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 is that in order to overcome this pain and ensure you are getting the rest you require, there are a number of helpful steps that can be taken.

Causes and treatment goals

If you have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, it is important to understand that a herniated or bulging disc isn’t the direct cause of pain. In most cases, symptoms are caused by the compression, constriction or irritation of a nerve in the spinal column as a result of degenerative disc disease. Treatment, then, is intended to reduce this swelling and decompress the affected nerve.

• Make sure you are comfortable in bed.
• Avoid mattresses that are overly soft or overly hard.
• Use a cervical pillow that provides your neck with support.
• If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your knees.

It is important to work closely with your doctor while implementing these tips into your daily routine.

Further treatment

Degenerative disc disease can be extremely frustrating and may cause chronic back pain that interferes with normal sleep. The good news is that this condition often responds to conservative treatment, and many patients find they are able to manage their pain after several weeks. In addition to making changes to your sleep routine, treatments such as physical therapy, stretching exercises and the application of heat or ice can help you overcome your pain during the day.

In the event that your degenerative disc disease continues to interfere with your sleep, it is important that you visit your physician to learn about your other options. If your pain persists through all other treatments and you are considering surgery, contact USA Spine Care to learn how one of our minimally invasive outpatient procedures may be able to provide you with the relief you require.

To help you find out if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures, our team is happy to provide a no-cost review of your MRI or CT scan.