The Nexus Between Smoking and Degenerative Disc Disease

The term ‘degenerative disc disease’ is confusing due to the fact that discs naturally go through the process of degeneration over time as a part of the aging process. Degenerative disc disease causes the spinal discs to become less pliable, lose fluid, and makes them less able to protect and support the vertebrae, which can cause debilitating and chronic pain. Although genetic predisposition is the primary risk factor for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), recent studies have also indicated that smoking is another strong factor behind the onset of DDD, both in the cervical discs (neck) and lumbar discs (lower back). Research also suggests that cigarette smokers carry an increased risk of low back pain which could be caused by spinal instability and disc degeneration. In this blog post, we unravel the nexus between smoking and DDD and how degenerative disc disease can be treated with various surgical and non-surgical procedures.

Smoking and Degenerative Disc Disease

Nicotine in cigarettes deprives the body’s disc cells of vital nutrients and also introduces carbon monoxide into the bloodstream. These toxins can interrupt the discs’ ability to get nutrients from the blood, which can lead to prematurely dehydrated and less pliable spinal discs. As the discs become more malnourished due to insufficient nutrients, they become prone to injury, like a ruptured disc.. A ruptured disc occurs when the disc contents push through the outer layer of the disc, which can put pressure on the nerves and cause numbness, acute pain, and possibly nerve damage to the neck, legs, and arms. Carbon monoxide also interferes with the absorption of calcium in the body, which can result in a spinal instability.

Read Related: Understanding the Symptoms and Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

Treatment Options

Treatment options for DDD are broad. Typically, physicians try to start with conservative treatments first such as physical therapy, medication, and injections. If non-surgical treatment options fail to provide relief surgical options may include artificial disc replacement or spinal fusion. With spinal fusion surgery the disc is removed and the vertebrae are fused together using rods and screws. Most surgeons require the patient to quit smoking several months prior to surgery as smoking impedes new bone growth, which is instrumental in the success of spinal fusion. Artificial disc replacement is a minimally invasive procedure in which the damaged or compressed spinal disc is replaced with a prosthetic implant that provides stability and helps eliminate or reduce pain caused by conditions in the neck or low back The goal of both surgical procedures is to provide neck and back pain relief.

Don’t Take the Gamble

If you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. If you are experiencing neck or back pain, contact an experienced spine doctor for back and neck pain relief in Plano, TX. Physician referral services can connect you with a spine specialist to address your neck and back health concerns.