Have You Been Diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease?
If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease (DDD), you are probably all too familiar with the symptoms. This includes neck or back pain that strikes whenever you sit, stand, or walk for a prolonged period of time. Of course, you don’t want this discomfort to get in the way of your daily life — and you shouldn’t have to. To help you live more comfortably with your condition, your physician can recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
There are several nonsurgical options, but no single treatment works well for everyone. This means that you will likely have to invest some time in trying out different therapies in order to find the most effective approach for you. Your investment will be well worth it in the long run, though, because it can not only help you feel better — it can also help you avoid unnecessary spine surgery.
Degenerative Spine Disease Treatment Options
Your physician can provide valuable guidance as you explore treatments for your degenerative disc disease symptoms. Here are some options that you might try:
- Physical therapy. Your physician or physical therapist can recommend specific exercises to help you manage your discomfort. If you’ve been inactive for a while, you’ll need to start slowly, perhaps with some gentle stretches and short walks, then increase your activity level as you become fitter and stronger.
- Chiropractic care. If your spinal column is stable, a chiropractor may recommend spinal manipulation techniques. This can help you maintain or restore some of your spinal range of motion. Usually, symptom improvement occurs gradually over time with this treatment approach, so you may need several sessions before you see noticeable results.
- Medications. Several types of medication can be effective in relieving degenerative disc disease symptoms. For instance, your physician may recommend or prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, or muscle relaxants.
Surgery with Dr. Keith Girton
If patients are not able to find relief from chronic pain from conservative efforts, surgery may become an option. Luckily, traditional surgeries are no longer the only option. As BEST Health System, we endorse minimally invasive procedures that have many benefits. This includes a quicker recovery time, smaller incisions, and less risk of infection, all on an outpatient basis.
At our Cincinnati location, Dr. Keith Girton is our dedicated spine and neck surgeon. He has seen the benefits that minimally invasive surgery offers and is proud to offer these services to the Cincinnati community. Contact BEST Health System today to learn more about our degenerative disc disease surgeries.
