Degenerative disc disease is a condition that occurs naturally as some people age, and may not require treatment of any kind. However, in some cases degenerative disc disease can cause pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and more, and if these symptoms inhibit a person’s ability to lead a normal life, the condition will need treatment. The pain and other symptoms can range from mild to severe and can be experienced anywhere from up into the neck, all through the back, and down into the legs and arms. Thankfully, there is an assortment of nonsurgical and surgical treatment methods available for degenerative disc disease.

What Are the Nonsurgical Treatment Methods for Degenerative Disc Disease?

The majority of degenerative disc disease pain will subside on its own over time. However, while a patient waits for the symptoms to abate, there is a variety of conservative (nonsurgical) treatment options available. These methods can be used for acute (temporary) symptoms, or also if pain, tingling, or discomfort in the neck, back, or legs have been chronic (persistent). Furthermore, nonsurgical treatment methods for degenerative disc disease should always be pursued for several months before considering the option of surgery. Nonsurgical methods include:

– Medication – Prescription or over-the counter pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication, and muscle relaxants can be used to reduce pain.

– Physical therapy – Stretching and light exercise can help with the pain. It is best to consult with a doctor and physical therapist to ensure you engage in correct physical therapy to avoid further injury and pain.

– Spinal injections – A mixture of cortisone and an anesthetic medication can be injected into the painful area of the back. This will temporarily reduce inflammation, numb the area, and block pain signals. It is recommended that these injections not be done more than three times in a 12-month period.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet can also help to ease the pain.

If Conservative Treatment Hasn’t Helped

If you have tried various forms of conservative treatments for degenerative disc disease with no real results, you might want to look into spine surgery. Spine surgery is a treatment method available only to about five to ten percent of those with degenerative disc disease. Furthermore, surgery is almost always elective. Physicians may encourage or recommend surgery, but very rarely will you find a doctor forcing the issue of surgery unless your condition is life-threatening or will lead to paralysis. There are many surgical options available to candidates, with the most popular ones being:

– Facetectomy – The removal of a facet joint (joints that link vertebrae together)
– Foraminotomy – An enlargement of a foramen (a nerve passageway) to relieve pressure on pinched nerves
– Laminectomy – A removal of all or part of the lamina (plate protecting spinal canal and cord)
– Laminotomy – An enlargement in the distance between the lamina and spinal cord
– Discectomy – The removal of all or part of a disc
– Corpectomy – The removal of an entire vertebral body
– Fusion – A process in which two or vertebrae are fused together to function as one
– Laser surgery – A minimally invasive process using lasers and other instruments to vaporize and otherwise remove small amounts of tissue that are the source of nerve compression

As previously stated, surgery is a viable option for only a small amount of people. As with all surgeries, there are risks associated with spine surgery. Consult with your physician to see what the best treatment method for your degenerative disc disease is, and get a second or third opinion to help make sure you have access to all the treatment options available.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of degenerative disc disease and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Degenerative disc disease