Medication
If you have mild to moderate back pain, you will need to continue treatment to keep the pain at bay. Most people who have surgery for degenerative disk disease experience long-term pain relief. Even after surgery, you need to continue exercising and stretching to keep your back strong and healthy.
Procedures
Nonsurgical Treatment. Pain control focuses on reducing pain from the damaged disc and helping you return to your daily activities. Methods of pain control may include anti-inflammatory medications, manual manipulation, steroid injections, electrical stimulation, back braces or heat/ice therapy.
Therapy
Pain control focuses on reducing pain from the damaged disc and helping you return to your daily activities. Methods of pain control may include anti-inflammatory medications, manual manipulation, steroid injections, electrical stimulation, back braces or heat/ice therapy.
Self-care
If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, treating your back and neck pain with medications is often the first place to start. NSAIDs work to target inflammation causing neck or back pain. They can be more effective than acetaminophen for the treatment of long-term back and neck pain.
Nutrition
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Do you need treatment for degenerative disc disease?
What is the best treatment for a herniated disc?
What is pain control for a damaged disc?
Do NSAIDs help with degenerative disc disease?
When should I seek treatment for herniated disc?
If you experience any of the severe herniated disc symptoms below, contact your doctor immediately: Loss of bowel and/or bladder control, loss of feeling in your lower extremities (legs and feet)**:** These symptoms, which may be caused by a lumbar (low back) herniated disc, may be related to cauda equina syndrome.
How do I know if I need disc surgery?
Your doctor might recommend surgery as an option for your herniated disc if: Your symptoms have lasted at least 6 weeks and make it hard to do your normal activities, and other treatments haven't helped. You need to get better quickly because of your job or to get back to your other activities as soon as possible.
What is the best treatment for disc problems?
Treatment for disc problemsheat treatment (for example heat wraps or hot packs)gradually increasing activity levels within pain limits.an exercise program designed to improve strength, flexibility and fitness.a short-term (less than 12 week) trial of massage, spinal mobilisation or manual therapy.More items...
What does disc problems feel like?
While pain in your mid-back may be related to a disc, it's more likely caused by muscle strain or other issues. Your symptoms feel worse when you bend or straighten up from a bent position. Movement can increase pressure on the herniated disc and the surrounding nerves, causing symptoms to increase.
How do you know when it's time to have back surgery?
Back surgery might be an option if conservative treatments haven't worked and your pain is persistent and disabling. Back surgery often more predictably relieves associated pain or numbness that goes down one or both arms or legs. These symptoms often are caused by compressed nerves in your spine.
How do you know if your herniated disc is getting worse?
If you still have pain or numbness after four to six weeks, or if your problem gets worse, talk with your doctor. Sometimes it takes surgery to relieve pain. If you have trouble going to the bathroom or have weight loss, pain at night, or more pain or weakness than usual in backbone, tell your doctor right away.
Is a herniated disc an emergency?
Sudden injury and/or excessive strain may cause the inner portion of the disc to stick out through the outer ring which is called a herniated (ruptured or slipped) disc. The severe case of a herniated disk is a medical emergency because of intolerable pain and discomfort.
How do you know if back pain is serious?
8 Signs That it's Time to Call a Doctor for Your Back PainYou've Been in Pain for Over a Week. ... Your Pain Extends to Other Body Parts. ... You Have Numbness, Tingling or Weakness. ... You Have Pain After an Accident. ... Your Pain is Worse at Certain Times or in Certain Positions. ... You're Having Problems with Your Bowels or Urination.More items...
Is walking good for herniated disc?
Moderate aerobic activities, including walking, biking, and swimming, also help relieve pain. Some aerobic activities might be better suited to your specific condition. Talk to your doctor about what exercises will best help you.
When Is back pain an emergency?
For back problems, the red-flag symptoms and signs that may indicate an emergency typically start suddenly and include some combination of the following: Sudden loss of sensation in one or both legs, the groin and genital area, and/or the anal region. Inability to walk or stand. Inability to control bowel movements.
What are 3 signs and symptoms of a herniated disk?
SymptomsArm or leg pain. If your herniated disk is in your lower back, besides pain in your lower back, you'll typically feel pain in your buttocks, thigh and calf. ... Numbness or tingling. People who have a herniated disk often have radiating numbness or tingling in the body part served by the affected nerves.Weakness.
How do I know if my disc is bulging?
3 Telltale Signs You Have a Slipped or Bulging DiscPain while sitting. An activity that exerts tremendous pressure on your lower spinal discs is sitting. ... Radiating pain into your leg (sciatica) ... Pain aggravated by specific activities.
Why does a bulging disc hurt?
A bulging disc results when the disc protrudes from its normal placement, usually due to pressure, trauma or decay. Whenever the disc loses its original shape, it begins to cause problems in the vertebrae structure. When this happens, the disc gets knocked out of place and lodges itself in an unnatural position. This can be extremely painful.
How many types of disc problems are there?
There are three types of disc problems that you may be experiencing, depending on your situation. Each problem has a distinct cause, though all of them will be painful and affect your spinal health. Let’s take a closer look at all three.
How to get back on track?
Don’t hesitate to contact a chiropractor near you and start receiving treatments that will heal your disc condition and get you back on track. By treating your disc condition, you’ll get pain relief and prevent future spinal conditions. Specifically, look for a chiropractic clinic – such as Better Health Chiropractic in Anchorage – that offers modern treatment options like spinal decompression. This holistic approach to treating your back will keep it healthy for life.
What is degenerative disc disease?
With degeneration, disc problems start to become more likely. In general, when the disc problem is a result of degeneration , it’s called degenerative disc disease. However, degenerating conditions for discs may include bulging discs, herniated discs, or other problems such as spinal stenosis or osteoporosis.
What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc is also called a slipped disc or a prolapsed disc. As previously mentioned, a herniated disc occurs when the disc begins to break down due to injury, stress or decay. When this happens, the disc wall cracks and release its interior “gel.” This “gel” then escapes and comes into contact with other nerves outside of the disc itself. The most common metaphor for a herniated disc is a doughnut and its filling separating and spilling into other areas.
Can disc pain go untreated?
When you’re experiencing any of the disc symptoms above, don’t let them go untreated. Your condition could lead to further injury or even heightened pain levels. As soon as you feel back pain with disc symptoms, contact your chiropractor for a check-up.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Degenerative disc disease at a glance
Your spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that stretch from the base of your skull to your pelvis. In between these bony structures are 23 intervertebral discs, which play several roles, including:
Signs of degenerative disc disease
In its earliest stages, you may not notice any symptoms at all. As your DDD progresses, however, you can experience side effects that include:
Treating degenerative disc disease
Your treatment options for DDD depend upon the extent of the degeneration and the severity of your symptoms. With milder cases, we may recommend rest, icing, and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy can also play an invaluable role by building up a better support system along your spine.
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:
How to treat a herniated disc?
Some exercises can help improve the symptoms of a herniated disc. A physical therapist can teach you which ones strengthen the muscles that support your back. Physical therapy programs also include: 1 Stretching exercises to keep your muscles flexible 2 Aerobic exercises -- such as walking or riding a stationary bicycle 3 Massage 4 Ice and heat 5 Ultrasound therapy 6 Electrical muscle stimulation
How to protect your spine from a herniated disk?
To protect your spine and prevent another herniated disk, you should always sit and stand up straight. If you have to stand for a long period of time , rest one foot on a stool or box to take pressure off your back. Be careful when you lift anything heavy. Squat from your knees to pick it up.
How long does it take for a herniated disk to heal?
Most people with a herniated disk don't need surgery. Rest and other treatments should start to improve your symptoms within 4 to 6 weeks. But if your pain doesn’t improve, surgery might be an option. Talk to your doctor about surgery if: You’re not getting relief from pain relievers, injections, and physical therapy.
What is the bone that is removed from a herniated disc?
Sometimes your surgeon will also need to remove a small piece of bone called the lamina from the vertebra. The lamina forms a protective cover over your spinal cord. Removing part or all of it helps the surgeon access your herniated disk. It also can relieve pressure on your nerves and eliminate leg pain and sciatica.
What is the best medicine for back spasms?
And nerve pain medicines, such as amitriptyline ( Elavil, Vanatrip ), duloxetine ( Cymbalta ), ...
What is the procedure called when you have two disks in your back?
This is called spinal fusion . Fusing the two disks will stop the bones from moving and prevent you from having any more pain. Artificial disk surgery. Only a few people are good candidates for artificial disk surgery because it only works on certain disks in your lower back.
How to stop back pain from a sprain?
You need to keep moving so your joints and muscles don't stiffen up. You can also use ice and heat to help relieve your pain. Just place an ice pack or warm wet towel on the area of your back that is sore. You can alternate hot and cold, or use whichever feels best.
What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?
The pain and stiffness of degenerative disc disease is caused by the wearing down of discs in the vertebrae. The discs in the spine are relatively avascular (very little blood supply), so when discs are injured, they cannot repair themselves and they begin to deteriorate.
How Is Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosed?
Degenerative disc disease is diagnosed with a physical examination and patient history, along with imaging tests such as:
How to keep discs healthy?
In addition, maintaining strong posture (instead of slouching while sitting or flexing the neck forward while driving, looking at a cell phone, etc) is recommended. Eating healthy, staying hydrated, and quitting smoking are also all beneficial for disc health. See Lifestyle and Diet Tips for Healthy Bones.
What are the symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease?
Surgery to treat cervical degenerative disc disease is generally considered in two cases: Neurological symptoms are present, such as persistent arm numbness and/or weakness, or trouble with walking or bowel control.
What is the success rate of cervical discectomy?
For relieving pressure on nerve roots and/or the spinal cord and thus reducing neurological symptoms like arm pain or weakness, neck surgery tends to have a good success rate—some estimates in literature are between 80% and 90%. 1.
What is the best way to relieve neck pain?
Ice and/or heat therapy. Some people find pain relief by applying an ice pack or a heated gel pack to the uncomfortable part of the neck.
How to stop neck pain from computer?
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. Refraining from or modifying certain activities for a few days or weeks will usually reduce the pain.
Can neck surgery cause pain?
However, neck surgery has a lower success rate for reli eving pain that is only in the neck itself. 1 If the disc space cannot be verified as the probable pain generator, it may be reasonable to avoid surgery and keep trying various types of non-surgical care to manage the pain.
Can a chiropractor adjust the cervical spine?
The cervical spine can be manually adjusted by a chiropractor or other qualified health professional in an effort to improve range of motion and/or reduce pain. Depending on the person’s symptoms, a physical exam and/or imaging study should be done prior to manual manipulation of the neck.