What exactly is degenerative spine disease of C4 C5 C6 C7 specifically?! And what is the prognosis?

Question

My Mom was just diagnosed with this and I am a pre-med student doing research to figure out whats going on. I KNOW the basics but I need specifics on these exact areas of the cervical spine (C4,C5,C6, and C7) and I need info on treatment options besides surgery (ie acupuncture,holistic herbs, and physical therapy) Specifics please! Thanks :)

Answer 1

If it's an x-ray diagnosis without symptoms, no treatment at all is indicated. If she's osteopenic, that needs to be addressed. She may need to watch her diet and exercise program, but it's easy to overstate the difference there. Pain and neurologic symptoms are addressed according to the specifics, and may include simple analgesics, physical therapy, etc.

Answer 2

It's a bit of a misnomer as disc degeneration is a normal part of the aging process.  By the time we reach 60, about 90% of us have at least one degenerative disc.  What is now being discovered about imaging studies and spinal pain is that they are rarely correlated.  By this I mean that a certain percentage of the pain free population will demonstrate "degenerative disc disease" on imaging studies...yet, why are these people pain free?  We do not yet know the answer to this question.  

Outcomes are variable and not enough research exists regarding treatment outcomes, especially when compared to studies on the lumbar spine.  One thing is for sure, surgery is rarely indicated as a first line of treatment except in cases of diffuse nerulogical deficits that point to cord copression (and extremely rare thing).  

I would first recommend physical therapy, more specifically, someone who is certified in mechanical diagnosis and therapy.  Understanding how movement can improve or worsen symptoms is important in predicting how she will do with conservative treatment.  You can find such a therapist by going to: http://www.mckenziemdt.org

...and here's a parting  thought, even though degeneration progresses as we age, the incidence of neck pain actually declines...wierd, huh?  

Best wishes to your mom and for you in med school