5 Amazing Treatments of Degenerative Disc Disease

 

Degenerative disc disease is a terminology used to refer to the typical changes of spinal disc that occur to an individual during the aging process. These changes can cause chronic neck pain or low back pain.

 

When a person is young, the discs facilitate bending, flexion and twisting.

 

As a person ages, the discs shrink and begin to lose integrity. Although most individuals who are aged show some signs of disc degeneration, not all elderly people encounter back pain.

 

The region that is most affected by degenerative disc disease is the lumbar region (lower back) and the cervical region (neck region).

 

The discs act as shock absorbers of the spine. When the discs dry out due to age, they are no longer able to absorb shock as required. Wear and tear on the outer part of the disc as a result of routine work can contribute to their degeneration.

 

Furthermore, injuries to the spine can lead to soreness, swelling and instability.

 

The disease can manifest itself through discomfort on the lower back, extreme pain when seated, numbness, tingling, neck pain that may spread to hands, and weak leg muscles.

 

To correctly diagnose the condition, a proper examination is done by a qualified health professional. The doctor will inquire of the circumstances that led to the pain. An MRI scan is usually performed to show the extent of the disc damage.

 

Treatment of degenerative disc disease includes regular physical exercises. The exercises are done to enhance the flexibility and strength of the muscles supporting the spine.

 

Proper exercises boost the blood supply to the back region of the body, therefore, providing vital nourishment to the muscles and joints. The nourishment of the muscles enables the body to get rid of any waste products that may result in inflammation.

 

Other treatment options of disc degeneration involve spinal mobilization, heat and cold therapy, surgery, physical therapy and medications.

5 Little Known Facts About Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of the spinal canal, which results in pressure on the spinal cord and the surrounding nerves.

 

Symptoms of this condition include numbness, pain and loss of motor control. The part of the body that is affected by stenosis is determined by the location of the stenosis.

 

When a person if affected by stenosis, his or her spinal canal becomes narrow, therefore, compressing the nerve root. This compression of the nerve root is what causes pain.

 

Most of the people who get the condition are the elderly. Young people who might have been born with a narrow spinal canal or individuals who have their spinal cord injured during an accident may get this condition too.

 

In some instances, arthritis has been known to result in stenosis of the spine.

 

Other causes of this ailment include too much fluoride in the body, deposits of calcium on the ligaments, or tumors of the spine.

 

Spinal stenosis results to low back pain, pain in the legs, clumsiness that is accompanied by frequent falling, numbness and pain when walking.

 

Lumbar stenosis involves the nerve roots in the lower back getting compressed. This leads to weakness, tingling, or numbness that can originate from the low back to the legs and buttocks.

 

Cervical stenosis refers to the spinal stenosis pain in the neck region. This occurs as a result of compression of the spinal cord. The compression of the spinal cord is dangerous as it usually leads to extreme weakness or paralysis.

 

When diagnosing an individual for the disease, a health practitioner does a comprehensive evaluation of the spine. Patient’s medical history is checked followed by a thorough physical examination.

 

To fully understand the location and extent of the nerve comprehension, MRI scan and X-ray are performed. MRI is commonly used for the diagnosis of the stenosis because it uses electromagnetic signals to produce detailed images of the spine. MRI is recommended because it shows more body structures like the muscles, ligaments and nerves.

 

Treatment of stenosis comprises of surgical and nonsurgical methods.

 

Depending on the level of the condition, your doctor may decide to refer you to other specialists like neurologists, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons or physical therapists. Noninvasive methods of treatment comprise of the use of medicines to relieve pain and limiting physical activity.

The Truth About Sciatic Nerve Damage

Sciatic nerve damage is the leading cause of pain on one leg and the buttocks. It rarely affects both legs.The leg pain is accompanied by tingling or burning sensation.

 

The sciatic nerve is located at the back of the leg, and its core function is to provide sensation to the back of the thigh, the sole, and part of the lower leg. When the nerve is damaged, the movement of the knee or the entire leg is affected.

 

The sciatic nerve comprises of the nerve roots that exit from the spinal cord to the lower back. The nerve roots go down through the buttocks and then branch into the back of the leg, ankle and foot.

 

This kind of pain that is due to damage of sciatic nerve is referred to as sciatica. Although the symptoms of the sciatic nerve damage are often debilitating and painful, permanent damage to the nerve is a rare occurrence.

 

The symptoms of sciatica often happen when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated near its point of origin.

 

Although sciatic nerve injury is caused by a ruptured or bulging disc in the spinal cord, other causes of the damage include spinal stenosis, bone spurs caused by arthritis or a pinched nerve that may result due to injury.

 

The symptoms of sciatic nerve damage may start from the buttocks or back and move down to the leg and foot. The symptoms may be accompanied by the numbness, tingling and the general weakness of the leg.

 

To accurately diagnose sciatic nerve damage, tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-rays are performed to decipher the primary cause of the damage. MRI is preferred because it gives detailed information about the origin of the disease.

 

Treatment of damage of the sciatic nerve is mainly noninvasive, and it comprises of taking medicines and doing exercises so as to relieve pain. This is because the symptoms are likely to go away on their own with time.

 

If the symptoms continue, it is recommended that a person seeks the services of a health professional who may recommend physical therapy, steroid injections, muscle relaxants, or even surgery for extreme cases.

Discover the Deep Tissue Laser Therapy for Back Pain

Laser therapy is a safe, non-invasive, and effective treatment method that uses light to get rid of pain, reduce inflammation, promote wound healing, and repair soft tissues in the body. This method of treatment puts an end to pain fast.

The laser therapy is a technology with numerous applications and treatment results. The procedure transfers light energy that is in the form of electrons directly from the light source to the innermost parts of the cell such as the mitochondrion. The cells make use of that energy to facilitate their operations and healing. When a cell is injured or damaged, it is not able to produce the energy that is vital for cell repair, something that results in pain in the affected area.

During the treatment process, the laser is placed in contact with the skin of the painful area. This enables the healing energy to penetrate the tissues and interact with numerous intracellular bio-molecules. This interaction is the one that restores the normal cell functions and enhances natural healing of the body. The laser therapy mainly involves the conversion of the light energy to biochemical energy.

After the treatment, the normal functions of the cells are restored. The restoration of cell functions leads to the disappearance of the symptoms and speedy recovery. The treatment also leads to the stimulation of body’s immune system resulting in the proper drainage of the lymphatic fluid, production of the growth hormone, and the enhancement of the natural healing process.

The treatment does not hurt a person. It is a relaxing therapy, and most people who have undergone this treatment do even fall asleep during the sessions. However, a patient may start experiencing little pain on the affected area 6-24 hours after the therapy. The pain commonly occurs to those who are having nerve related problems or when the health problem is chronic, but the pain subsides after a short time.

Some of the diseases that can be treated using the therapy include back pain, arthritis, hip pain, headaches, knee pain, low back pain, myofascial pain, orodacial pain, peripheral neuropathy, plantar Fasciitis, sports injuries, tendonitis, upper back pain, and wrist pain.

Most doctors combine laser therapy with other treatments like naprapathy, soft tissue mobilization, nutrition, and electrotherapy. To know if you an appropriate candidate for this therapy, kindly visit your doctor who will be able to carry out neurological and orthopedic assessments.