A chiropractor can provide effective treatment for degenerative disc disease, especially if the condition has not progressed to an advanced stage. Chiropractic care, which involves several different types of spinal manipulation, can be a helpful component of a comprehensive treatment plan. Together with other treatments, it can help improve spinal motion, reduce inflammation and alleviate the pain associated with degenerative disc disease.

What does chiropractic treatment involve?

Before providing treatment, a chiropractor will confirm the precise source of a patient’s pain. For instance, degenerative disc disease can cause the spinal discs to become brittle and thin, which can make them prone to bulging or herniating. In turn, a bulging or herniated disc can create painful pressure on a spinal nerve. It’s important to determine which nerves or nerve roots are affected to choose the right approach to treatment.

Once the cause of a patient’s discomfort is confirmed, a chiropractor may recommend a variety of options for degenerative disc disease treatment, such as:

• Manual spinal adjustment
• Trigger point therapy
• Manual joint stretching and resistance
• Therapeutic massage
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy
• Flexion distraction technique
• Ultrasound therapy
• Interferential electrical stimulation

When performed by a chiropractor who is experienced in providing degenerative disc disease treatment, spinal manipulation can potentially provide effective symptom relief without the risks typically associated with surgery and medications. Furthermore, it may be possible for a chiropractor to determine whether chiropractic treatment will be effective for a patient relatively quickly, allowing the patient to avoid making a significant investment of time and money in a treatment that ultimately does not meet his or her needs.

How to maximize the benefits of chiropractic treatment

As with any form of treatment for degenerative disc disease, patience, commitment and realistic expectations are essential to achieving the best possible outcome. Spinal manipulation in particular should be viewed not as a “quick fix,” but rather as an ongoing process. With that said, if conservative treatment does not provide meaningful relief after several weeks or months, surgery may come into play as a possible next step.

For patients who elect to have surgery, the minimally invasive spine surgery performed by the surgeons at USA Spine Care is often clinically appropriate and provides many advantages versus open neck or back surgery for degenerative disc disease treatment.^ If you are interested, contact us to request a no-cost MRI review.* Our caring team can explain your options and help you determine if you are a candidate for our minimally invasive surgery.

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