what is the most common treatment for degenerative disc disease

Medication

• Rest or lifestyle modification. Certain activities might be more painful for the neck, such as craning the neck forward to look at the computer monitor or a specific swimming stroke. ...
• Pain management with medication or injections. ...
• Ice and/or heat therapy. ...

Procedures

Final Thoughts

• Degenerative disc disease is characterized by the breakdown of the discs in your spine, causing pain and limiting movement.
• The pain can be anywhere in your back, depending on the disc that’s damaged. ...
• The most common cause of degenerative disc disease is aging, and so there’s no one way to stop the disease developing.

More items...

Therapy

Tips for Preventing Degenerative Disc Disease

• Keys to Preventing Degenerative Disc Disease. ...
• Live an Active Life and Include Exercise. ...
• Use Good Form and Employ Body Mechanics. ...
• Stop Smoking or Better Yet, Don't Start. ...
• Get to and Maintain Your Ideal Weight. ...
• Balance Manual Labor and Being Sedentary. ...
• Take a Dietary Approach. ...
• Prevent DDD the Old Fashioned Way. ...

Self-care

You will want to:

• Avoid isotonic exercise. ...
• Consider monitoring the intensity of your weightlifting routine. ...
• Consider wearing a belt for extra back support. ...
• Always work with a spotter. ...
• Consult with your doctor to make sure your style of weightlifting is safe to do.

Nutrition

See more

What is the cure to disk degenerative disease?

What to do if you have degenerative disc disease?

How to keep degenerative disc disease from worsening?

What exercises should I avoid with degenerative disc disease?

See more

What is the most effective treatment for degenerative disc disease?

Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the right muscles to help the back heal and reduce the frequency of painful flare-ups. Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your posture, losing weight or giving up smoking, can sometimes help reduce stress on the damaged disc and slow down further degeneration.

Are there any new treatments for degenerative disc disease?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for IDCT (DiscGenics, Inc.), an investigational cell therapy for the reduction in pain and disability associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD).

Can a degenerative disc ever heal?

No, degenerative disc disease cannot heal on its own. Many treatments for degenerative disc disease focus on reducing symptoms. Some people experience more severe or longer-lasting symptoms than others.

What worsens degenerative disc disease?

Over time, discs naturally tend to dry out and lose their support and function. This can lead to pain and other symptoms of DDD. DDD can start developing in your 30s or 40s, and then progressively worsen. This condition can also be caused by injury and overuse, which may result from sports or repetitive activities.

Do cortisone shots work for degenerative disc disease?

Steroid injections can provide more effective pain relief when you have degenerative disc disease that does not respond well to other non-surgical forms of treatment.

Is gabapentin good for degenerative disc disease?

Anti-seizure medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin), are sometimes prescribed to help control chronic low back pain. They may be especially useful for nerve pain, such as sciatica or peripheral neuropathy, caused by the degenerated disc.

How can I prevent degenerative disc disease from getting worse?

Preventing Degenerative Disc DiseaseStop smoking, or better yet, don't start — smoking increases the rate of desiccation.Be active – regular exercise to increase the strength and flexibility of muscles that surround and support the spine.More items...

Can you live a normal life with DDD?

Can you live a normal life with degenerative disc disease? The answer is yes, even it forces you to be out of work for an extended amount of time. Do not give up. There are many methods of pain relief that you can do at home that can help you live a normal life.

What causes degenerative disc disease flare ups?

These flare ups can be caused by a simple action, such as bending over to tie your shoes, or twisting. Or, you can just experience this discomfort without being able to pinpoint the exact cause. You may experience a rise in pain for several days to several weeks before it diminishes.

What activities should I avoid with degenerative disc disease?

Skip movements that involve significant axial loading on the lower back, such as squats and leg presses. Avoid toe-touches, sit-ups, and yoga poses that worsen the pain and lead to significant bending of the back.

What are the stages of DDD?

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.

Why does DDD hurt so much?

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.

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:

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.

When is surgery needed for arthritis of the spine?

The surgery for arthritis of the spine depends on exactly what is being pinched and where the arthritis is located.

What is the best medicine for arthritis?

There are two types of medicine to start with. The first is acetaminophen, which will help with the discomfort. Arthritis medicines, such as aspirin or aspirin-like medicines (called anti-inflammatories or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs), can also be taken.

Why do you need to do more nerve tests?

he main reason to perform more tests is if the symptoms are getting worse despite treatment, if the pain is severe or if you have signs of nerve damage — particularly nerve damage that is getting worse. The signs of worsening nerve damage would be increasing tingling or numbness, weakness and sometimes increasing pain.

What are the three regions of the spine?

The region in your neck area is the cervical spine, the region in your chest is the thoracic spine and the region in your low back is the lumbar spine.

How to treat sore neck?

If the symptoms are only stiffness and soreness, they are treated with heat or ice and a gentle stretching program of the neck. If the pain is not relieved, then medication can help relieve the symptoms until the pain subsides. There are two types of medicine to start with.

Is it normal to have a disc bulge in your spine?

This bulging of the disc is very common as you get more mature, and almost everyone has some disc bulging in their spines. This bulging rarely causes symptoms and is considered a normal part of getting older. If the pressure is great enough and the radial tire part weak enough, this bulge can get larger.

What tests are needed to diagnose degenerative disc disease?

You may need some imaging tests like x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ), or computed tomography (CT) scan to see your spine and discs.

What is the best medicine for disc pain?

Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Corticosteroid injection into the disc space. Prescription pain medication. Other alternative therapies like over-the-counter herbal pain creams that contain cayenne, peppermint, wintergreen, or eucalyptus may be useful for relieving pain.

What causes pain in the spine?

Degenerative Disc Disease and Sciatica. Degenerative disc disease makes the disc more susceptible to herniation (rupture) which can lead to localized or radiating pain. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises and medications ...

What are the symptoms of degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease symptoms include: Pain in the lower back, buttocks, neck, or thighs. Pain when sitting that gets worse with time. Pain that comes and goes. Numbness or tingling in extremities.

Why do discs hurt?

These discs act as shock absorbers to keep your spine flexible. With age, and sometimes with injury, these discs wear down and the bones begin to rub on each other and cause pain. Discs are made of about 80% water but, compared to other tissues in the body, the discs have very low blood supply.

What is the outer layer of the disc?

A tough, outer layer that contains nerves. A soft, inner layer that contains proteins. Discs are made of about 80% water but, compared to other tissues in the body, the discs have very low blood supply. If they are injured, they may not be able to repair themselves, which can lead to permanent damage.

What is the best way to relieve low back pain?

One of the best low back pain treatments is exercise. Learn more about low back pain exercises--what works, and what doesn't. Discover severe low back pain relief through various gentle workouts designed to protect and strengthen the lumbar, core, and other related muscle groups.

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.

Lower Back Pain: Symptoms, Stretches, Exercise for Pain Relief

Do you suffer from low back pain? Learn more about common triggers of lower back pain like posture, exercise, and spondylosis....

Back Pain: Common Spine Problems

That stack of little bones along the center of your back has a key role to support and control your body. What happens when...

Back Pain: 16 Back Pain Truths and Myths

Which mattress is best for back pain? Back pain conditions are very common. Learn the causes of upper and lower back pain. Find...

Low Back Pain: 11 Stretches & Exercises for Relief

One of the best low back pain treatments is exercise. Whether your pain is in the lower left or lower right back, learn more...

Back Pain Quiz: Test Your Back Pain IQ

There are numerous causes of chronic lower back pain and only one ailment gets more complaints. What is it? Quiz your knowledge...

Back Pain: Bad Habits for Your Back

You’re more likely to have back pain as you get older. Here’s how to avoid making things worse with bad habits.

Back Pain: Tips for Traveling When You Have Back Pain

Don't let back or other pain keep you from your travel adventures. Try these tips to minimize discomfort during your next flight...