Embrace the Golden Years: Addressing Degenerative Disc Disease
Aging brings about changes we often accept as normal – creaking joints, loss of muscle mass, and a slight dip in energy. Yet, when these changes become so intense they wear down your spinal discs and cause chronic back pain, it’s time to take action. This is known as Spondylosis or Degenerative Disc Disease, and it can considerably disrupt your daily life.
Spinal discs don’t have their own blood supply. They depend on a process called imbibition to receive essential nutrients. When this process gets disrupted, it can lead to disc degeneration and a multitude of distressing symptoms.
Understanding Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
Disc degeneration is a typical part of aging, yet it doesn’t always result in pain. Interestingly, many people exhibit signs of disc degeneration but don’t experience any discomfort. However, when the body’s protective mechanism, which triggers spasms to safeguard the disc, overreacts, it can lead to reduced mobility, decreased flexibility, and increased pain.
Common symptoms include sciatica in the lower back or pain radiating to the arm if the neck is affected. The pain can be sharp, sporadic, and unpredictable, and may worsen over time.
However, symptoms vary widely. They range from no discomfort at all to intense pain, with or without sensations like tingling, numbness, and weakness in the affected limbs.
Getting Professional Help for Degenerative Disc Disease
If you’re dealing with Degenerative Disc Disease, it’s crucial to consult a professional osteopath for a comprehensive evaluation and accurate diagnosis. Although we can’t completely halt disc wear, our team of expert osteopaths can help alleviate muscle tension, interrupt the cycle of pain and spasms, and devise strategies to prevent future painful episodes.
Our Approach to Treating Degenerative Disc Disease
If you’ve had symptoms for less than three months:
Our treatment focuses on relieving the accumulated strains and stresses in your body and enhancing blood circulation. This comprehensive approach not only helps to soothe pain and stiffness but also reduces the compression strains on the disc, potentially slowing further degeneration.
We pair this gentle treatment with lifestyle advice and exercises, reminding patients that pain and stiffness needn’t be an inevitable part of aging.
If your symptoms have persisted for more than three months:
We suggest considering IDD Therapy spinal decompression, a groundbreaking treatment option, for symptoms persisting beyond three months.
IDD Therapy – A Breakthrough Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease
Don’t let chronic back pain dictate your life.
Contact us today to arrange your appointment. Let’s journey towards a future free from pain, together.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Degenerative Disc Disease, also known as Spondylosis, is a condition that occurs when there’s wear and tear on the discs in your spine. These discs lack their own blood supply and rely on a process known as imbibition for their nutrients. Over time, and particularly with age, disruptions in this supply can lead to the degeneration of these discs, causing them to bulge and possibly impinge upon nearby nerve roots, leading to pain in various areas depending on where the affected disc is located.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease can vary widely among individuals. Some people may experience no symptoms at all, while others might have symptoms ranging from occasional discomfort to severe, debilitating pain. Common symptoms include sciatica if the lower back is affected or radiating pain into the arm if the issue lies in the neck. These symptoms often appear as sporadic, unpredictable episodes that gradually worsen over time. In severe cases, individuals might experience tingling, numbness, and weakness in the affected limbs.
While Degenerative Disc Disease is commonly associated with the aging process, it can also affect younger individuals, especially if there’s been previous trauma or injury to the disc. It’s important to note that while everyone will experience some degree of disc wear as they age, this does not necessarily result in pain or discomfort.
Osteopathic treatment aims at releasing the accumulated strains and stresses in the body, improving blood flow, and promoting muscle relaxation. This can reduce pain, stiffness, and compression strains acting on the disc, potentially slowing further degeneration. In cases where symptoms persist beyond three months, IDD Therapy, a non-invasive spinal decompression technology, is used. It allows for the mechanical expansion of the disc space to reduce herniation, relieves pressure on trapped nerves, improves the flow of fluids and nutrients for disc repair, and gently stretches and relaxes the surrounding tight muscles.
Although it’s not possible to completely reverse the wear and tear on the discs, with a comprehensive treatment plan including osteopathy and, if necessary, IDD Therapy, the symptoms can be managed effectively. Prevention strategies involve maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity to keep the back muscles strong and flexible, a balanced diet for overall health, and good posture to reduce strain on the spine. Avoiding injuries by using correct lifting and moving techniques can also help.
Imbibition is the process by which spinal discs, lacking their own blood supply, absorb essential nutrients from surrounding fluids. It is vital to maintain healthy spinal discs, and disruptions in this process can lead to Degenerative Disc Disease. Several factors can hinder imbibition, including a sedentary lifestyle, disc injury or degeneration, poor posture, and chronic dehydration. Awareness and management of these factors can help support spinal disc health and slow down disease progression.
