If you have been diagnosed with a degenerative spine condition, treatment is probably the first thing on your mind. You should ask your physician any and all questions you may have about available treatment options, but it can be easy to overlook some important information when you’re face to face with him or her. That’s why we’ve outlined a few basic questions for you to run by your physician when discussing treatment options.

Question No. 1: What kinds of treatment would you recommend?

In many cases — that is, in everything but the most debilitating circumstances — degenerative spine treatment will begin with a conservative, nonsurgical approach. However, there are many such types of treatment, with some proving more effective for certain patients based on their diagnosis or other medical factors. That’s why you should ask your physician to suggest approaches that meet your specific needs. You will probably be recommended to try multiple options at once, such as attending physical therapy sessions while taking anti-inflammatory medications.

Question No. 2: How long do patients usually follow this treatment plan before they see results?

There’s no way to tell for sure if a treatment plan will work for you, much less how long it may take to produce results. You can still ask your physician for some general information about how long other patients needed to wait before they noticed an improvement in their symptoms. Failing that, you can ask how long you should wait it out before changing your treatment regimen. Degenerative spine treatment is often a case of trial and error.

Question No. 3: How can I enhance my treatment plan’s effectiveness?

Making lifestyle changes and avoiding certain activities can improve your odds of seeing results from your treatment. For example, if you participate in sports or other activities that place a great deal of strain on your back, you may be advised to scale back or stop participating while your spine recuperates. Other changes might include avoiding heavy and improper lifting, or, if you’re overweight, losing excess weight to take some pressure off your spine.

Question No. 4: When would you consider surgery to be an option?

This might not be a question for your first appointment after being diagnosed with a degenerative spine condition, but if treatment options don’t seem to be helping your symptoms, or you’re noticing that they’re worsening despite sticking to your treatment regimen, it might be time to talk about surgical degenerative spine treatment options — including the minimally invasive spine surgery performed at USA Spine Care. If you’d like to learn more about the effective surgical procedures that we can provide as degenerative spine treatment options, contact USA Spine Care today.

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