DDD or Degenerative Disc Disease also known as spondylosis is a condition that involves invertebral disc damage. This disc disease can be so bothersome for it brings stiffness and pain in the neck or back and it usually spreads to the shoulders, back of the head, hands, legs, arms, trunk and feet.
Kinds of Degenerative Disc Disease
If the pain happens in the neck vertebrae then it is called cervical disc disease. Thoracic disc if it is in the mid-back and lumbago when found in the lower back.
Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease
Conservative Therapies/Treatment
Most treatments for this condition include self administered treatments, therapeutic treatments and medications.
Self-administered treatments
- Limit your activities and rest every now and then. Do not stay in bed for too long either for this does not make your condition any better.
- Observe proper posture
- Perform light exercise like swimming, walking and biking.
- Apply hot or cold packs.
- If you think wearing a brace can help then do so for support.
Therapeutic Treatments
- Chiropractic
- Massage therapy to ease tension and stress in the muscles.
- Acupuncture for pain relief
- Physical therapy for strength and flexibility.
Medications for DDD
- Pain relievers
- Corticosteroids injections
- NSAID or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Naproxen, Aspirin and many more.
- Muscle Relaxant
- Antidepressant and sleep aids
Other non-invasive treatment includes ultrasound therapy and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. This uses sound waves and eases discomfort and increase blood circulation.
Surgery to treat DDD
DDD usually can be managed without resorting to surgery but there are some instances that surgery is the only option left. If this is the case then consult your doctor and discuss with him the possible risk and benefits that you get from it.
But so far the best treatment for DDD is the conservative treatment discuss above. It is the safest way of treating DDD.