Degenerative spine refers broadly to age-related changes that affect the spinal column, including conditions like degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the spine. To some degree or another, everyone’s spine experiences degeneration due to everyday wear combined with loss of water content. Having a degenerative spine condition may not cause any symptoms at all, or it may only result in minor aches and pains.

Patients seeking degenerative spine treatment are usually experiencing more severe issues, often as a result of compression or irritation of spinal nerve tissue by disc material or a bone spur. These symptoms can be extremely disruptive to your quality of life, making it difficult to work around the house or get a good night’s sleep. In most cases doctors will first recommend a course of conservative treatment to manage symptoms while the progress of the condition is monitored.

While some of these options, like physical therapy or epidural steroid injections, require office visits, there are also many effective treatments that can be performed from the comfort of home.

Try these degenerative spine treatments at home

At-home degenerative spine treatments include:

1. Physical therapy exercises. To complement sessions with a physical therapist, patients can also receive instructions for flexion, extension and core-strengthening exercises that can be safely performed at home.
2. Herbal remedies. Naturally growing substances, including turmeric, ginger and cinnamon have reported anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties and there is some evidence to support this. Always consult with a reputable herbalist and keep you primary care doctor informed of any supplements you are taking.
3. Over-the-counter medication. Over-the-counter medication taken as directed can help relieve painful episodes both at home and on the go.
4. Hot and cold therapy. Alternating use of a heating source with a cold compress is a surprisingly effective and inexpensive way to relieve pain and inflammation related to a degenerative spine condition.

Consult with your doctor about any questions you have regarding the best way to balance at-home care with in-office treatments.

Considering degenerative spine surgery

Degenerative spine treatment can often be successfully achieved without the need for surgery, but it may become a consideration if the full range of conservative treatments have been exhausted without bringing relief. For patients exploring the possibility of surgery for a degenerative spine condition, USA Spine Care provides minimally invasive spine surgery as a safer and effective alternative to traditional open neck or back procedures.^ Our highly skilled surgeons can access the spine with a less than 1-inch incision, which helps us offer many advantages to our patients, including a streamlined outpatient experience. To learn more, contact us today.

Our caring team can help you receive a free MRI review* to determine if you are a potential candidate for one of our procedures.

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