Time wears all things down, including your body. As you age, parts of the body will slowly wear out. You will face increased challenges even if you’re in great health, enjoy a fantastic diet, and get plenty of exercise. One common condition, and one that is often associated with aging, is degenerative disc disease, which can result in chronic back pain and reduced mobility. If you or your loved ones are struggling with degenerative disc disease in Austin or Cedar Park, Texas, it’s time to work with Dr. Billy Wight and Dr. Tyler Wright.
Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease
First, in a sense, degenerative disc disease isn’t really a “disease” at all. Instead, it’s a naturally occurring condition that is quite simply part of aging (in most cases). To understand this condition, it helps to know a bit about your spine.
Your spine is made up of a combination of bony vertebrae and soft discs that allow the spine to be both flexible but also strong. As you may have guessed, degenerative “disc” disease involves these soft discs. Unfortunately, as the years tick by, many of the tissues in your body will accumulate damage. You may already know that bones often grow more fragile over time. The discs in your spine may lose fluid in their centers, and the cartilage that forms their outer rings may deteriorate. This, in turn, will leave the discs more prone to various issues.
Older folks may suffer herniated discs more easily and frequently, for example. A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like nucleus in the disc is pushed out into or through the outer ring. This could happen while lifting, or due to a fall. Fortunately, by addressing degenerative disc disease, you may be able to make issues like slipped or herniated discs less likely.
Addressing Degenerative Disc Disease
As your body ages, your discs will all but inevitably deteriorate. However, the speed of this deterioration can vary greatly. By using spinal decompression and laser therapy, you may be able to safeguard your discs and slow the effects of aging. This, in turn, could impede degenerative disc disease.
Do you need assistance with degenerative disc disease in Austin or Cedar Park, Texas? Call 512 476 5695 to get in touch with Wright Family Chiropractic’s Austin office or call 512 249 8800 to reach our Cedar Park location. Dr. Billy and Dr. Tyler can help you and your loved ones with many conditions. While degenerative disc disease may hard to completely prevent, the right treatments can slow progression, reduce pain, and help safeguard your mobility
Degenerative Disc Symptoms
The degeneration of spinal discs may cause no symptoms at all, and symptoms depend on each patient and the severity of their case.
Pain may occur at the site of the affected disc in the back or neck. As the pain is often caused by compressed nerves, this pain can also travel to other areas of the body like the buttocks, arms, and legs. Numbness and tingling in the arms and legs may also be experienced. Pain can range from mild to severe and debilitating.
Degenerative Disc Causes
As mentioned previously, our spines can degenerate as a natural part of aging. Tears in the tougher outer layer of the disc are common as we grow older. and when the discs begin to lose fluid, they become smaller and less flexible.
In addition to aging, other factors that may come into play, including obesity, smoking, repeated physical work, and injury.
Degenerative Disc Treatment
Pain caused by degeneration is often treated with hot or cold packs and an anti inflammatory medication. When disc degeneration causes problems like herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, or osteoarthritis, other forms of treatment may be beneficial. This may include physical therapy, stretching, and in some cases, surgery. While degenerative disc disease is a natural part of aging, there are things you can do to prevent pain and stay healthy. If you are experiencing frequent back or neck pain, be sure to visit our office for an examination so we can create a treatment plan for you.