Chiropractic care can be considered as an alternative treatment option for people struggling with degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease [DDD] includes the degradation of a spinal disc, which causes debilitating pain and discomfort. Over time, discs wear down, but everyone does not experience the pain.
The main symptom of DDD is back pain. You can look for a chiropractor near me or if you stay near New Jersey then call Dr. Ricardo Lalama. You can even visit his website to read valuable information about health & fitness and how chiropractic care can help in a variety of medical conditions.
How does the chiropractor diagnose DDD?
- In the initial evaluation, your medical history gets reviewed. It includes discussion about current symptoms and possible causes.
- A physical checkup helps to identify the possible problem areas like restriction in joint motions, muscle spasms, abnormal spinal curve, evidence of sprain, etc.
- Your overall posture and how you walk gets observed. It helps the chiropractor know your body mechanics and spine movements.
- Imaging tests like MRI or an X-ray may be recommended.
After the checkup, the severity of your condition helps to develop a treatment strategy to lesson DDD symptoms and back pain.
Chiropractic treatment for DDD
The Chiropractor aims to enhance joint mechanics though spinal motion enhancement and decrease in the inflammation. Spinal manipulation or adjustments used include –
- Specific spinal manipulation
- Flexion-distraction technique
- Instrument-assisted manipulation
Manual therapies that help to treat the DDD symptoms
- In trigger point therapy, the tight painful points get identified. Direct pressure is placed on them to reduce tension.
- Therapeutic massage helps to release muscle tension
- Manual joint stretching or resistance technique gets used to reduce pain and other symptoms
- In the Graston technique, an instrument is used to relieve back pain
- In the interferential electrical stimulation process, low-frequency current stimulates the muscles, and inflammation declines.
- Ultrasound helps to decrease stiffness, pain, and muscle spasms. The sound waves are sent deep within your muscle tissues, which creates a mild heat that improves blood circulation.
Therapeutic exercises are also recommended to reinforce other treatments. These exercises prevent DDD symptoms from worsening.
Understand how degenerative disc disease occurs
The discs and vertebrae are the two main components of your spine. The discs reside between the vertebrae to offer spine support, cushion, and flexibility. Every disc has a tough outer layer and a soft inner stratum. Due to injury or as you grow old, the discs start to thin out or even tear in some cases. The loss of integrity increases the possibility of friction between vertebrae and pressure on nerves. The DDD has four stages before the symptoms get more pronounced.
- The loss of natural spine curvature goes unnoticed but can be identified by an expert chiropractor. Pain is less apparent but can cause more damage to the joints, nerves, spine, etc.
- Discs look thin and the spinal canal becomes narrow. You notice pain and discomfort at this stage.
- There are extreme changes in posture and curvature with an increase in pain and mobility loss.
- The final stage is severe and irreversible. Spine flexibility gets limited and there is consistent pain.
However, chiropractors can help in extreme DDD cases. So, seek treatment as soon as possible!
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