Degenerative disc disease symptoms and treatment options

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Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms and Treatment Options Degenerative disc disease is typically characterized by excruciating neck or back pain. Non-surgical spinal decompression, physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation are ideal treatment options.

The degeneration of a single or multiple intervertebral discs due to aging or severe injury can lead to chronic pain and, in the course of time, the condition called degenerative disc disease. It can affect the cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal column.

The deterioration of the fluid at the central part of the inverterbral disc, maybe due to continuous ligament tears, causes this condition. If left untreated, this disease can lead to more serious conditions such as bone spurs, tumors, and herniated discs.

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Symptoms Disease

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Degenerative

Disc

The early symptoms of this disease are usually a numbing and a tingling sensation in the legs or neck. The disease is confirmed by two critical symptoms: discogenic pain and a bulging disc.

Discogenic Pain – The mechanical or structural pain caused by the damaged intervertebral disc is called discogenic pain. It can affect both the neck and lower back depending on the region (cervical or lumbar) where the degeneration takes place. Apart from lower back, the patient may feel that the pain is emanating from the buttocks or even upper thighs. In most cases, the pain occurs when the body parts that are supported by the degenerating disc are stressed. This occurs when degeneration causes the disc material to seeps out, irritating the nerves in either disc wall or spinal column and hindering regular function.

Bulging Disc – If there is cervical degeneration, the bulging of the intervertebral disc can cause neck pain that radiates through the shoulders and arms. In the case of lumbar http://www.hqbk.com/

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degeneration, disc bulging can induce pain in the lower back, legs and hips. The fibrous portion on the outer region of intervertebral disc gets weakened over time due to the degeneration. If any pressure is exerted on central core of the disc, it will extend to the outer rim and result in disc bulging.

Effective Treatment Procedures Surgery is regarded as the last resort for this disease. Luckily, there are several effective non-surgical treatment options for degenerative disc disease: •

Non-surgical Spinal Decompression: This is a type of traction treatment performed with spinal decompression machines. It involves proper positioning and cycling through phases of distraction and relaxation. The aim is to apply negative pressure on the discs to separate them and create a vacuum which can help to pull back the disc material into the disc.

The pressure also simulates blood supply and encourages the supply of nutrients to the base of the spine for healing. Each session lasts about 20 to 25 minutes. http://www.hqbk.com/

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Rehabilitation exercises are also a part of the treatment. •

Physical Therapy: Degeneration can weaken the spine to a greater extent and cause repeated tearing of the ligaments holding the vertebra. Physical therapy exercises can strengthen the back, neck and core muscles so that they can provide better support for the spine. Several therapeutic methods and exercises form part of physical therapy treatment such as Massage, Myofascial Release, Traction, application of ice or heat, and more. In addition, Ultrasound therapy may be used to increase blood flow, and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to interrupt the pain signals.

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Chiropractic manipulation: Chiropractic manipulation can lift pressure off the sensitive tissues within the disc and ease motion so as to restore blood flow and reduce muscle tension. It can also induce chemical reactions in the body which can work to reduce back pain.

In addition to these treatments, medications and injection are also used to relieve http://www.hqbk.com/

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debilitating pain.

Non-Steroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, and narcotic medications, prolotherapy, and radiofrequency radio ablation are also effective in managing discogenic pain.

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