DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a 23-year-old female and about one year ago I was diagnosed with moderate DDD in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine and spinal stenosis in the thoracic region. I have never sustained any kind of injury or had an accident of any kind. I was overweight throughout my teenage years but received bariatric surgery at 19 and all of my vitamin levels are within normal ranges. My rheumatoid levels are normal. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 17 but otherwise I am a healthy young woman. There doesn’t appear to be any reason why someone my age would have DDD. Are there any causes or additional factors that my current doctors may have overlooked? What could cause this at such a young age? I’m currently using a 50 mcg/hr Fentanyl patch and four mg of tizanidine two to three times daily for pain. I also take Lamictal and Wellbutrin for unrelated problems. Any insight would be appreciated.
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