Degenerative Disc Disease and Its Impact on the Spine

Contrary to its name, degenerative disc disease is not a “disease” at all. It is rather a term used to describe changes to the spinal discs caused by everyday wear and tear, or aging. Degeneration can also be caused or accelerated by spinal trauma or injury. This condition can occur anywhere along the spinal column, but most often will affect the lower back.

When a disc deteriorates, its ability to cushion the spin and absorb shock becomes compromised. Due to the fact that discs have a unique biology and a limited blood supply, when an injury occurs, the disc is not able to repair itself.

When one develops degenerative disc disease, the discs lose their height, lose their normal fluid content, dry out, and become stiff. Disc degeneration may also lead to bulging or herniation. Nerve impingement, joint and adjacent bone inflammation, and varying degrees of pain can occur when disc height is lost.

If a disc becomes damaged or torn, the jelly-like material in the center of the disk can leak out onto nearby nerves, causing pain and inflammation. Tiny tears in the disc can also cause irritation to the nerves in the annulus (the thick, fibrous ring that surrounds the disc).

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Degenerative Disc Disease

Causes

Here are some of the factors that contribute to the development of degenerative disc disease:

Age

Discs naturally lose water with age, causing a reduction in the distance between the vertebrae. This collapse of the cushioning between spinal bones places stress on the annulus.

Injury

Repetitive or acute stress to the spine can damage the disc.

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Symptoms

  • A dull ache to severe and incapacitating pain.
  • The location of the pain is dependent upon the region of the spine that’s affected.
  • For some patients, pain may be relieved by lying down.
  • A tingling, numbness, or weakness in the extremities.

Treatment

For mild pain, conservative treatment consisting of restricted activity or bed rest may be recommended. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and/or epidural steroid injections are often prescribed for the treatment of short-term moderate pain. If your condition causes considerable pain or disability, Dr. Stieber can explain the various surgical solutions that may be appropriate for your situation. Diagnostic tests may include a CT scan, MRI, myelogram, or discography.

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Common Procedures

Although there is no guarantee that surgery will resolve the problem in every case, the majority of patients suffering from symptoms of degenerative disc disease can obtain substantial or complete relief from surgical intervention.

  • Minimally invasive interbody fusion (fusing the vertebrae above and below the disc space).
  • Artificial disc replacement discectomy to remove an intervertebral disc, or portions thereof.
  • Laminotomy or laminectomy to make more space and relieve pressure on nerve roots

Why Choose Dr. Stieber for Back Pain Relief?

Dr. Jonathan Stieber is an experienced, caring, and thoughtful authority in the field of spine surgery, known throughout New York and beyond as a leader in his industry. As a board-certified, Fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon in NYC with nearly two decades of experience, he delivers an outstanding patient experience that enhances quality of life.

Dr. Stieber is an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the prestigious NYU School of Medicine and is the lauded Director of the Spine Center at OrthoManhattan. He was named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2022 and a New York Magazine Best Doctor for 2021. Dr. Stieber looks forward to meeting with you to discuss your concerns and creating a personalized treatment plan to resolve your discomfort.

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Testimonials What Our Patients Are Saying

Thank you for changing my life.

Dr. Stieber! I have no words to thank you enough. Thank you for changing my life. God bless you, your hands and your family. I’m so happy God put you in my way. You are the best surgeon in the world.

R.N.

Gold standard in todays medicine

Dr stieber corrected previous 2 surgeries that did not take. I had a L4-L5 fusion He is professional and listens to the patient feedback. I should have started with him from the get go – gold standard in todays medicine.

R.H.

You certainly changed my life!

I wanted to personally write to you as well as Bethany, Nancy, and Jennifer, to thank you so much. Not to sound overly dramatic but living with that pain for years, then having that surgery end of Nov. and feeling like a new person- you certainly changed my life! I know I’ve said this befor...

J.L.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

Thanks to you I can lift my toddler without any issues- thank you from the bottom of my heart.

L.S.

No words can covey how grateful I am

No words can covey how grateful I am for your care and expertise, but I will try. You are not just a world-class surgeon, you are a world-class human being. The level of care and professionalism from you and your staff has placed me on a faster track to recovery than I ever thought possible.

M.G.

Dr Stieber fixed me from extreme pain and has such a great way about him

Dr Stieber fixed me from extreme pain and has such a great way about him. I’ve got nothing but the best to say about him and his team. I am a new person and my recovery was very quick due to his work. After 3 weeks, I was back in the gym doing light workouts. The man is great!

K.A.

The man is a life saver

Dr. Stieber performed a MIS TLIF at L4 / L5 in January 2015. At a year and a half, I am pain free and doing well. The man is a life saver. I have and will continue to recommend him to anyone experiencing back pain.

J.F.

I very highly recommend Dr. Stieber and his entire team

I am a 69 year old male, who up until 5 years ago, walked 3-5 miles per day. Lower back pain became such an issue that I could hardly walk 100 feet before I had to stop. After consulting with 5 different neurosurgeons, with no positive results, Dr. Stieber was referred to me by a friend. I met wi...

J.L.

Dr Stieber changed my life

Dr Stieber changed my life, I went from being in constant pain to no pain at all and from being almost unable to work to working full time. The surgery was surprisingly almost painless and my recovery quick, His staff always was available to speak to me when I had questions or concerns and were v...

M.F.

Dr. Stieber changed my life

I have been in pain for over a decade. I no longer am. Dr. Stieber changed my life.

H.H.

I am so grateful for your help

I am so grateful for your help–I wouldn’t be progressing towards a brighter future otherwise.

A.A.

Thanks for putting me back together.

Thanks for putting me back together.

J.P.

Thank you for working wonders

Thank you for working wonders and giving me my mom back. I cannot thank you enough.

M.K.

You operated on my spine and enabled me to walk again

You operated on my spine and enabled me to walk again — which is no small thing. I want you to know that even though a year has passed (88 in my case). I will remember you not only as a fine surgeon but as an impeccable dresser and a real nice guy.

J.R.

This is to express my sincere gratitude to you.

This is to express my sincere gratitude to you. May the good Lord richly bless you for the wonderful thing you have done for me. May you live long so that you help others as well.

R.Z.

Your extraordinary skill as a spine surgeon

From your ability to communicate complicated MRI images and medical jargon in a way that made perfect sense to me, to your honesty and candid demeanor, to your ability to empathize, and obviously your extraordinary skill as a spine surgeon…

C.B.

I thank God and you

This time last year I was in so much pain I could not enjoy the holidays with my family. You have changed that for me this year. Thank you is not enough. When I walk down the street and I realize I have walked more than two blocks without pain, I thank God and you, I feel great, you are the BEST!...

T.J.

I thank you with all my heart

I thank you with all my heart and my family’s too. If it wasn’t for your wonderful gift of your hands I would not be walking today.

D.H.

Now I can begin to live again

You identified my condition, arrived at a solution… and most importantly repaired my lower spine. Every morning when I arise pain free, know that I am so very grateful to you and your skillful hands. Thank you for restoring my health. Now I can begin to live again.

A.C.

It has changed my life

I have been sciatica free for almost 7 months. I can stand without having to sit right away. It has changed my life.

J.H.

You all have demonstrated the true meaning of PATIENT CARE.

I would like to take this time to truly thank you for the hard work and dedication in helping me reach some semblance of normalcy. No words can express how grateful I am. You all have demonstrated the true meaning of PATIENT CARE.

T.T.

Dr. Stieber and his entire staff are the best.

Dr. Stieber and his entire staff are the best. From scheduling, appointments, surgery and post op, they are top notch. Doctor Stieber is a very smart and a highly skilled surgeon.

N.

I’m living a new life after the surgery.

I’m living a new life after the surgery. The whole team was impressive. Very responsive, clear and supportive.

E.R.

Always trust a surgeon with great hair.

Incredible team from the desk, techs, PA to the magical hands of the surgeon. Always trust a surgeon with great hair.

J.G.

That was on the mark!

Dr Stieber performed a discectomy on a Tuesday. I was able to go back to the office the next day. i was told the pain would be reduced at least 95%. That was on the mark!

L.P.

For all of this I am truly grateful to you.

The manner in which you diagnosed my orthopedic problem compelled to write to you. When I came to your office on 11/19/20 after an exhaustive search for an accurate diagnosis, I had previously received three contradictory evaluations and various treatments and yet continued to experience progress...

Anonymous

I wanted to reach out to express my thanks to you for the past few years.

I wanted to reach out to express my thanks to you for the past few years. You performed an L5-S1 decompression and revision on me in 2019 and 2021, when I was in medical school.

I was able to successfully complete my training, and am slated to begin neurosurgery residency at the Cleveland ...

Anonymous

Thank you for taking great care of me!

Anonymous

My deepest gratitude for everything

My deepest gratitude for everything you did to ensure I received the surgery needed, as quickly as possible; and by the best in the business.

S

How grateful I am to you for giving my life back

Thank you just doesn't seem to express how grateful I am to you for giving me my life back. 

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Schedule a Consultation And Get The Pain-Free Lifestyle You Deserve

NYC spine surgery specialist, Dr. Jonathan Stieber, provides his patients with the most effective treatment options available, all of which are tailored to meet your individual needs. With Dr. Stieber guiding your care, it is possible to say goodbye to pain and enjoy an active lifestyle once again.

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