ALT is measured to see if the liver is damaged or diseased. Low levels of ALT are normally found in the blood. But when the liver is damaged or diseased, it releases ALT into the bloodstream, which makes ALT levels go up. Most increases in ALT levels are caused by liver damage.
It is a reflex, and although the body's response of muscle spasm is not necessary for the safety of the nerve roots, it can be quite painful. The muscle spasms associated with the instability are thought to cause the flare-ups of intense pain often associated with degenerative disc disease.Article continues below.nflammation. The proteins contained within the disc space can cause a lot of inflammation, and as a general rule inflammation will cause pain. 1  In the lumbar disc space, the low back pain can radiate into the hips.
Not everyone, however, will have symptoms described as degenerative disc disease. Not actually a disease, degenerative disc disease refers to a condition in which pain is caused from a damaged disc.A wide range of symptoms and severity is associated with this condition.n the right is an X-ray of the discs after traditional spinal fusion surgery. The typical person with degenerative disc disease is active, otherwise healthy and in his or her 30s or 40s. Common symptoms of this condition include: 1  Pain that is worse when sitting.