Spinal Decompression Therapy - A Back Pain Relief From Degenerative Disc Disease

spinal stenosis

Degenerative disc disease is the progressive deterioration of the spinal discs and arthritic changes that occurs due to wear and tear with aging. Not actually a disease, it is a condition in which pain is caused from a damaged disc. In clinical terms, it is called spondylosis. The pain caused by a degenerated disc is termed by doctors as discogenic pain. The condition can take place throughout the spine, but most often, it occurs in the discs in the lumbar region (lower back) and cervical region (neck).

In a study, it is found that low back pain increases with increasing degree of disc degeneration. Degenerative disc disease is more likely to be developed as an individual gets older. Intervertebral discs become more vulnerable to degeneration and become more distinct as the lower spinal column gets straighter. Those individuals with a straighter vertebral column are at greater risk of low back pain and more severe symptoms than individuals with normal intervertebral slope.

A spinal disc is composed of a tough outer shell with a soft center inside. The discs are located between your spinal vertebrae to support spinal bones and cushion your movements. As a person age, the discs flatten out and spread sideways. The outer shell can become brittle or crack and the soft center can leak or bulge, pressing on nearby nerves or joints which can cause pain.

Degeneration in intervertebral disc is a part of normal aging and is associated with additional risk factors such as heredity, obesity, excessive weight, and smoking. When we are born, the disc is about 80% water. As we age, the disc dries out and loses flexibility to absorb shocks. Daily activities and sports activities can damage the disc. By the age of 60, most people have some degree of degenerative disc disease.

Degenerative disc disease is common and it can be present in people with no symptoms. In some people, they may feel symptoms such as low back pain which is more painful when sitting and when doing certain activities like bending, lifting, and twisting. They actually feel better when walking or running rather than prolonged sitting or standing, and if they shift positions frequently.

For people with degenerative disc disease, they usually manage the pain by minimizing stress on the disc through proper ergonomics and posture, exercise, and engaging in rehabilitation program. It is usually in the best interest of most patients to treat the pain using conservative treatment rather than surgery.

Spinal Decompression is the only nonsurgical treatment that is capable of reducing the symptoms of degenerative disc disease by treating the cause of disc degeneration, the chronic disc compression that contributes to loss of fluid.

Decompression therapy is a new form of treatment for back pain associated with disc problems. Research confirms that decompression is an effective treatment for degenerative disc disease. It reduces pressure on the disc and nerves and rehydrates the disc by drawing in fluids and nutrients.

Many lives have improved with spinal decompression since it was introduced. With just a course of the treatment, majority of the patients experienced complete relief and remained pain-free. Added with exercise program, appropriate spinal balancing, and spinal education, you'll see that no other treatment can provide such benefit than spinal decompression.