What can be done for disc degeneration?

What can be done for disc degeneration?

Treatment may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, or both, special exercises, medications, losing weight, and surgery. Medical options include injecting the joints next to the damaged disc with steroids and a local anesthetic. These are called facet joint injections. They can provide effective pain relief.

Can you heal disc degeneration?

Answer: Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for degenerative disc disease, and once you’re diagnosed with DDD, it’s typically a lifelong journey of learning to live with back pain, neck pain, or other symptoms. Once your discs begin to degenerate, you can’t really reverse the process.

What happens when discs degenerate?

Simply put, degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. In some cases, degenerative disc disease also causes weakness, numbness, and hot, shooting pains in the arms or legs (radicular pain).

Is walking bad for degenerative disc disease?

Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, or taking a low-impact aerobics class, has been shown to help relieve pain, promote a healthy body weight, and improve overall strength and mobility—all important factors in managing DDD.

How do I stop my DDD from progressing?

Preventing Degenerative Disc Disease

1. Stop smoking, or better yet, don’t start — smoking increases the rate of desiccation.
2. Be active – regular exercise to increase the strength and flexibility of muscles that surround and support the spine.

How does the degeneration of the intervertebral disc affect the body?

Disc degeneration, although in many cases asymptomatic [4], is also associated with sciatica and disc herniation or prolapse. It alters disc height and the mechanics of the rest of the spinal column, possibly adversely affecting the behaviour of other spinal structures such as muscles and ligaments.

What causes the degeneration of the spine over time?

What are degenerative spine conditions? Degenerative spine conditions involve the gradual loss of normal structure and function of the spine over time. They are usually caused by aging, but may also be the result of tumors, infections or arthritis. Pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots caused by degeneration can be caused by:

What kind of pain does degenerative disc disease cause?

Degenerative disc disease is an age-related condition that happens when one or more of the discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column deteriorates or breaks down, leading to pain. There may be weakness, numbness, and pain that radiates down the leg.

When does degenerative disc disease occur in older adults?

Degenerative disc disease occurs when the cushioning in your spine begins to wear away. The condition is most common in older adults. After age 40, most people experience some spinal degeneration. The right treatment can lead to pain relief and increased mobility.