First of all, when discussing degenerative disc disease we need to clarify the word “disease”. DDD is not an illness or ailment.
Degenerative disc disease is just what happens as our bodies age. They begin to show the signs of time. Where the discs in your vertebrae were once thick and soft, they become thinner and more brittle.
Nerves can be impacted, resulting in pain, as the process continues over time. The discs, once degeneration begins to set in, contain less of the fluid they need to keep your vertebrae separated. Bulging (or herniated) discs are more likely, once this process begins.
By middle age, we’re all living with degenerating discs to some degree, whether or not they’re causing us pain. It’s when they’re hurting that a chiropractor can help.
Chiropractic and diagnosis.
Spinal disc degeneration may be accompanied by other conditions, like osteoarthritis or herniation. A lot of what your chiropractor can do depends on the concurrent presence of conditions like these, your overall state of health and your pain level.
Because chiropractors are holistic practitioners, we’re educated to recognize symptoms which signal certain conditions. You may not even know your pain is being caused by degenerative disc disease, but a chiropractor can diagnose you accurately and then treat you.
Chiropractic care isn’t only about adjustment. We use a range of techniques, including manual manipulation, which are gentle and can address and ease nerve pain. Depending on the symptoms you’re coming to me with and other conditions which may be co-morbid with DDD, a chiropractor knows what your body can and can’t take in terms of treatment.
Partnering with you.
A part of my practice, I partner with patients to help restore them to a better quality of life. That means being an advisor, as well as a practitioner. I’ll prescribe exercises designed to relieve pain and strengthen the body, as part of my service to patients. I may also counsel key lifestyle changes affecting diet, activity level and weight management.
The human body is complicated, so chiropractic treatment isn’t superficial. Pain relief and management that’s effective encompasses the whole person and how that person can be empowered outside the doctor’s office.
I’ve seen incredible outcomes for patients with degenerative disc disease flowing from a healthcare partnership that encourages them to move toward healthier ways of living.
More than adjustment.
Chiropractors don’t just crack your bones. We’re health care professionals practicing a variety of techniques and therapies which are be applied according to individual patient need. Manipulation and massage are only two of the ways I help relieve and manage pain.
As a chiropractor, I enjoy a significant advantage at Back & Body – the team here. It’s an advantage for my patients, too. The multi-disciplinarian team at our innovative clinic supports my work with physical therapy, sports medicine and acupuncture, offering you a full range of pain relief and management services.
Find out more about treating degenerative disc disease with chiropractic care. Contact us.
