Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is characterized by degeneration of the intervertebral discs of the spine. There are varying degrees of severity, but progressed disease can will result in compression of the spinal cord and/or compression on the accessory nerves leaving the spinal cord. This can cause debilitating pain in the area of the compression as well as pain radiating down the nerve tracts (down the leg/arm/hip/etc). This degeneration can also cause arthritis, bone spur formation, inflammation, and ligament damage.
The cause of DDD is thought to be a loss of soluble proteins within the fluid portion of the disc (nucleus propulsus). This changes the oncotic pressure and allows for disc narrowing
and degeneration.
Conventional treatment for DDD includes physical therapy, strength training, analgesics (pain killers), massage, and surgery.
Stem cell research for DDD is focused on trying to repair tears and weakness within the intervertebral discs and thus increase disc height. Alternatively, stem cells may be able to increase oxygen and nutrient delivery to the discs thus increasing the fluid within the disc.
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