Getting to know degenerative disc disease medication

Degenerative disc disease happens when the rubbery discs located in between your vertebrae wear down. 

When discs are healthy, they provide cushioning between the vertebrae in your spine. They also give you height and the flexibility to twist and bend. When they wear down with age, the bones in the vertebrae rub directly against each other. This can cause pain and stiffness.

Despite its name, degenerative disc disease is not a disease. It’s a progressive chronic condition that occurs with aging. It affects about 90% of people over age 50 years and 40% of people younger than age 30 years.

To help you manage the condition and the pain, stiffness, and weakness that can result from it, your doctor may prescribe certain medications.

Let’s look at these medications and the natural remedies that can help you manage degenerative disc disease. 

Prescription medications

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease are mainly present in the low back and neck but can sometimes result in pain that extends to the legs, buttocks, and arms. 

The pain from this condition can worsen when you’re sitting, and it can come and go. 

To manage these symptoms, your doctor may prescribe certain medications to relieve pain. However, a 2016 study notes that although treatments ease degenerative disc disease symptoms, they don’t treat the underlying cause or slow the condition’s progression.

Below, we will look at some medications that address the symptoms of degenerative disc disease.

Corticosteroids 

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications that can help relieve pain by reducing the inflammation near the injured disc.

You can take corticosteroids in oral form for 7–10 days. After that, your doctor will determine whether you need additional treatment to relieve pain. Some oral corticosteroids include:

• cortisone (Cortone)
• dexamethasone (Decadron)
• hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocort)
• mometasone (Nasonex spray)
• prednisone (Deltalone, Prednicot, Cotolone)
• prednisolone (Orapred, Omnipred)
• triamcinolone (Aristocort)

Corticosteroid injections

If your pain persists, your doctor may also order a corticosteroid injection. During this procedure, your doctor injects corticosteroids into an area of fat and blood vessels surrounding your spinal cord. This area is called the epidural space. 

Doctors will typically treat this as a day-case procedure. This means you should be able to go home the same day. Following the injection, you should rest according to your doctor’s advice.

It can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days to feel the effects of the injection. Because the effects may last only a few months, you may need repeat injections.

Side effects

Some of the adverse effects of corticosteroids include:

• high blood pressure
• changes in mood
• high blood sugar
• sleep difficulties
• increased appetite
• heartburn
• diabetes
• increased risk of infection
• osteoporosis
• skin and muscle atrophy

Prescription pain relief 

Prescription pain relief medications, called analgesics, can help you manage degenerative disc disease pain.

These medications should be taken for only a short period of time because of their risk of dependence. Dependence is when your body needs a drug to function as usual.

You should be sure to strictly follow your doctor’s advice when taking these medications.

Some prescription pain relievers include:

• prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as celecoxib (Celebrex), oral diclofenac (Zipsor), and meloxicam (Mobic)
• opioids, such as morphine (MS Contin), oxycodone (Oxycontin), and fentanyl patch (Subsys)

Side effects 

Adverse effects of prescription pain medications include:

• nausea and vomiting
• upset stomach
• constipation 
• high blood pressure 
• changes in mood
• trouble breathing

If you experience these side effects while taking pain relievers, be sure to talk with your doctor. 

Muscle relaxants

Degenerative disc disease may cause muscle spasms when a disc slips, pinches a nerve, and disrupts the electrical signals between the nerve and muscle tissue. 

In these cases, your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxers to ease the spasms and pain.

Some prescription muscle relaxants include:

• carisoprodol (Soma)
• cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
• diazepam (Valium)
• metaxalone (Skelaxin)

Side effects

You should take muscle relaxants according to the instructions on the label and only under your doctor’s supervision because of their risk of dependence. Some adverse effects of muscle relaxers include drowsiness and nausea.

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.

Over-the-counter options

You can take over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve pain caused by degenerative disc disease. These include:

• OTC NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil), acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), and naproxen (Aleve)
• OTC pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)

The side effects of OTC NSAIDs mainly affect the stomach, including stomachache and indigestion. More serious effects may include stomach ulcers and gastritis, although doctors often prescribe another medication alongside NSAIDs to protect your stomach, such as lansoprazole.

Natural remedies and lifestyle strategies

Lifestyle strategies and natural remedies may help relieve pain and slow the condition’s progression. Some remedies to consider are:

• heat and cold therapy
• exercise and gentle physical activities, such as yoga
• eating a balanced diet to maintain a moderate weight
• acupuncture
• quitting smoking

When to contact a doctor

Talk with your doctor if your medications do not provide enough relief or worsen your symptoms. They may consider other treatment options, such as:

• physical therapy
• surgery
• treatment with biologic medications 
• therapeutic injections, including nerve blocks and trigger point or facet joint injections

However, most people with degenerative disc disease will improve without surgery or more invasive interventions.

Summary

Degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs between your vertebrae wear down and your bones rub against each other. This can cause pain and stiffness.

The condition primarily affects the lower back and neck, but the pain can radiate down your legs and arms. 

To address pain, you may take prescription medications that include corticosteroids, pain relievers, and muscle relaxers. There are also OTC options, such as NSAIDs and other pain relievers.

You may also consider natural remedies, such as acupuncture, as well as lifestyle strategies, such as exercise and maintaining a moderate weight through a balanced diet.

If any of these treatments don’t provide relief and your pain is severe, your doctor may consider surgery and physical therapy.

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