Two discs removed from lower back. Having pain. Suspecting degenerative disc disease. Cause?
Patient: I had two disks removed from my lower back due t a car accident in 2009. Its been ten months since the surgery and I have been having progressively more pain. Now I m beig told I have a bone spur and another herniated disk below the two removed prior. Doctor said it looks like thespine is trying to fuse itself. There has been talk of degenerative disk disease ect... I had a perfectly healthy back before y accident.... wat does all this mean and why is it hapening? Doctor: Hello,          Our body has 33 vertebrae each joined with other through the disc and every vertebrae taking equal load. when some of the discs are removed, the vertebrae above and below the removed vertebrae takes the load of those fused and they get wear and tear early.     the new bone formation is the result of excessive motion hence wear and tear and may result in pain.  your problem can be relieved in two ways 1. do as your doctor is advising. 2. read and discuss with your doctor about surgically fusing the degenerated vertebrae, removing bony spurs so that there will be no excessive motion, no wear and tear and hence no pain. take care.