Your back health plays a vital role in how much you enjoy daily activities. When you are suffering from back pain you want to find a way to reduce or eliminate that pain. Degenerative disc disease is a major contributor to back pain. In Carrollton, GA, Dr. Peter Lazarnick "Dr. Pete" can diagnose and suggest treatment for this disease.
Aging brings many changes to your body. Many of them involve pain and limit your ability to get around and perform the activities of daily life. Finding a way to improve your quality of life is important. Degenerative disc disease is the breakdown of one or more of the discs in the back or neck that cushion the bones. They may tear and leak fluid which makes them less flexible. While this can happen to any of the discs, it is most common in the neck or lower back.
When discs degenerate, they are prone to herniation, which means bulging outside the bony area of the back. When this happens, they can press on the nerves that run from the brain down the spine and then out to the extremities. The pressure can cause pain, weakness and even numbness in the back itself, buttocks, arms, and legs.
Another result of degenerative disc disease is bone spurs. These growths form on the edges of the vertebrae that are affected by the bad disc. The spurs can put pressure on the nerves as well, resulting in pain.
Causes
While degeneration is a natural part of aging, it isn't the only cause of degenerative disc disease. Degeneration may also be caused by smoking, obesity, heavy or repetitive work, driving for long periods of time, and an injury. It may also be genetic. Some people are predisposed to develop degenerative disc disease.
Prevention
One of the best things you can do is to stop smoking and also limit alcohol intake. It also helps to keep your weight within normal range and be physically active. Using your upper body strength to lift things, not your back, and exercise to strengthen your core, which supports your back, can help. Talk to a doctor about taking vitamins to strengthen bones like calcium, zinc, and iron.
Treatment
Degenerative disc disease can be treated with hot and cold packs placed on the back. It may also benefit from physical therapy, therapeutic exercise, and stretching. A visit to your chiropractor for a diagnosis and then a treatment plan will get you on the right track.
To get help with your degenerative disc disease in Carrollton, GA, contact Dr. Pete at 770-832-2226 to learn about the options that are available to help with your back pain.