Have you ever had a disc degeneration diagnosis? Are you always plagued by back discomfort, preventing you from doing everyday duties and forcing you to miss out on important occasions? If so, there’s no reason to be concerned; pain linked with degenerative disc conditions can still lessen over time. If you want to know how, keep reading below.
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)?
The human body comprises spinal discs made up of a delicate inner core and a hard outer core. They’re located between the spine’s vertebrae, acting as cushions and shock absorbers. They assist you in performing any movement such as sitting or standing straight. However, if these discs deteriorate and lose their strength, degenerative disk disease can occur.
The wear and tear of spinal discs is a major cause of degenerative disc disease. Discs naturally deplete and keep losing their function and support over time. Aside from age being the risk factor, this condition can also be caused by injury, being involved in an accident, a sedentary lifestyle, or too much pressure when doing repetitive activities or sports. This could be very painful.
People with this disease can experience weakened muscles, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, and extreme pain when sitting, twisting, or bending. Their symptoms will vary depending on the location of the weak disc; however, they’ll typically experience sharp and persistent pain in their neck and back.
How To Get The Pain Under Control?
If you have degenerative disc disease, you’ll eventually need to learn how to manage your pain effectively. Since not everyone has the same response to various treatments, you can opt for non-surgical treatments. A non-surgical approach may be able to alleviate your chronic neck or back pain, depending on your current way of life, the intensity of your pain, and your aspirations.
Professional physicians frequently offer one or more of the following possible treatments for degenerative disc disease-related pain:
- Manual Manipulation Or Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractors can assist you if you’ve been given a diagnosis with degenerative disc disease and your primary symptom is back pain. Chiropractic therapy is a possible therapeutic option for such a condition. It works by enhancing joint mechanics through increased spinal mobility and reducing inflammation. Additionally, the chiropractor can try to improve the function of the intervertebral discs.
When your chiropractor performs spinal manipulation, they’ll identify the restricted joints and work to restore their movements through gentle thrusting procedures. Among their other techniques is instrument-assisted manipulation, which involves the use of a handheld device to apply a mild force to the spine without directly thrusting it.
- Epidural Injections
Spinal epidural injection of steroids or anesthesia may assist in offering brief alleviation of low back pain. It can alleviate pain and provide sufficient comfort to start an exercise or a recovery program.
Its effectiveness may vary depending on the healthcare professional’s methods, approach, and others. Spinal steroid injections may be most beneficial in the later phases of degenerative disc disease when diagnosis indicates inflammation and alterations to the end-plates of the disc.
- Mild Electric Stimulation
Electrical stimulation could help alleviate back pain associated with degenerative disc degeneration. It’s also believed to enhance everyday function while reducing the need for pain meds.
During electrical stimulation, pads are used to provide a low current electrical charge to the skin, overlying the most painful locations. The notion is that electrical signals assist in overcoming pain signals, hence increasing the spine’s functions and mobility.
- Pain Medications
Persistent or intense pain caused by a degenerative disc disease may be addressed with prescription medicine. These drugs are often used for short-term relief of pain and assist physical rehabilitation and exercise. The most commonly prescribed pain medicines for degenerative disc disease include oral steroids, narcotic pain medications, muscle relaxants, and anti-seizure medications.
Additionally, the majority of pain drugs should be used with caution and awareness for potential adverse effects. As a result, always seek medical supervision.
- Exercise And Have An Improved Lifestyle
Exercise can assist in enhancing the effectiveness of other DDD therapies by boosting the muscles that surround the injured discs. Additionally, it can improve blood flow to the afflicted region. This could assist in alleviating severe swelling while also providing nutrients and oxygen to the area.
Furthermore, you may take practical steps at home and work to assist with disc degeneration. This involves establishing a sleep regimen, wearing a back brace, consuming an anti-inflammatory diet, drinking lots of water, abstaining from smoking, and utilizing proper ergonomics and sitting positions.
Final Thoughts
With the methods outlined above, you should have a better idea of how to handle periodic flare-ups or episodes of degenerative disc disease pain. Even if the pain from the disease lingers, at least you know how to deal with it without jeopardizing your general well-being.
