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Degenerative Disc Disease in Sports |
Degenerative disc disease (DDD). This is a common form of
osteoarthritis in the
back. A degenerated disc is one that has lost some water and as a result loses
height and flattens. When the disc is of normal height, the
ligaments
that hold
the spine together remain at normal length. As the disc height decreases in
degenerative disc disease, the vertebrae move closer together. As a result, like
a rubber band that loses tension, the ligaments of the spine become loose. Loose
or lax ligaments do not hold the vertebrae in place and as they move,
chronic pain results. In athletes, DDD can be seen even at a very early age (late teens
or early 20s) as a result of
sports injuries that never healed. When, at a young
age, an athlete permanently overstretches the ligaments of the low back, the
lumbar spine becomes unstable, and excessive movement occurs at that segment of
the spine. This results in excessive stress being exerted on the disc. The disc
cannot sustain the excessive pressures and, gradually, fissures and tears
develop in the outer layer of the disc. The process of degenerative disc disease
is thus accelerated, especially if the athlete continues to play. Eventually
many or all of the lumbar discs become degenerated. Degeneration of a disc
begins as soon as the lumbar ligaments become loose. If not corrected, a vicious
cycle is perpetuated and vertebral instability and degeneration will be
inevitable.
The cycle starts with
ligament
injury, which leads to increased stress on the disc, which causes
thinning of the disc. This puts more pressure on other discs and increases the
degenerative disc disease. This causes instability in the lumbar vertebrae,
which increases the stress exerted on the disc. More fissures develop in the
outer rim of the disc, worsening the DDD, and the process continues to repeat
itself. The worse the degenerative disc disease, the worse the instability, and
vice versa.
The solution for the
athlete is to receive
Prolotherapy as early as possible.
Prolotherapy can be
used at any point in the above cycle. It can be used immediately after the
injury to stimulate a quicker healing, or it can be used after DDD and
instability has formed. For the athlete who wants to be competitive, however,
the earlier the instability is treated with Prolotherapy, the quicker athletic
excellence will occur. By correcting the instability of the lumbar spine at an
early stage, Prolotherapy will cause less stress to be imposed on the disc and
less degeneration to occur at the disc. The phase where more frequent or even
constant
low back pain occurs, with its debilitating effect on the life of an
athlete, can thus be avoided or halted. It is important to treat loose ligaments
early to prevent long-term problems and a premature end of an athlete's career.
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Ross Hauser, M.D.
Caring
Medical and Rehabilitation Services
Dr.
Hauser received his M.D. from the University of Illinois, Chicago; completed his
residency at Loyola-Hines VA-Marianjoy Hospitals in Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation; and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University
of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Hauser is one of the leading
experts in the treatment of chronic pain and sports injuries with
Prolotherapy.
He, along with his wife Marion, have written seven books on the
topic of Prolotherapy, a comprehensive book on the natural medicine
approach to cancer, as well as a myriad of articles and newsletters
for the general public. Read more about
Ross Hauser MD
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