Causes
While e-cigarettes appear to contain lower levels of potentially carcinogenic compounds, there is still a significant amount of nicotine in the aerosol created by e-cigarettes. Nicotine has been demonstrated to have a detrimental effect on the cells of the spinal disc (nucleus pulposus) and therefore, may potentiate degenerative disc disease.
Symptoms
This starves the disc of nutrients leading to disc degeneration. Disc degeneration may be an independent cause of pain and instability of the spine. Therefore, smokers damage healthy discs and accelerate damage to already degenerating discs.
Prevention
Degenerative disc disease is a condition that affects most adults over the age of 50. The most common cause of degenerative disc disease is the natural aging process of the spine, which means little can be done to fully avoid the condition. Although, certain lifestyle choices may help delay the onset of this condition.
Complications
Degenerated disks can increase your risk of developing other spinal conditions. Common spine problems include: Osteoarthritis. Scoliosis. Spinal stenosis. Spondylolisthesis. Spondylolysis. Living With What else should I ask my doctor? You may want to ask your healthcare provider: What is the most likely cause of degenerative disk disease?
Do e-cigarettes cause degenerative disc disease?
How does smoking affect the degeneration of the spine?
What is the most common cause of degenerative disc disease?
What are the risks of degenerative disc disease?
.JPG)
Does vaping mess up your spine?
Additionally, nicotine – found in traditional and e-cigarettes – is long known to constrict blood vessels. The vertebral discs in the spine are already working with a small blood supply. So, when that supply is further reduced, spinal disc degeneration can follow.
Can vaping cause DDD?
A reduced blood supply to an area results in a reduction of oxygen delivery. In addition, nicotine creates an acidic environment inside the discs which leads to disc degeneration,” he said.
Can vaping affect your discs in your back?
Finally, smoking and vaping can also lead to spine instability. Because the spinal discs degenerate when using these products, the spine is vulnerable to abnormal motions. Nicotine vaping can also degenerate tendons, ligaments, and muscles, further destabilizing the spine.
Does nicotine affect the discs in your back?
Nicotine, a constituent of tobacco smoke, present in most body fluids of smokers is known to have detrimental effects on a variety of tissues. It may also be directly responsible for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration by causing cell damage in both the nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus.
What is degenerative disc disease?
One of the more unfortunate aspects of getting older is that your joints begin to wear out, oftentimes for no good reason. This wear and tear of the joints is not only common in the knees and the hips but also in the spine.
What are the signs of arthritis of the spine?
Most of the time when there is a little arthritis in the spine, the affected person never knows that it has developed. Sometimes the arthritis can be fairly severe and still have no symptoms.
Why does arthritis cause these symptoms?
The spine in your body is divided roughly into three regions (Figure 1). The region in your neck area is the cervical spine, the region in your chest is the thoracic spine and the region in your low back is the lumbar spine. The spine is made up of bones, called the vertebrae, and soft spacers between the bones called discs (Figure 2).
What can my doctor do about the symptoms?
Treatment depends upon the severity of the symptoms and whether or not there are any signs that the nerves are involved. The doctor will take your history and do an examination of the muscles and nerves in your arms. In some cases an X-ray will be necessary to see if the discs are collapsing or if there are any bone spurs.
What other tests might be done?
he main reason to perform more tests is if the symptoms are getting worse despite treatment, if the pain is severe or if you have signs of nerve damage — particularly nerve damage that is getting worse. The signs of worsening nerve damage would be increasing tingling or numbness, weakness and sometimes increasing pain.
Overview
Degenerative disk disease is when your spinal disks wear down. Spinal disks are rubbery cushions between your vertebrae (bones in your spinal column). They act as shock absorbers and help you move, bend and twist comfortably. Everyone’s spinal disks degenerate over time and is a normal part of aging.
Symptoms and Causes
The most common symptoms of degenerative disk disease are neck pain and back pain. You may experience pain that:
Diagnosis and Tests
To diagnose degenerative disk disease, your healthcare provider may start by asking you about your symptoms. Questions may include:
Management and Treatment
Usually, your healthcare provider will recommend noninvasive treatment options first. Your treatment may include:
Prevention
You can prevent or slow the progression of spinal degeneration through lifestyle changes. Some of these include:
How much disc recovery does smoking cause?
In cellular studies, stopping nicotine exposure demonstrated only 75-85 percent disc recovery in “ light smoking” and 55-75 percent disc recovery in “heavy smoking” groups at one year. And while quitting smoking has been linked to improved back pain, restoration of the nicotine-degenerated disc is minimal.
How does smoking affect your sensitivity to pain?
Sensitivity to Pain. Smoking increases sensitivity to pain by altering the perception of pain through the neuroendocrine system. Smokers who have spinal symptoms for the same amount of time as non-smokers report symptoms as more severe and present for a greater percentage of time each day.
Does nicotine cause disc degeneration?
Studies indicate that nicotine decreases the disc’s ability to regenerate its injured cells. Additionally, nicotine decreases blood flow and blocks oxygen transport to the disc (which already has minimal blood supply). This starves the disc of nutrients leading to disc degeneration. Disc degeneration may be an independent cause ...
Does nicotine damage the disc?
A normal disc is composed of a central “jelly-like” portion called the nucleus and outer rings of fibers called the annulus. Nicotine damages both the annulus and nucleus of the intervertebral disc. It appears that a normal disc, under normal wear and tear, develops small injuries called fissures, and these continually repair themselves. Studies indicate that nicotine decreases the disc’s ability to regenerate its injured cells. Additionally, nicotine decreases blood flow and blocks oxygen transport to the disc (which already has minimal blood supply). This starves the disc of nutrients leading to disc degeneration. Disc degeneration may be an independent cause of pain and instability of the spine. Therefore, smokers damage healthy discs and accelerate damage to already degenerating discs. In cellular studies, stopping nicotine exposure demonstrated only 75-85 percent disc recovery in “light smoking” and 55-75 percent disc recovery in “heavy smoking” groups at one year. And while quitting smoking has been linked to improved back pain, restoration of the nicotine-degenerated disc is minimal.
Does smoking cause osteoporosis?
Nicotine affects hormone levels, vitamin D and calcium absorption, blood vessel constriction and bone oxygen supply. In fact, nicotine opposes estrogen and stimulates earlier menopause in women. Smoking lowers testosterone levels. It also instigates chronic inflammation. Through these effects, nicotine promotes osteoporosis or weakening of bones. This increases the rate of fractures both in the spine and throughout the body. Women smoking more than one pack per day throughout adulthood have an average of five to ten percent lower bone density than non-smokers. Even second-hand smoke affects bone mineral density. Smoking causes an increased lifetime risk of developing a spine fracture by 32 percent in men and 13 percent in women.
Does nicotine cause spine problems?
Although less significant than cancer, nicotine use has been linked to spine problems on multiple levels. Absolutely no level of nicotine negates these risks, and therefore the only way to avoid this is complete cessation of nicotine-containing substances.
Is nicotine a carcinogen?
Nicotine in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, oral tobacco and even nicotine patches all contain carcinogenic substances such as hydrocarbons and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA). Nicotine use is the most preventable form of cancer and death known to mankind. Although less significant than cancer, nicotine use has been linked to spine problems ...
What happens at stage 3 of disc disease?
Stage three is often when things start to get noticeably bad. The postural changes are even more pronounced than the earlier stages. The compression of nerves and the growth of bone spurs in the spine can cause constant pain. Since the discs are even more degraded at this stage, mobility is often limited. The lack of energy becomes more persistent.
What is the last stage of disc degeneration?
The last stage of disc degeneration is usually irreversible , requiring significant and risky surgery to provide any help at all. At this stage, the discs are fully degraded, entirely gone, or have herniated and are pressing on nerves, causing near-constant pain. This type of herniated disc is very different from a bulging disc, which can correct itself. At this stage, the spinal vertebrae may begin to fuse together, severely limiting mobility and drastically decreasing quality of life.
How do you know if you are in stage 1 of DDD?
Usually the telltale sign that you’re in stage one of DDD is the loss of the natural curvature of the spine , which can often only be seen by a chiropractor or a physician. This change in the spinal curvature causes a pressure increase on the discs of the spine. Sometimes, this stage may increase the risk of a herniated or bulging disc.
How long does it take for a degenerative disc to develop?
Some form of disc degeneration usually begins between the third and fourth decades of life. As we get older, the more our discs will naturally degrade.
How long does it take for degeneration to go from stage one to stage 4?
The time it takes for degeneration to go from stage one to stage four can take decades, if it happens at all. Anyone who ignores the symptoms and does nothing to slow DDD can expect it to progress faster than anyone who seeks treatment and takes preventative measures.
Can degenerative disc disease cause paralysis?
While it’s possible to suffer from serious issues because of degenerative disc disease, paralysis is rare. The compression of the nerves in the spine due to DDD can cause numbness, pain, weakness, and even loss of bowel and bladder control, it’s rare that the disease is allowed to progress enough to cause paralysis.
Is degenerative disc disease a disease?
Before we go any further, it’s important to note that degenerative disc disease is a disease in the sense that many people think of diseases. Some amount of disc degeneration is normal as we age, but when the breakdown of the spinal discs progresses beyond this and causes pain, it can be classified as degenerative disc disease.
What causes a disc to break down?
Over time, the discs may begin to break down. The elasticity in the tough outer layer of the disc may begin to stretch after years of continual pressure from the twisting, moving and weight gain of the body. Eventually, the loss of elasticity in the disc wall and the chronic pressure on the disc from the surrounding vertebrae may cause a series of disc damage, including: 1 Herniated discs 2 Bulging discs 3 Disc protrusions 4 Spondylolisthesis 5 Spinal stenosis
How does the body heal a degenerative disc?
Generally, the body heals the damaged disc through the process of resorption before any chronic symptoms are experienced. However, understanding the cause of degenerative disc disease through the following article can help you make lifestyle choices that promote a healthy spine and reduce your risk of developing this condition.
How does a disc break down?
Over time, the discs may begin to break down. The elasticity in the tough outer layer of the disc may begin to stretch after years of continual pressure from the twisting, moving and weight gain of the body. Eventually, the loss of elasticity in the disc wall and the chronic pressure on the disc from the surrounding vertebrae may cause a series of disc damage, including:
What age can you get degenerative disc disease?
Degenerative disc disease is a condition that affects most adults over the age of 50. The most common cause of degenerative disc disease is the natural aging process of the spine, which means little can be done to fully avoid the condition. Although, certain lifestyle choices may help delay the onset of this condition.
Can you control the natural aging process of the spine?
While you cannot control the natural aging process of the spine, there are certain lifestyle choices you can make that can improve your overall spine health and reduce your risk of developing a degenerative spine condition. These lifestyle habits include:
Can degenerative disc disease cause symptoms?
Even though degenerative disc disease is a common occurrence for many adults, most people who have this condition are not aware that they have it. A damaged disc on its own does not cause any symptoms. This condition only becomes symptomatic when a piece of the damaged disc touches a nerve root near the spine.
How does smoking affect spinal fusion?
Smoking affects the body’s ability to heal by causing ischemia (insufficient blood flow) at the cellular level. This affects the ability of a fusion to heal and create solid bone between vertebral bodies. As a result of this, we ask our elective spinal patients to stop smoking prior to surgery as it is in their best interest.
Why is smoking bad for your back?
Smoking remains an important issue when it comes to back pain and spinal surgery. Smoking affects circulation of blood in the small vessels. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells. This is important because there is little circulation to the the shock-absorbing discs that cushion our spine.
How long after spinal fusion can you smoke?
I recommend that patients who plan to have spinal surgery give up smoking for about 6 weeks after surgery. This includes e-cigarettes until more information about their effects are known.
Can you stop nicotine before spinal surgery?
Anything that continues to provide nicotine to the system should be discontinued prior to elective spinal surgery. Particularly, if there are no indications that surgery or neural (nerve) decompression is urgent. Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD — Neurosurgeon/Todd Vogel, MD — Neurosurgeon. Yes.
Why is oxygen important for discs?
When glucosaminoglycan cells die, the discs dry out, degenerate and become prone to cracking—all of which accelerates wear and tear, and may lead to chronic back pain. Updated on: 07/16/19. Continue Reading.
Does nicotine cause vasoconstriction?
I believe the working hypothesis is nicotine causes vasoconstriction. Vasoconstriction affects soft tissues by decreasing blood flow and increasing the risk for infection. During fusion, a healthy blood flow is essential to the formation of new bone. Vasoconstriction stunts the development of new bone and may result in failure of the fusion process. In the absence of clear spinal instability or the need for neural (nerve) decompression, I prefer not to operate on elective surgical patients who smoke. This being said, smoking is the most difficult addiction to fight. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Smokers need to be educated about the risks they take and the reduced improvement in outcomes associated with smoking.
Can osteoporosis cause spinal fractures?
Osteoporosis can lead to spontaneous fractures of the skeleton, including the spinal bones (vertebrae). Reginald Q. Knight, MD, MHA — Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon. Nicotine is the problem with smoking and spinal surgery.
How Does Alcohol Affect Degenerative Disc Disease?
Various studies examining how alcohol can affect pain caused by degenerative disc disease have shown that it can increase pain.
What is Discseel procedure?
The Discseel® Procedure is a treatment known to be able to do both these things. Using Fibrin, an FDA-approved substance that is used off-label, known to encourage healing tissue growth in other parts of the body, the Discseel ® Procedure allows spinal disc tissue to grow and heal itself.
Does inflammation reduce degenerative disc disease?
We know that degenerative disc disease pain is generally caused by inflammation of nerves surrounding the affected spinal disc, so inflammation reduction would aid in reducing degenerative disc disease pain.
Can degenerative disc disease cause pain?
Many things can cause or worsen degenerative disc disease pain, and if you’re living with degnerative disc disease, doing whatever you can to limit your exposure to anything that could worsen your pain is of the utmost importance.
Can Discseel help with degenerative disc disease?
It’s important to find a treatment that is able to address annular tears, sealing them to prevent further leaking and allowing the tears to heal so that you can find lasting relief from degenerative disc disease. The Discseel® Procedure is a treatment known to be able to do both these things.
