It is estimated that almost 30% of the population aged 30-50 years old will have some sort of disc space degeneration and some degree of degenerative disc disease. A fairly common disease, it is often the underlying cause of most reported cases of chronic pain. Treatment for degenerative disc disease often take the form of surgery like spinal fusion and disc replacement. However, there are also forms of conservative and non-surgical methods that can help patients survive the disease.
Since surgery is only considered when patients have not achieved relief from the pain over half a year of conservative care, these non-surgical methods are often the first treatment options considered by patients and doctors alike. For most people with mild to moderate cases of degenerative disc disease can be successfully treated with these conservative methods including medication, physical therapy, and exercise. If you are suffering from degenerative disc disease but do not want to undergo surgery, here are some methods that can help you:
1.Modify ways to do particular activities that stress the lower back.
Stress and pressure on the lower back can worsen the pain caused by degenerative disc disease. As such, your first step is to mitigate the damage and lessen the pain. Avoiding activities that require much twisting, bending, and lifting heavy objects is a must. If avoiding these activities are out of the question, then you must modify the way you do them in a manner that takes the pressure of your lower back. You can consult your physical therapist for the best ways to do these activities.
2.Apply heat or cold therapy to the lower back.
Applying heat to the joints in your lower back can reduce the stiffness and increase your flexibility by soothing the muscles. On the other hand, cold therapy works best in numbing pain and sore muscles. These forms of therapy can also help increase the range of motion you can perform even with a sore lower back.
3.Take medications prescribed by your doctor.
You can also resort to taking pain medications as prescribed by your doctor. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for degenerative disc disease include NSAID (non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs) and painkillers. Stronger prescription drugs like oral steroids, muscle relaxants, and narcotics may also be used to manage intense pain on a short-term basis while some patients may benefit from epidural steroid injections. As long as you have the prescription, you can get your medicines at local drugstores or reputable online pharmacies.
4.Do regular physical activity.
While moving around may be the last thing on your mind when you are in pain due to the disease, doing regular low-impact exercises can actually be good for you. Exercises help condition your body and improve the elasticity and flexibility of bones and muscles. You can try stretching programs since tightness in the muscles can add to the stress in your lower back. A strengthening exercise program can also be good to lessen the damage on your spine. Low-impact aerobic exercises are also advised to ensure adequate flow of nutrients and blood to spine structures, and relieve pressure on the discs.
5.Increase your water and fluid intake.
Since discs are made mostly of water, you can help slow down the process of drying out by consuming more water and fluid. Avoiding smoking, alcoholic drinks, caffeine, and other substances that promote dehydration is also a good decision to minimize loss of fluid.
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