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By Patrick Foote
While degenerative disc disease in the neck most commonly affects older individuals in their 40s and above, it is certainly possible for young adults to develop the condition as early as their 20s or 30s. This may be the result of an injury or a genetic condition that affects the intervertebral discs of the cervical (upper) spine, but more often than not it results from overexertion due to sports that younger people take part in, such as football, diving, weightlifting, gymnastics, hockey, or other forms of exercise that create stress on the shock-absorbing discs in the spine. This phenomenon is often referred to as ‘axial loading,’ where the spine is considered a vertical axis exposed to force or weight-bearing stress.
Smoking and Early Onset Degenerative Disc Disease
In addition to degeneration due to overexertion and genetic factors, smoking is one of the primary reasons that young adults might be prone to the development of degenerative disc disease in the neck and/or lower back. In fact, research shows that young people who smoke are about three times more likely to develop the condition than non-smokers. Nicotine greatly reduces the disc’s ability to absorb nutrients from the vertebral endplates, which can lead to premature disc degeneration. Other factors, such as the tendency of smokers to lead unhealthy lifestyles in other ways, and the stress that can be transferred to the intervertebral discs from fits of coughing, can also accelerate this process.
The Prevalence of Cervical DDD in Young Adults
Recent studies have shown that many young adults who report chronic spine pain show disc degeneration on their MRI scans. In addition, a study of individuals under the age of 40 who didn’t experience any pain in their necks revealed that 25 percent of the subjects actually exhibited cervical degenerative disc disease.
Will Early Onset DDD Get Worse Over Time?
While degenerative disc disease in the neck is, in fact, a degenerative condition that will likely progress over time, this does not mean that a young adult who develops the condition will be crippled by the age of 50. It’s more likely that the symptoms will abate over time with a regimen of conservative treatment. Some individuals may even find that their symptoms disappear until later in life or never flare up again because the body has adjusted to, and compensated for, the disc degeneration. Furthermore, DDD is not always symptomatic, and pain is generally only experienced if:
— The disc wall (annulus fibrosus) or the inner disc material (nucleus pulposus), which contains inflammatory proteins, comes into contact with a nearby spinal nerve.
— The nerves in the outer layer of the annulus fibrosus become irritated or grow further into the disc space due to a tear in the disc wall.
— Discomfort caused by instability because the intervertebral discs are not able to absorb shock or perform their ligamentous role as well as before. This type of mild instability is called ‘micromotion.’
Does a Disc Have Regenerative Properties?
The intervertebral discs have no blood supply of their own, and nutrients and oxygen are only delivered to the discs through the vertebral endplates. This means that the discs are not likely to repair themselves after damage has occurred, though the composition of the inflammatory proteins in the disc may change over time as the disc continues to degenerate, which could reduce discomfort. Herniated discs have also been known to heal as the extruded portion of the disc is resorbed by the body and the torn area of the disc wall heals and develops hardened scar tissue.
About the Author: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of
degenerative disc disease
and several other spinal conditions.
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