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 your treatment process the right way.

While there may be many different treatment options available to you, it’s important to select the right combination of techniques to give you the best possible chance of managing your discomfort and finding relief. To learn about how to get started on the road to recovery, read the information provided in the following article.

Researching degenerative disc disease

One of the first things you should do when you are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease is to learn as much as you can about your condition. Your doctor should explain what the condition entails, but it can be helpful to do your own research to gain a broader understanding of the parts of your spine and the changes that have occurred in your neck or back.

This will not only help you better understand your condition but also give you the right expectations for the treatment path ahead. It can also be helpful to be reminded that degenerative disc disease is extremely common. By doing research on the Internet, you will find countless examples of individuals facing the same challenges.

Commit to degenerative disc disease treatment

In most cases, degenerative disc disease is not considered an emergency condition. Usually, it’s up to the patient to determine their own personal willingness to pursue treatment based on how bothered they are by their condition. Therefore, if you are anxious to overcome the chronic symptoms of your condition, then it’s up to you to commit to treatment and follow your doctor’s directions closely.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Physical therapy that can strengthen your spinal column and relieve strain on the affected region of your neck or back
• Treatments designed to alleviate pain with oral medication or corticosteroid injections
• Complementary or alternative treatments like deep tissue massage or chiropractic adjustments
• Lifestyle changes like losing excess weight or avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption

When to think about degenerative disc disease surgery

If several weeks or months of nonsurgical treatment does not provide acceptable results, surgical intervention for degenerative disc disease may be appropriate. At USA Spine Care, we specialize in a variety of minimally invasive procedures that are safer and effective alternatives to open spine surgery. Contact us today to learn more about our methods to relieving this degenerative condition.

Our commitment to minimally invasive procedures has made us the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, allowing us to help more than 75,000 patients get their lives back from degenerative spine conditions. To determine if you are a potential candidate our outpatient surgery, reach out to our caring team today for a free MRI review.* We can help guide you through your journey to wellness.