Medication
When it comes to effective degenerative disc disease treatment options, here at the Scoliosis Reduction Center, I offer an integrative approach that combines different treatment disciplines such as chiropractic care, condition-specific stretches, and custom-prescribed exercises for the best possible results.
Procedures
Treatment for degenerative disc disease will depend on the severity of the condition. In most cases, the problem is not severe enough to require surgery. Before considering surgery as an option, the doctor may initiate any of the following nonoperative measures: heat and/or ice therapy activity modification oral pain and/or steroid medications
Therapy
Nov 19, 2021 · If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, treating your back and neck pain with medications is often the first place to start. Medications used to treat degenerative disc disease NSAIDs work to target inflammation causing neck or back pain.
Self-care
Treatment options include: Artificial disc replacement. Heat and ice. Manual manipulation by a chiropractic professional. Massage therapy from a physical therapist. Nonoperative treatment of symptoms, including acupuncture, back braces and pain management via a combination of over-the counter and prescription medications. Surgical intervention.
Nutrition
Aug 20, 2019 · A visit to the chiropractor can help return or maintain motion in your spine. There are numerous chiropractic techniques, but spinal adjustment is one of the more common ones. You may need a series of chiropractic appointments to help treat your DDD, and your chiropractor will develop a treatment plan for you.
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A note from Cleveland Clinic. Degenerative disk disease occurs when your spinal disks break down. When these disks wear out, people typically experience back pain and stiffness. You may find pain relief with nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy and spinal injection.
Do you need treatment for degenerative disc disease?
Mar 11, 2022 · Dr. Mosenthal: The surgery is called a laminotomy discectomy and it’s also called a decompression surgery. The laminotomy is making a small window in the bone that’s protecting the spinal canal. That gives the surgeon access to the pinched nerve and the disc and the microdiscectomy refers to only taking out some of the discs.
What are the treatments for worn-out spine disks?
How does degenerative disc disease affect your overall health?
What is the best treatment for a herniated disc?
What does a doctor do for degenerative disc disease?
If home care isn't sufficient to control your discomfort, your doctor can prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory medicine, including a short-term course of oral steroids. Medical treatment for degenerative disc disease also includes physical therapy and steroid injections in the back or neck.Jan 3, 2020
When should I see a doctor for degenerative disc disease?
If you're also experiencing numbness and tingling in your arms or legs or weakness in your leg muscles, you might have degenerative disc disease. In fact, it's critical that you see a doctor as soon as possible if you experience weakness, numbness or tingling associated with DDD as it can indicate nerve damage.
Is there any treatment for degenerative discs?
Treatment for painful degenerative disc disease focuses on minimizing pain, stabilizing the spine, and improving or maintaining mobility. Degenerative disc disease can usually be treated with a combination of pain management techniques, physical therapy, and other approaches.
Can you live with degenerative disc disease without surgery?
Non-surgical and Surgical Treatment Overview. Degenerative disc disease is relatively common in aging adults, and, as a reassurance, it seldom requires surgery. When medical attention is needed, the majority of patients respond well to non-surgical forms of treatment, and recovery occurs in about six weeks.Mar 22, 2017
What happens if degenerative disc disease is left untreated?
Without appropriate treatment, degenerative disc disease can cause lasting, debilitating back pain. The pain may become so severe that you find it difficult to carry out your normal daily activities. It can interfere with your mobility and your overall quality of life.
Is walking good for degenerative disc disease?
Aerobic exercise. Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, or taking a low-impact aerobics class, has been shown to help relieve pain, promote a healthy body weight, and improve overall strength and mobility—all important factors in managing DDD.Jan 8, 2018
Why is disc degeneration so painful?
Pain associated with degenerative disc disease generally stems from two main factors: Inflammation. Inflammatory proteins from the disc space interior can leak out as the disc degenerates, causing swelling in the surrounding spinal structures.
Is chiropractic good for degenerative disc disease?
Chiropractic care is a preferred treatment option for degenerative disc disease for a variety of reasons. Because it is gentle and non-invasive, chiropractic is much less likely to create undesirable side effects—which are common with prescription medications and surgery.Aug 21, 2019
How long does it take to recover from degenerative disc surgery?
Recovery from artificial disc replacement surgery typically lasts up to 6 months as the body heals from surgery and the spine adjusts to the device.
Can you become paralyzed from degenerative disc disease?
If the disc herniates in the direction of the spinal cord or nerve root, it can cause neurologic compromise. Disc herniations in the cervical spine can be serious. If significant enough, they can cause paralysis of both the upper and lower extremities, though this is extremely rare.
Is bed rest good for degenerative disc disease?
It's important to note that bed rest is not a long-term treatment for degenerative disc disease. Bed rest should be limited to 1 – 3 days to prevent your muscles from weakening, which may cause your discomfort to become more intense.May 15, 2018
What are the stages of degenerative disc disease?
The Four Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease They can result in pain, degenerative scoliosis, and loss of mobility. These four stages are the Dysfunction Stage, the Dehydration Stage, the Stabilization Stage, and the Collapsing Stage.
How fast does degenerative disc disease progress?
Spinal disc degeneration may start gradually or suddenly but will typically progress over the next 20 to 30 years. After it gets to a point of seve...
Is degenerative disc disease the same as arthritis?
No. The two conditions are sometimes thought to be interchangeable because the disc and facet joints are both part of the same three-joint complex....
Can you become paralyzed from degenerative disc disease?
It depends on the severity of the herniated disc. When a disc is herniated, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This irrita...
Can a disc that has deteriorated ever heal?
No. Degenerative disc disease will never entirely “go away.” Once your disc starts to degenerate, you can’t reverse the process. However, as the sp...
How should you sleep if you have degenerative disc disease?
When sleeping with DDD, proper alignment of your spine is key. No matter what your preferred sleeping position is, it’s especially important to kee...
What are some steps to take that will relieve pain?
Drink water. The more water you drink, the better chance you give your body to adequately replenish the water in your discs. This is a simple, heal...
What are some tips for living with degenerative disc disease?
Here are some practical self care tips that can help you live with DDD: Engage in controlled, progressive exercise and active rehabilitation. Incre...
What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Contrary to what the name suggests, degenerative disc disease (DDD) is not a disease; instead, the name refers to the process of disc degeneration that can take place over time.
What are the Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease?
As mentioned, the most common spinal sections to experience significant disc degeneration and cause related pain are the cervical and lumbar sections, which is why degenerative disc disease is the most common cause of lower back and neck pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Options
Here at the Scoliosis Reduction Center, I have experience treating patients of all ages, and with a wide range of spinal conditions, degenerative disc disease included.
Conclusion
When it comes to overall health and wellness, the spine is an important factor.
Make an Appointment
Our team of dedicated access representatives is here to help you make an appointment with the specialists that you need.
Symptoms
Degenerative disc disease can cause pain, weakness, or numbness. Exact symptoms vary depending on the location and type of disc degeneration. However, the primary symptoms of degenerative disc disease include sharp and/or chronic pain in the back and neck.
Diagnosis
If a patient presents with symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease, the surgeon may order the following tests:
Risk Factors
Degenerative disc disease is usually associated with the normal effects of aging. The discs between the bones of the spine are made up of cartilage, fibrous tissue, and water. With age, these discs can weaken and may flatten, bulge, or break down.
Treatments
Treatment for degenerative disc disease will depend on the severity of the condition. In most cases, the problem is not severe enough to require surgery. Before considering surgery as an option, the doctor may initiate any of the following nonoperative measures:
What is degenerative disc disease?
Degenerative disc disease is a condition where the wear and tear of your spinal discs (disc degeneration) is severe enough to cause problems like neck and back pain and other symptoms. So technically it’s not a disease, but rather degeneration that gets to a point that it causes symptoms.
Symptoms of degenerative disc disease
Your symptoms will depend on how bad the disc and bones are damaged, and if the nerves of the spine are affected. Symptoms may include:
How is degenerative disc disease diagnosed?
Pain or stiffness in your neck or back isn’t always caused by a disc issue. Muscle strain is another common cause of these symptoms. So the best way to figure out what’s causing your symptoms is to see your healthcare provider.
Treatment for degenerative disc disease
If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, treating your back and neck pain with medications is often the first place to start.
What can you do to lower your risk of developing degenerative disc disease?
While the wear and tear of spinal discs is inevitable with age, experiencing painful symptoms doesn’t have to be. By preventing additional stress on your spine you can also potentially decrease your chance of degenerative disc disease.
The bottom line
Wear and tear of our spinal discs occurs naturally. But when degenerative disease leads to conditions that cause pressure against your spinal nerves, you may develop symptoms like pain or tingling in your arms or legs. There are many different treatment options for degenerative disc disease.
Degenerative disc disease
Degenerative disc disease is a condition that causes discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column to deteriorate. Most symptoms of degenerative disc disease occur in the lower back or neck.
Diagnosing degenerative disc disease
To start, your doctor will review your medical history and conduct a physical exam. Next, your doctor may order imaging tests like X-rays, a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan to get a better look at the discs and bony structures.
Symptoms of degenerative disc disease
Most symptoms of degenerative disc disease occur in the lower back or neck.
Why is degenerative disc disease so painful?
In general, there are two main sources for degenerative disc disease pain:
Overview
Degenerative disk disease is when your spinal disks wear down. Spinal disks are rubbery cushions between your vertebrae (bones in your spinal column). They act as shock absorbers and help you move, bend and twist comfortably. Everyone’s spinal disks degenerate over time and is a normal part of aging.
Symptoms and Causes
The most common symptoms of degenerative disk disease are neck pain and back pain. You may experience pain that:
Diagnosis and Tests
To diagnose degenerative disk disease, your healthcare provider may start by asking you about your symptoms. Questions may include:
Management and Treatment
Usually, your healthcare provider will recommend noninvasive treatment options first. Your treatment may include:
Prevention
You can prevent or slow the progression of spinal degeneration through lifestyle changes. Some of these include:
