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A Quick Overview of Degenerative Disc Disease

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The spinal column is made up of a total of thirty-three vertebrae. Together, the vertebrae function to provide stability to the torso, and body as a whole, protecting the spinal cord from exposure and damage. Between each vertebral body is a disk made up of cushions and a fluid gel that absorb the shock to the spine. Over a period of time, the fluid gel begins to dry up and looses it ability to absorb shock while the disks begin to undergo wear and tear. This condition is called degenerative disc disease. Some individuals with this condition remain asymptomatic or pain free, others will experience varying degrees of neck pain, back pain or sciatica.

The back pain caused by degenerative disc disease is generally the result in inflammation, instability, a reduction in the vertebral spacing intervals and nerve root impingement. Neck pain, back pain, or sciatica may occur due to several of the above consequences together as the spine at a mentioned level fails. In due course, the body will attempt to adjust these changes causing nerve impingement resulting in a lot of pain. The amount of actual pain may vary from mild to completely debilitating and disabling. Pain levels may vary with periods of almost no pain and other periods of acute and debilitating pain.

There are a few effective treatment methods. If you experience muscle spasms, pain with lifting, bending, and twisting and difficulty in walking, you must see a physician immediately. The expert in question will evaluate the cause of the pain through X-rays and MRI scans, to effectively diagnose the condition. He will also refer to your medical history to see if there is any cause of hereditary disorders.

Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, a personalized treatment program may be formulated for your purpose. Physical therapy which includes exercises would help strengthen and mobilize the muscles, increase flexibility, reduce pain and improve functionality. To reduce muscle spasm and inflammation, you can use heat and ice application. Spinal decompression can be undertaken at home with an exercise ball and particular exercises or with an FDA approved machine in the hospital. Spinal decompression works to repair the damaged spinal discs and reduce the load on the spine, reversing the nerve impairment. With chiropractic manipulation, it uses its hands on treatment to restore the proper functioning of the spine, based on sound scientific principles and techniques. This rehabilitative therapy works without any long lasting side effects.

Pain medication, muscle relaxants, analgesics, anti-inflammatory medication, and steroid injections can be used to reduce the pain or inflammation during the healing process of Disc Degeneration. One must understand that disc degeneration is not a degenerative disc disease [http://www.qispine.com/conditions-we-treat/degenerative-conditions-of-the-spine/] in the technical sense. It is actually an age - progressive phenomenon and part of the normal ageing of the body. There are measures that can be undertaken to delay the progress of disc degeneration [http://www.qispine.com/conditions-we-treat/degenerative-conditions-of-the-spine/], and with the advancements in technology, we are getting more and more options of recovery.
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