Many people start to experience back and neck pain as they age. While some of this is to be expected, there are certain health conditions that can develop or worsen, like degenerative disc disease. As you age, the spinal discs that separate vertebrae and provide cushioning and support start to lose their elasticity and break down. Degenerative disc disease can occur due to disc herniation or even make you more susceptible to bulging or herniated discs. Here’s what you need to know about what to avoid with degenerative disc disease and how to prevent it.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease can cause constant pain in your back near where the spinal discs have weakened. This kind of pain may be dull and throbbing or more severe and stabbing. Certain movements may make the pain get worse, or you might find that sitting or standing causes the pain symptoms to get worse. Certain sitting or sleeping positions may help decrease the pain temporarily. You can also experience pain and discomfort in your extremities, which are compressing nearby nerves. A herniated disc can cause pain, tingling, and numbness that radiates into the shoulder and arm or hip, buttock, and leg, depending on the location of the disc herniation.
What to Avoid with Degenerative Disc Disease
There are certain behaviors and activities that you can avoid to help the symptoms of your degenerative disc disease. Here are a few things to avoid that can help with preventing degenerative disc disease.
Poor Posture
Poor posture can contribute to all sorts of spinal conditions and make your pain and other symptoms worse. When you are constantly sitting with your shoulders hunched or lifting things improperly, you can put too much stress and pressure on certain parts of the spine. This can also strain the muscles and ligaments that support your spine.
Soda & Alcohol
Soda has an ingredient called phosphoric acid that can end up negatively impacting your bone mass density, especially in women. Alcohol functions as a diuretic and can actually make your pain symptoms worse.
Smoking
Nicotine is also a diuretic and can increase the rate at which your spinal discs start to desiccate over time.
What to Focus on with Degenerative Disc Disease
Part of degenerative disc disease prevention is also about focusing on positive behaviors. Here are four examples of what you can do to help support a healthy spine and prevent complications like a disc herniation:
Stay Hydrated
Drinking water is a key element of staying hydrated throughout the day. Water helps bring nutrients to different parts of the body and also helps the spine, joints, and spinal discs function properly. You can also pair drinking enough water with making sure you get enough electrolytes that help your body fight dehydration.
Proper Lifting
Bending and lifting with your knees instead of your back helps to keep pressure off your spine and back muscles. Proper lifting techniques will help you avoid straining your back or causing a herniated disc.
Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight impacts your overall health, as well as your spine and joint health. When you are at a higher weight, the excess pounds can cause back problems and put more stress on your spine.
Physical Activity
Staying active also has a great impact on your overall health. Regularly engaging in stretches and exercises promotes flexibility and strength throughout the body. When you engage the muscles in your back, they are better able to support your spine.
Treatment Options for Degenerative Disc Disease
If you are dealing with degenerative disc disease or disc herniation, then you are probably wondering what treatment options are available to you. The good news is there are many non-surgical treatment options to explore. Chiropractic care is an all-natural and noninvasive approach to spine conditions like degenerative disc disease. Physical therapy can help you learn stretches and exercises to help improve your flexibility and strength while also managing your pain. While degenerative disc disease is not reversible, there are many things you can do to help support your body and avoid further injuries and issues by working with a trusted spine doctor.
Conservative Treatment Options
Many patients want to start with conservative care before considering more invasive or surgical options. The following noninvasive approaches focus on relieving symptoms, reducing inflammation, improving mobility, and strengthening the muscles that support the spine.
1. Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve pressure on affected spinal joints and nerves. Chiropractors also provide targeted therapies like spinal decompression, manual therapy, soft tissue work, and rehabilitative exercises. Going to a chiropractor for degenerative disc disease can help improve alignment, mobility, and function without the use of medication or surgery. Chiropractic care is also beneficial when degenerative disc disease leads to misalignments or nerve impingement.
2. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a key aspect of treatment for degenerative disc disease. A physical therapist will guide you through customized stretching and strengthening routines that target the core, back, and supporting muscles. Improving your flexibility and building strength helps reduce strain on the spine, improve your posture, and increase spinal stability. Your physical therapist may also use modalities like electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, and manual therapy techniques to reduce pain and improve healthy functioning.
3. Medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen can help reduce inflammation and relieve your pain. Muscle relaxants or prescription pain relievers may be used in more severe cases. However, long-term reliance on medication is not typically recommended, especially when better long-term solutions like physical therapy or chiropractic care are available.
4. Lifestyle Modifications
Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and improving your posture all play a role in treatment success. It’s also important to avoid activities that may make your symptoms worse and look into ergonomic supports for work and home to help protect your spine. Daily low-impact activities like walking, swimming, or yoga can also reduce stiffness and support mobility naturally.
Advanced Non-Surgical Treatments
For those who need more targeted care or who haven’t seen improvement through conservative treatments alone, your spine specialist team may recommend advanced non-surgical options.
1. Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression therapy uses motorized traction to gently stretch the spine and relieve pressure on compressed discs and nerves. This noninvasive therapy can improve healthy blood flow to spinal discs and promote better disc function overall. It is often used in combination with physical therapy or chiropractic care.
2. Orthopedic Care and Imaging
An orthopedic doctor can perform a thorough evaluation using diagnostic imaging such as X-rays or MRIs to understand the extent of your disc degeneration. This can also help rule out other conditions and better inform treatment plans. If disc degeneration has led to severe instability or nerve compression, the orthopedic team may explore additional options.
3. Pain Management Injections
In some cases, your spine specialist may recommend corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. These injections are placed near the irritated nerve root or affected area to provide temporary relief. While injections do not address the underlying degeneration of the disc, they can provide the pain relief needed to participate more comfortably in physical therapy or daily activities.
Surgical Options
In some cases, degenerative disc disease may progress to the point where surgery is considered. Surgery is typically a last resort when other treatments have failed to relieve pain or when symptoms like nerve compression, numbness, or weakness become severe.
1. Discectomy
A discectomy involves removing the portion of a disc that is pressing on a nerve. This minimally invasive procedure can help relieve leg or arm pain caused by a herniated disc associated with degenerative disc disease.
2. Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion surgery permanently connects two or more vertebrae to eliminate motion at a painful segment. While it can reduce pain, it also limits flexibility in the affected area. This type of surgery is typically considered when there is spinal instability or severe disc degeneration.
3. Artificial Disc Replacement
In some cases, instead of spinal fusion, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend artificial disc replacement. This surgery removes the damaged disc and replaces it with a prosthetic disc to maintain motion and reduce pain. Not everyone is a candidate, but this option may be beneficial for younger or more active patients.
Comprehensive and Collaborative Care with AICA Orthopedics
At AICA Orthopedics in Snellville, our team of specialists includes chiropractors, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and pain management doctors who collaborate to create a comprehensive care plan tailored to your needs. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that you receive the most appropriate and effective treatment at every stage of your condition. We take the time to understand your symptoms, identify the root causes, and walk with you through every step of your recovery journey.
Visit AICA Orthopedics in Snellville to meet with spine doctors from a variety of specialties, including chiropractors, orthopedic doctors, and physical therapists, who work with you and provide a personalized treatment plan for your specific symptoms of degenerative disc disease.