Conditions >
Disc Problems
Degenerative Disc/Degenerative Disc Disease
What It Is:
To understand degenerative disc disease, it is first important to understand the make-up of your spine. In between each vertebra in your spine is a disc, which acts as a spacer and shock absorber. When healthy, these discs are flexible, like a wet sponge.
But injuries or just aging can cause the discs to lose their fluid content and wear thin – beginning the degenerative disc disease process. This allows the vertebrae to rub together, becoming rough, worn down – or even fused together. The result is a degenerative disc.
Degenerative discs are at the root of many other spinal problems, such as instability, stenosis and spondylosis.
Where it occurs:
Degenerative discs, which are the result of degenerative disc disease, can appear in the:
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Neck (cervical spine)
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Low back (lumbar spine)
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Middle and upper back (thoracic spine)
The Symptoms:
Patients with degenerative discs/degenerative disc disease may experience symptoms including:
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Pain
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Numbness
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Tingling
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Weakness
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Stiffness
What are my treatment options?
Treatment options for degenerative discs/degenerative disc disease include
chiropractic care,
physical rehabilitation,
DRS treatment and
MCU therapy.
Herniated Disc/Herniated Disk/Disc Herniation/Disc Bulges
What it is:
To understand disc herniation, it is first important to understand the make-up of your spine. In between each vertebra in your spine is a disc, which acts as a spacer and shock absorber. These discs have soft, gel-like centers surrounded by layers of fibrous tissues.
Sometimes the material in the middle of a disc pushes to one side or even ruptures. This is called a herniated disc/herniated disk or bulging disc. Disc herniation can be caused by an injury or simply by the aging of the body.
Where it occurs:
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Bulging or herniated discs/herniated disks can appear in the:
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Neck (cervical spine)
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Low back (lumbar spine)
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Middle and upper back (thoracic spine)
What are the symptoms of herniated disc?
Patients with bulging or herniated discs may experience:
Swelling
Pressure
Pain
Weakness
Tingling
Numbness
What are my treatment options?
Treatment options for bulging or herniated discs/herniated disks include chiropractic care, physical rehabilitation, DRS treatment and MCU therapy. Talk to your doctor about the best way to care for your disc herniation.