Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a natural consequence of aging. It’s true that your spine ages along with the rest of your body. But without any unnecessary stress on your vertebral discs, you can still have a healthy spine at old age. That’s not always the case for many people, though. Age may be the primary risk factor. But many things can speed up vertebral disc degeneration. These include obesity, tobacco smoking, strenuous physical work, and acute injury. Do you struggle with the debilitating pain caused by DDD?
Here’s How Chiropractic Medicine Can Help:
Diagnosing The Condition
Back pain is the chief manifestation of DDD. There are three leading causes why a person may be suffering from this condition. The spinal joints’ degeneration may be interfering with your spine’s mechanism. The thinning of the discs may also be putting pressure on the spinal nerves. It’s also possible that the pain in your back and leg is due to spinal stenosis. It’s a condition where the spaces in your spinal column narrow. It results in the compression of the spinal cord and nerves.
During your initial appointment, your chiropractor will go over your past medical history. The tests will assess whether there are areas of a restricted range of motion. They will also determine if there are muscle spasms, disc injuries, or ligament injuries. Your chiropractor will also examine your posture, how you walk, and the status of your movement capabilities. Their findings will give them an idea of how your spine moves and how your entire body works. They may also perform imaging tests to make the diagnosis.
Chiropractic Treatments:
Once diagnosed, your chiropractor will devise a treatment plan to ease the pain and other debilitating symptoms of DDD. Their approach will focus on diminishing inflammation and restoring your spinal movement. They will enhance the mechanics of your joints as well as the functions of your intervertebral discs.
They may accomplish these by applying several techniques, such as:
Spinal Adjustments
There are multiple types of spinal adjustments. Depending on your case, your chiropractor may introduce particular spinal manipulation or device-assisted manipulation. In particular spinal manipulation, they will determine the joints that display unusual motion or have restrictions. A gentle thrusting technique will be used to restore joint movement. As the name suggests, device-assisted spinal manipulation involves using a handheld device to apply mild force onto the spine. Another known spinal adjustment method is the flexion-distraction technique. It uses a gentle, non-thrusting approach to re-establish function.
Manual Therapy
Your chiropractor may also introduce manual therapy to treat DDD symptoms. Some of the most common examples of manual therapy include curative massage, trigger point treatment, and soft-tissue therapy. You may also find pain relief through manual joint stretching as well as resistance techniques.
Other Treatments
Besides spinal adjustments and manual therapy, your chiropractor may use other types of treatment. This way, they can reduce inflammation and alleviate the discomfort caused by DDD. These include ultrasound therapy, which works by sending ultrasonic sound waves deep into your muscle tissues. The mild heat it triggers helps promote circulation. Another way to stimulate the muscles is through interferential electrical stimulation.
Learn more about chiropractic care for degenerative disc disease, contact Charleston Pain Relief Center today in North Charleston, SC 843-225-2550.