improve the overall function of your lower back and neck so that you can return to your regular routines.

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you and that can help you address degenerative spine condition symptoms.

Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!