Three Misconceptions about Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery
Degenerative disc disease symptoms can be extremely disruptive to your life and while conservative therapies do work for many people, they don’t work for everyone. The prospect of undergoing spine surgery to treat degenerative disc disease can cause a great deal of anxiety, which causes some people...

How to Seek Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) treatment typically begins conservatively, with spine surgery usually being seen as a last resort. That’s because the symptoms associated with spinal disc degeneration can improve when treated with the right combination of lifestyle changes and medication. A natural...

Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms and Diagnosis
Degenerative disc disease is a condition where the spinal discs begin to break down due to changes caused by the natural aging process. The discs in the spinal column are responsible for cushioning the spinal vertebrae, allowing them to bend and flex. However, over time they lose elasticity and height...

Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms and Causes
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition resulting from the natural aging process and its effect on the spinal discs. Over time the discs dry out and lose elasticity, making them less able to withstand the stresses of everyday movement. While DDD is relatively common and doesn’t always cause...

Degenerative Joint Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
If you have received a diagnosis of degenerative joint disease of the spine, there are many treatment options available to help relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. Also known as osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease is characterized by the wearing away of the cartilage in joints...

Degenerative Joint Disease Causes and Treatment
Degenerative joint disease is the gradual deterioration of the cartilage within your joints, which can include the facet joints in the spinal column. Since these joints are involved in the body’s ability to bend and twist, they are subjected to a great deal of stress. With time and aging, constant...

Degenerative Disc Disease Overview
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a spinal condition that is caused by deterioration of the discs with time or as a result of injury. The spine is composed of bones called vertebrae that protect the spinal cord, as well as provide the body with support and assistance with movement. Each vertebra is...

Three Overlooked Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments
When it comes to degenerative disc disease treatment, two common options may come to mind: prescription medications and surgery. While widely used, however, these two treatment options are certainly not the only options available. Many people who have degenerative disc disease are able to design effective...

Three Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery Alternatives
Degenerative disc disease surgery can be the best course of treatment in certain situations, but it isn’t always necessary. Many people find that their symptoms respond very well to conservative treatments, allowing them to feel better and get back to a healthier life without having to deal with the...

Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms and Treatment
Degenerative disc disease, or DDD, is a condition in which the spine’s discs degenerate over time. Discs are cushions between vertebrae that act as shock absorbers for the spine and allow for complex motions. As people age, the pressure placed on the discs causes the outer layer to weaken, and the...

Common Degenerative Disc Disease Neck Treatments
Degenerative disc disease in the cervical (upper) regions of the spine can result in neck pain and other symptoms like tingling, numbness and weakness in the shoulders, arms and hands. This pain can have a large impact on your quality of life, affecting your relationships, job and your ability to enjoy...

Degenerative Disc Disease Prevention Strategies
Degenerative disc disease treatment will depend on a number of factors, including your age and overall health, as well as the severity of your symptoms. Most people find relief from their symptoms using conservative nonsurgical treatments, but a small portion determine that surgery is an appropriate...

What to Expect from Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery
Degenerative disc disease surgery is intended to address the potentially painful symptoms directly at their source. This is in contrast to conservative options which are designed to help manage symptoms and improve mobility. Typically, before surgery can be examined as an option for treatment of degenerative...

What to Do If You Have Degenerative Disc Disease
If you have recently been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, there are a number of steps that you can take to begin to address the symptoms of your condition. However, it is very important that you rely on the expertise of your doctor and work closely with him or her to ensure that you go about...

Three Exercises for Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment
Degenerative disc disease treatment generally consists of some combination of medications to manage pain or discomfort, physical activity to improve strength and circulation and stretches to improve flexibility and relieve pressure on pinched nerves. The more commonly used stretching and strengthening...

Signs of Degenerative Disc Disease You Must Not Ignore
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) often causes symptoms that are disruptive to your comfort and everyday routine, but can still be managed with basic conservative treatments. Although you should see your doctor for treatment if you think DDD may be causing your neck or back pain, there are certain symptoms...

4 Ways to Minimize Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms
If degenerative disc disease (DDD) is interfering with your quality of life, work with your doctor to find treatment to minimize the symptoms of your condition. While DDD can be painful and debilitating, it is possible to find lasting relief that allows you to enjoy the things you love to do, whether...

Living with Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is a lifelong condition that typically affects adults over the age of 50. Once a disc begins to degenerate; the process cannot be reversed. Therefore, after receiving a diagnosis, a patient must learn to live with the associated back pain and discomfort experienced. Some people...

Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Guidelines
Degenerative disc disease treatment almost always begins conservatively. That’s because the symptoms of a damaged spinal disc can often improve without the need for surgery. A large number of people are able to achieve sufficient relief from degenerative disc disease through a combination of self-care...

Three Types of Exercises for Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is typically caused by the natural aging process. Over time, cumulative stress on the hardworking spinal discs can cause them to gradually deteriorate. As a result, the damaged discs can lose their effectiveness as shock absorbers for the spine and cushions for the vertebrae....

Degenerative Disc Disease | A Practical Guide
Degenerative disc disease, or DDD, is a condition caused by the gradual deterioration of the spinal discs. This condition mostly affects people middle-aged or older, but younger patients can also potentially be diagnosed. The term degenerative disc disease is not as alarming as it sounds. Everyone...

Degenerative Disc Disease Causes and Risk Factors
While most degenerative disc disease causes can be attributed to the natural aging process, there are certain things an individual can do to limit the risk of developing the condition. Degenerative disc disease is a spinal condition that involves the gradual deterioration of the discs, which are found...

Degenerative Disc Disease | Symptoms and Treatments
Degenerative disc disease symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness occur when a herniated or bulging disc leads to the compression of the spinal cord or a nerve root. The location of these symptoms will vary depending on which region of the spine is affected. Compression in the cervical...

Receiving a Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis
A degenerative disc disease diagnosis doesn’t have to mean a life of pain and discomfort. Many patients are able to get back to regular, comfortable activity by following the conservative treatment recommendations of their doctor. While degenerative disc disease may have a somewhat alarming name,...

Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment | Alternative Approaches
Degenerative disc disease treatment doesn’t only have to include conventional methods like pain medication or hot and cold compresses. In fact, many patients seek alternative therapies for pain relief from degenerative disc disease symptoms for many reasons. For example, you may have completed a course...

Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery
Degenerative disc disease surgery may be recommended for patients who have found little to no relief after utilizing conservative treatments for several weeks or months. At USA Spine Care, we offer minimally invasive treatments for degenerative disc disease. These procedures present lower risks...

Degenerative Disc Disease in the Neck
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) in the neck is relatively common because the cervical (upper) region of the spine is highly flexible and must also support the weight of the head. The stress of weight and movement can accelerate the natural degeneration of spinal anatomy and lead to the development of...

Is Degenerative Disc Disease in the Lower Back Common?
While degenerative disc disease can develop at any level of the spine, this condition typically develops in the lower back. The lumbar region of the spine (lower back) supports the majority of the body’s weight and is also partially responsible for providing the full range of motion that we require...

The Most Common Degenerative Disc Disease Causes
Degenerative disc disease is a broad condition that describes the breakdown of the flexible discs in the spinal column. While the most common degenerative disc disease causes include the natural aging process and gradual wear and tear, there are certain risk factors that can increase your chance of...

Finding Relief for Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms
Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary from patient to patient due to factors like age, weight and other spinal conditions present. Issues like bulging and herniated discs or spinal arthritis are usually degenerative in nature and occur because the discs and joints in your spine dry out and lose elasticity...

Obtaining a Degenerative Disc Disease Diagnosis
Patients often receive a degenerative disc disease diagnosis after seeing their doctor to help identify the source of neck pain, back pain or symptoms like tingling or numbness in the extremities. To reach this diagnosis, a physician must complete a thorough physical examination. There are a number of...

What Are Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery Options?
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a frustrating condition to deal with if symptoms become debilitating. The pain and limited mobility can make it hard to be around the people you love and do the things you enjoy, whether that means gardening or golf. Degenerative disc disease surgery can become an option...

Degenerative Disc Disease and Lifestyle
Degenerative disc disease and the neck or back pain that often comes with it is mainly an age-related condition. However, there are many lifestyle factors that can cause the discs in your spine to break down at a faster rate than normal. While some degree of disc degeneration will happen to everyone,...

The Benefits of a Healthy Diet for Degenerative Disc Disease
An unfortunate side effect of growing older is that our spinal anatomy naturally begins to deteriorate. Years of wear and tear on the spinal components take their toll, and conditions like degenerative disc disease can develop over time. While the aging process is obviously unavoidable, there are steps...

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep with Degenerative Disc Disease
Chronic neck and back pain from degenerative disc disease can be most difficult when it is occurring both day and night. It’s bad enough to deal with pain all day long, but when the pain prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep, your quality of life can be further diminished. The good news...

Traveling with Degenerative Disc Disease
When you have degenerative disc disease, even the most basic daily activities can become painful and have a significant effect on your quality of life. Traveling, for example, can aggravate the condition and just getting from one place to another can become nearly impossible for those dealing with degenerative...