If you have been diagnosed and are living with degenerative disc disease you likely power through your days doing whatever you can to try and help alleviate the discomfort. Pain medications may mask pain, but ultimately when they wear off, it is still there ready to go for the next day.
Thankfully there are other options. Chiropractic can greatly help with the discomfort and pain caused by this type of wear and tear on the body.
In a recent study conducted on 40 men with degenerative disc disease, they randomly assigned them to receive either spinal manipulation or a placebo. After one session, the participants experienced a reduction in their pain levels and an increase in their spinal and hip flexors.
What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease is a type of spinal condition that affects the disc structures in the spine. It can lead to back pain. It’s one of the most common reasons for back surgery.
The function of the discs is to act as a cushion for the spine. Disc cushioning and lubrication can be decreased or lost due to degeneration. Although it usually happens as people age, it can also occur in younger people. Some of the factors that can trigger disc degeneration include poor posture, smoking, and accidents.
How Does it Develop?
The disc is a cushion that helps the body carry weight. It also allows the spinal cord to move and maintain flexibility. As people get older, their water content begins to decrease, and this causes the discs to thin. Thinning discs in turn cause the spine to become more rigid. Since the vertebrae are now close to one another, the disc’s flexibility and shock-absorbing properties are reduced.
The narrowing of the spinal nerve openings can also occur as the vertebrae become closer to one another. As the degeneration progresses, the disc may eventually bulge or become herniated. The cervical and lumbar regions are the most common areas in the spine where degeneration occurs.
What are the symptoms?
Although it can be asymptomatic, degenerative disc disease can still cause pain. The most common symptom of this condition is a tingling or numb feeling in the area where the disc is damaged. It can also be triggered by sitting, lifting, and twisting.
Chiropractic Treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease
One of the most common methods of treatment for back pain is spinal manipulation. This technique helps the body regain its flexibility and reduces pain. In addition to being safe, spinal manipulation can also help people with this condition feel better and move more freely. Some of the other benefits of this method include improving the height of the shoulders and reducing the stress levels in the nervous system.
Aside from spinal manipulation, other treatment methods such as spinal decompression therapy with the DRX9000 or Triton can do wonders as well as manual therapy and massage to reduce the pain and improve the function of the spine. These can also help prevent the disc from returning to its former condition. In addition to these, other procedures such as interferential electro-therapy and ice can also help decrease the pain.
Chiropractic care will not only treat your symptoms, but will also re-establish your well-being.
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment in Fort Myers
Ready to try chiropractic for your back and spine pain? Fort Myers Chiropractor and Naples Chiropractor, Dr. Jason B. Kaster, has the experience and knowledge to help patients reduce the discomfort caused by degenerative disc disease. Visit us! Schedule today at our Fort Myers Clinic. 239-332-2555. www.kasterchiropractic.com