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 and nonsurgical approaches. However, finding that perfect combination can take time and often requires a process of trial and error as you work with your doctor to find the right course of treatment for you.

Tips for starting your degenerative disc disease treatment

Here are some general degenerative disc disease treatment guidelines:

• Watch your back. Repetitive stress on your spine can hasten the degenerative process and worsen your discomfort. Think about how the movements you make every day at home and work might affect your spine. Find ways, such as improving posture, to alter your routine as necessary to minimize the impact on your neck and back. If something causes pain, try to avoid it if at all possible.
• Keep moving. Too much bed rest is discouraged for patients with degenerative disc disease and should be limited to no more than three days. Staying active can actually help a sore neck or back. Some exercises are more effective than others, and some can do more harm than good, so you’ll want to work with a doctor or physical therapist to find the best program for you. A simple activity that can benefit just about everyone is light walking, which costs nothing and can be done almost anywhere.
• Consider alternative treatments. There are alternatives to mainstream medicine and some patients report finding some methods, such as acupuncture or chiropractic care, effective for treating the symptoms of degenerative disc disease. It is important to keep your primary care doctor informed of any alternative treatments you pursue to make sure they are compatible with your existing care.

If the pain won’t go away

Often, a few weeks or months of conservative degenerative disc disease treatment can return a patient to a normal activity level. However, surgical intervention may be advised to treat severe or debilitating symptoms that have not responded to other forms of treatment. For people consider spine surgery for degenerative disc disease, USA Spine Care performs minimally invasive spine surgery that is a safer and effective alternative to traditional open spine surgery To learn more, contact us today.

We can tell you if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures by providing a free MRI or CT scan review.*