Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Methods

Degenerative disc disease treatment methods can range from something as simple as bed rest to as involved as surgery. Not all patients diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, or DDD, will receive the same treatment, though. Upon your diagnosis, your doctor will formulate a tailored treatment plan for you.

Because DDD is largely a part of the aging process and the symptoms are known to go away over time, treatments are not intended to actually treat the condition itself, but the rather they are targeted at minimizing and eliminating its symptoms while the body slowly adjusts to natural spinal degeneration.

Conservative Treatments

The first treatment efforts recommended to you for degenerative disc disease likely will be conservative in nature. These types of treatments are aimed at masking and reducing the pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness commonly associated with DDD. The treatments recommended to you may include the likes of physical therapy and exercise, thermotherapy, cryotherapy, bed rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, or any combination of these. It is important to strictly follow the plan your doctor gives you and avoid deviation, as it could potentially prove detrimental to your condition.

Surgery as an Option

Surgery is certainly a viable option for those suffering from degenerative disc disease, however, it is usually not necessary. Surgery is typically not called for in the case of DDD because the symptoms are known to subside over time, and the implementation of nonsurgical treatment efforts can increase the rate at which the symptoms dissipate. However, there are times in which the symptoms will not fade away, and may actually increase in severity. In this case, it is recommended that you see your doctor once again and ask about the possibility of surgery.

Surgery is generally regarded as a last-resort method of treatment and is almost always elected by the patient. There are several approaches to degenerative disc disease surgery. In some cases, a surgeon might recommend the removal of a degenerated disc and the permanent fusion of adjacent vertebrae. In other cases, surgeons might be able to take a less invasive approach and remove small portions of tissue that are causing nerve compression in the spine.