Degenerative
Disc Disease
Each
set of bones (vertebrae) in your spine
are cushioned by a disc that makes movement
easier. This disc also acts as a "shock
absorber" to keep the bones from rubbing
against one another any time you move.
When a disc moves out of its proper place,
it's called a ruptured, bulging, herniated
or slipped disc. All these terms mean
the same thing – the disc is damaged.
A
person with a damaged disc can experience
pain and loss of movement in the area
of the damaged disc. And… if the disc
exerts pressure on a nerve that is exiting
the spine, other areas of the body can
be affected as well. What causes a damaged
disc?
-
Normal
wear and tear on the disc that results
from the aging process (disc degeneration).
This can cause a loss of fluid (nourishment)
that discs need to remain soft and flexible.
-
Sudden movement or lifting a heavy object
may result in injury to the disc.
-
Repetitive
movements that put stress on the spine,
such as sports, improper lifting techniques,
etc., can cause disc damage.
If
a damaged disc doesn't press on a nerve,
there may be very mild pain or no pain at
all. However, if the disc places pressure
on a nerve, the area of the body affected
by the nerve may experience pain, numbness,
"pins and needles," muscle spasms or weakness.
Typical medical treatment usually includes
pain management medications, exercise, physical
therapy or surgery if the condition does
not resolve itself. However, chiropractic
care is a conservative, non-invasive, all-natural
approach to healing herniated discs.
Flexion-Distraction
technique is a gentle, and effective method
to treat degenerative discs.
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