Do you feel like you are experiencing chronic pain in your back? If so, there is a chance that you may suffer from something known as degenerative disk disease. This is a condition that commonly develops after the age of 40, but it could impact someone at any point in time. We are Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, giving you access to a degenerative disk disease doctor in OKC, Oklahoma. You can learn more about this condition below and schedule an appointment with a member of our team by calling us.
What Is Degenerative Disk Disease?
Degenerative disk disease is a specific type of condition that causes the disks in between your spinal vertebrae to wear out. Your disks are like cushions that prevent your vertebrae from rubbing against one another. They absorb shocks that travel down your spinal column, making it easier to twist and then comfortably. Your disks will degenerate slowly, over time, as a natural part of aging; however, if your disks degenerate too quickly, you could start developing symptoms that may negatively affect your quality of life.
Some of the conditions that could develop when your disks start to degenerate include:
- You might be diagnosed with adult scoliosis, leading to abnormal spine curvature.
- You may increase your chances of developing a herniated disk.
- You may experience spinal stenosis, which can lead to various issues.
- You may experience spondylolisthesis, causing your vertebrae to move in and out of position.
Work with our team to help with degenerative disk disease and identify the symptoms of degenerative disk disease. We want to prevent this condition from adversely impacting your quality of life.
What Are the Most Common Degenerative Disk Disease Symptoms?
Like other medical conditions, degenerative disk disease has varying symptoms depending on its severity. There are several common symptoms you might experience with degenerative disk disease. The symptoms of degenerative disk disease include:
- It is possible to experience intermittent pain, sometimes lasting for days or weeks.
- You may experience some numbness and tingling traveling down your arms and legs.
- You may also experience pain that radiates throughout your lower back.
- You may experience pain that worsens when you sit, bend, or lift.
If you have questions about certain symptoms you are experiencing, we will provide you with a comprehensive evaluation. There will be an examination of the reasons for your discomfort.
Pain Relief for Degenerative Disk Disease
A degenerative disk disease typically causes pain in the back, especially the lower back. Although there’s no permanent way to get rid of this disease, there are several degenerative disk disease treatment options that can effectively relieve the pain.
Medications
The effects of degenerative disk disease are different for everyone. Some people might experience a lot of pain, while others don’t experience any symptoms. At Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, we decide the best course of degenerative disk disease medication after diagnosing your pain and condition. Some common medications used for degenerative disk disease pain relief are:
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Prescription Pain Relievers
- Muscle Relaxants
- Corticosteroids
- OTC Meds
Physical Therapy
Doctors frequently recommend physical therapy as a way to relieve pain and prevent further spine damage. Physical therapists, along with your doctor, use specific movements and exercises to relieve your body pain. Physical therapy strengthens core muscles in the body, including the back, abdomen, upper thighs, and buttocks. These muscles play an important role in managing the pain of degenerative disk disease.
Acupuncture
In acupuncture, thin needles are inserted into various points of the body to relieve pain. These points correspond to the nerve pathways which are affected by the degeneration of the disk. Acupuncture stimulates healing by increasing blood flow and prompting the body to release endorphins – natural pain relievers.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Epidural steroid injections are a kind of degenerative spine disease treatment used to deliver steroids or anesthetic into the epidural space in the spine, providing temporary but effective relief against back pain. Since it’s a temporary pain relief solution, it may encourage the patient to initiate exercise and other pain rehabilitation programs for long-term disk disease management.
Manual Manipulation
Manual manipulation is a spinal adjustment performed by a professional chiropractor or any other certified healthcare professional. This technique relieves back pain by taking the pressure off the sensitive neurological tissue and increasing the range of motion. Manual manipulation restores blood flow in the affected area and reduces muscle tension, which results in lower pain and increased mobility.
Some other methods to relieve pain associated with degenerative disk disease include:
- Electrical Stimulation
- Prolotherapy
- Lifestyle Measures
- Weight Loss
After your diagnosis, degenerative disk disease pain management specialists at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management will decide the best method for you to relieve pain and how to avoid long-term pain.
What Is the Degenerative Disk Disease Diagnosis Process Like?
There are several steps involved in the diagnostic process. First, we will ask you questions to determine where your pain might come from. For example, we will ask you how the pain started, when it started, and where you are experiencing the most discomfort. We will also ask you about changes that might make the pain better or worse. We will also ask you if you remember an inciting event that caused the pain to develop for the first time.
We might also use imaging procedures, such as an X-ray or an MRI, to check the alignment of your disk. Based on this information, we can determine what might be wrong with your spinal column.
What Are the Degenerative Disk Disease Treatment Options in OKC, Oklahoma?
Once we have determined you have degenerative disk disease, there are several treatment options we might use. For example, we may help you design a physical therapy program to strengthen the muscles around your spinal column. We can provide your spinal cord with additional support, which may help you reduce your pain and discomfort.
We may also recommend certain medications, such as NSAIDs or steroids, to help address issues with your spinal column. If these do not work, we may also recommend a joint injection. For example, we may inject steroids into your spinal disks or joints to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Finally, there is another treatment called radiofrequency ablation. We may use this to silence certain nerves in your back and prevent pain signals from traveling to your central nervous system.
Together, we will figure out which treatment is best based on your needs. It all depends on the severity of your pain and how well we can manage your pain with more promising treatment options.
Contact Dr. Robinson for Help With Degenerative Disk Disease
If you are looking for degenerative disk disease treatment, it would be our pleasure to help you. We are Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management, and it would be our pleasure to help you address various conditions. Undoubtedly, it can be frustrating when you experience chronic back pain, and we will adhere to your needs by creating a comprehensive treatment plan. Our team here in OKC, Oklahoma, aims to facilitate your recovery, which is why our treatment plans are customized to meet your needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment, and let us help you recover from degenerative disk disease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The disk generative disease takes decades to progress. After a disk is injured, it cannot repair itself. Thus, the degeneration begins at different paces throughout 20 to 30 years. The acute pain phase means it will be difficult for you to move your back. In the next phase, the bone becomes unstable, resulting in recurring back pain. In the third phase, the body stabilizes with the injury, and the patient experiences short lapses of pain. By age 60, almost everyone is on the spectrum of Degenerative Disk Disease.
Book a ConsultationThe Degenerative Disk Disease has three stages–
- Stage 1: Acute pain where it’s difficult for the patient to move
- Stage 2: Unstable body with back pain that comes and goes (chronic)
- Stage 3: The disease stabilizes, and the patient experiences short intervals of pain
These stages profess over the course of 20 to 30 years.
Book a ConsultationThe patient’s unique condition determines the best possible treatment in Oklahoma for Degenerative Disk Disease. However, your healthcare provider will generally recommend noninvasive treatment options first, which include–
- Physical therapy
- Medications (NSAIDs and muscle relaxers)
- Steroid injections
- Radiofrequency neurotomy
- Nerve blocks
Your healthcare provider may suggest surgery as well if the pain is disabling.
Book a ConsultationThere are several treatment methods to fix Degenerative Disk Disease, including–
- Artificial disk replacement
- Surgical intervention
- Medications (NSAIDs and muscle relaxers)
- Steroid injections
- Acupuncture
- Back braces
After consulting with a healthcare specialist, you can be sure which treatment option (surgical or noninvasive) suits your condition best.
Book a ConsultationYes. Degenerative Disk Disease refers to a damaged disk in the spinal cord, which causes pain. The pain intensity can range anywhere from slight irritation to complete disability, depending on your condition. However, there are ways to minimize the pain, such as medications (NSAIDs and OTC painkillers).
Book a ConsultationThe insurance coverage of degenerative disk treatment heavily depends on your insurance policy. Insurance typically only covers the “necessary” medical expenses, so it won’t include anything your provider hasn’t recommended, like second opinions and alternative medicine. The Affordable Care Act has offered some coverage for spinal cord-related complications. However, you need to know what this act covers before you file a claim. The ideal option would be to go to a “preferred provider.” Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management is credentialed with a wide range of insurance networks, including Aetna, Blue Cross, Bright Starts, Humana, Medicare & Most Medicare Products, Tricare, United Healthcare, and Web TPA.
Book a ConsultationAge is one of the biggest factors behind Degenerative Disk Disease – almost everyone by the age of 60 has some kind of degeneration going on in their disks – but some other causes can be–
- Excessive strain on lower back
- Sports
- Heavy lifting (frequent or repetitive)
- Labor-intensive tasks
- Prolonged sitting/poor posture
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Accidental trauma
Degenerative Disk Disease results in inflammation, which causes pain. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the best relief for this pain. These drugs, available on prescription, can alleviate pain and reduce swelling. The most common NSAIDs are ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. However, a doctor may be able to prescribe the best one as per your condition.
Book a ConsultationMild Degenerative Disk Disease refers to slight degeneration of disks, as opposed to severe Degenerative Disk Disease. Degeneration of a disk is not actually a disease. It’s a condition that affects everyone differently. Mild disk degeneration doesn’t mean that it will result in less pain, similar to how severe disk degeneration doesn’t need to show immense pain. If you’re experiencing discomfort, it’s best to consult a professional before making any decision.
Book a ConsultationSpinal cord degeneration is a part of life that affects almost everyone at some point. But you can definitely slow its progression. To do that, you’ll need to make some lifestyle changes, which include–
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- No smoking
- Exercising regularly
- Staying hydrated
- Keeping your posture straight
- Staying fit and healthy
