Degenerative Discs

 
 
 
 
 
 

Degenerative Discs

 
 

What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Your spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that are stacked on top of one another. Between each of these vertebrae is a rubbery piece of cartilage called an “intervertebral disc.” Imagine the disc as a tire, with gelatin filling the hole in the tire. The tire is called the “annulus,” and the gelatin is called the “nucleus.” When we’re young—under 30 years of age—the disc is made mostly of gelatin. As we age, and sometimes with injury or excessive wear and tear, we start to lose some of that gelatin, and the volume of the disc decreases, resulting in less space between the vertebrae. The disc becomes flatter and less flexible, leaving less space between each set of vertebrae. Sometimes bone spurs form in response to this degeneration of the disc, making the spine stiff. When the rough surfaces of the vertebral joints rub together, pain and inflammation may result. Nerves may become irritated or compressed.

Disc degeneration might occur throughout several regions of the spine, or it might be limited to one disc. When it’s part of the natural aging process, the degeneration does not always lead to pain. For some people, however, it can cause a great deal of pain and disability.

woman holding neck

You are more likely to develop DDD if you:

  • Smoke
  • Are obese
  • Do heavy physical work
  • Don’t get very much exercise
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How Does it Feel?

You might have mild to intense neck and back pain—or no pain at all:

  • A degenerative disc in the neck can cause pain in the arm, shoulder, or neck
  • A degenerative disc in the lower back might cause pain in the back, buttocks, or legs

The pain is often made worse by sitting, bending, and reaching. It may be worse first thing in the morning and after staying in any one position for a long time.

In severe cases, when DDD results in pressure on the nerves, it can lead to numbness, tingling, and even weakness in the arms or legs.

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person holding lower back

How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Your physical therapist’s overall purpose is to help you continue to participate in your daily activities and life roles. The therapist will design a treatment program based on the evaluation and your personal goals. The treatment program likely will be a combination of exercises.

Relieve Pain and Increase Movement

Your therapist will design:

Stretching and flexibility exercises
To improve mobility in the joints and muscles of your spine and your extremities—improving motion in a joint is often the key to pain relief
Strengthening exercises
strong trunk muscles provide support for your spinal joints, and strong arm and leg muscles help take some of the workload off your spinal joints.
Aerobic exercise
Which has been shown to help relieve pain, promote a healthy body weight, and improve overall strength and mobility—all important factors in managing DDD.

This might sound like a lot of exercise, but don’t worry: research shows that the more exercise you can handle, the quicker you’ll get rid of your pain and other symptoms.

Your physical therapist also might decide to use a combination of treatments:

Manual therapy
To improve the mobility of stiff joints and tight muscles that may be contributing to your symptoms
Posture and movement education
To show you how to make small changes in how you sit, stand, bend, and lift—even in how you sleep—to help relieve your pain and help you manage your condition on your own.
Special pain treatments
Such as ice, electrical stimulation, or a short course of traction—for pain that is severe and not relieved by exercise or manual therapy

Once your pain is gone, it will be important for you to continue your new posture and movement habits to keep your back healthy.

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Customer Testimonials

  • Patricia C.

    "Everyone is so friendly and kind. The atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable. The PTs explain and instruct very clearly. All PTs are very professional and patient. All the staff seem to get along so well and work so well together. The reception team has been very positive, relaxed and effective."

    Patricia C.
  • Katherine T.

    "My experience here at Request has been excellent. The staff is very efficient and very focused on my needs for recovery following my surgery. I've learned how to safely use my body always maintaining proper form to protect my back for necessary body movement."

    Katherine T.
  • Jen L.

    "Very positive experience! With the staff's knowledgeable, professional and friendly approach, along with "homework", my outcome was better and quicker than I ever expected! Thank you."

    Jen L.
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Where Can You Find Us?

(941) 744-9046

2601 Manatee Avenue West Ste E Bradenton, FL 34205

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