Degenerative Disk Disease
What is it?
Degenerative disk disease or DDD, is a natural occuring process where the soft disks between your vertebrae dry out and flatten. These disks act as pillows between your vertebrae, and when they flatten or dry out, they lose their shock-absorbing abilities.
It is a wear-and-tear condition that is a result of aging. Heavy physical work, past injuries, smoking and genetics all play a role in how rapidly this condition develops.
Signs of DDD include
Dull or sharp pain in the lower back
Pain that spreads to the glutes, thighs, arms and hands
Pain worsens when sitting, bending or lifting
There is nerve involvement: numbness, tingling
How can I prevent this?
Regular physical activity, specifically core-strengthening exercises, will greatly slow the progression of this disease. Low-impact activities like walking and swimming can also aid in strengthening surrounding muscles.
Book with us! We can help you
Physiotherapy: Uses manual therapy and targeted movement to reduce pain. Prescription of core strengthening, flexibility and mobility exercises to help support the spine.
Chiropractic: Works on improving joint mobility and lowering stress placed on the spine by applying spinal manipulation and mobilization techniques to the area.
RMT: Helps relax tight spinal muscles, ease any muscle spasms and improve blood flow to the area.
Acupuncture: Reduces inflammation and helps manage pain by stimulating the release of natural painkillers in the body, like endorphins; this blocks pain signals to the brain.
Service Highlight
At our clinic, we use the DOC Decompression Table. It is an advanced computerized system that allows us to isolate specific spinal discs and alternate between stretching and relaxing. This system creates negative pressure in the joint space to allow fluid to enter and rehydrate the space. Talk to your practitioner today to see if this therapy could work for you!
