Disc Degeneration Treatment
Disc degeneration is a spinal condition caused by the gradual wearing down of the spinal discs with age. While everyone’s discs eventually show evidence of decline, only some people will experience pain.
What to Expect
Sometimes confused with a slipped disc, this condition is normally associated with the wear and tear of aging. Each segment of the spine, known as a motor unit, comprises the vertebrae on top, the one below, the disc between the two, and the nerve that exits from between the vertebrae. When the disc is worn enough, the motor unit puts pressure on the disc, and it gets thinner, losing significant disc height.
Like all tissue, this cartilage needs nutrition, which it gets from fluids flowing in and out of the disc. Keeping the fibers hydrated, so they don’t dry out and become brittle, helps prevent weakening. If the vertebrae in a segment get out of alignment, it prevents the disc from moving as it normally would, and fixation keeps the joints from having a full range of motion.
This motion creates the flow of fluids in and out of the disc, like a sponge being squeezed. Proper movement provides the nutrients the disc needs to remain hydrated, healthy, and strong.
It’s Never Too Late
Like tread on a tire, worn disc tissue will never grow back. Chiropractic care may still help relieve your pain and stop the process from further acceleration. It reduces inflammation in the spinal tissues, improves the range of motion of the spine, and relieves muscle tension.
By correcting the cause (the subluxation) we restore hydration to the disc, making it healthier and able to function better on a cellular level, and allowing the body to begin to heal itself.
Learn More
Disc degeneration doesn’t have to stop your activities. Speak with us about ways to slow the progression and get you moving again. Call today.
