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Degenerative disk disease, abbreviated as DDD, occurs when regular changes in your spinal disks cause pain. Spinal disks are like shock absorbers between the bones of your spine, also known as vertebrae. They make your back flexible so that you can twist or bend. As we get older, sometimes they show signs of wear and tear. They start to break down and may not function as well.
Over time, almost everyone’s disks break down, but not everyone experiences pain. If worn-out disks are the primary cause of your pain, you have degenerative disk disease. At Fairway Chiropractic Center, Kitchener ON, we are committed to your health and want to help you understand more about degenerative disk disease.
Spinal disks are made up of a tough outer wall and a soft inner core. The disks can change in ways that can cause degenerative disk disease such as:
Cracking – The stress of minor injuries and everyday movement over the years can cause minor tears in the outer wall that contains nerves. Any damages near the nerves can cause a lot of pain. If the wall collapses, the disk’s soft core may be exposed through the cracks. The disk may slip or bulge out of place, a condition known as herniated or slipped disk. This can affect the nearby nerves.
Drying out – When an individual is born, the disks in the spine are primarily made up of water. As the person ages, they lose water and become thinner. Flattened disks can’t absorb shock very well. This water loss also means less padding or cushion between the vertebrae. This can culminate to other spinal problems that can cause pain.
You will probably feel constant or sharp pain in your neck and back. The exact symptoms vary depending on the location of the weak disk and other changes it has caused. The most common signs of DDD include pain that:
Sometimes, DDD can lead to tingling and numbness in your legs and arms. It can also weaken your leg muscles. This is a sign that the damaged disks are affecting the nerves near your spine.
The aim of chiropractic care for DDD is to improve the mechanics of your joints by reducing inflammation and enhancing spinal motion. Your chiropractor may also help to improve the function of your intervertebral disks.
To treat your DDD, your chiropractor may apply spinal manipulation (spinal adjustment). There are many types of spinal manipulation techniques that include:
Your chiropractic care specialist may also include manual therapies. Here, the chiropractor identifies tight and painful areas on a muscle and applies direct pressure on these areas to relieve tension. Besides, the caregiver may use massage to relieve muscular stress. Your chiropractor may also recommend therapeutic exercises that will complement your other treatments.
As discs naturally wear down over time, spinal decompression therapy can help slow the progression of disc degeneration and alleviate associated pain that has not been relieved by chiropractic care.
Chiropractic care is an effective treatment for degenerative disk disease. Here at Fairway Chiropractic Center, Kitchener ON, our specialists are ready to give you the best treatment for your pain. For more information, visit us or call us at 519-748-5535.
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