Treatment Options for Degenerative Disc Disease

It’s called degenerative disc disease when one or more discs between the vertebrae breaks down. The deterioration of the discs leads to pain. The pain can affect your neck and back and many radiate into your arm and leg. If you’re wondering why this disease occurs, you should know that it’s a natural occurrence that often comes with ageing. Since there are various treatment options, each one varies from the other in terms of individual difference. If you want to learn more about the treatment for bulging disc in the lower back, contact a spine specialist or a pain physician.

Treatment Options

It’s hard to live with degenerative disc pain. It will affect your lifestyle and your daily activities. Here is what you should do as an initial step to control your degenerative disc pain:

1. Apply Ice/heat

   Applying ice or heat into the affected area can reduce the inflammation. It’s recommended to apply ice/heat packs for 15 minutes every two hours. This will provide some relief.

2. Take Over-the-Counter Medicine

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can prove to be effective if there are no contraindications.

If the initial steps to control the disc pain fails to make an impact, you should consider visiting a medical professional for stronger treatment for bulging disc in the lower back. Here is what you should consider:

• Take Participation in Physical Therapy

Ask your doctor about the safe and secure ways to exercise to stay active. When your pain level reduces, your doctor will recommend you to take part in physical therapy.

A physical therapist will design you a stretching program to fulfill your specific needs. Apart from reducing the pain, this will help you strengthen your muscles in the lower back and abdomen and also improve your mobility.

• Bring Some Changes in Your Lifestyle

Those suffering from degenerative disc disease can get a significant amount of pain relief by making certain lifestyle changes. This involves adding new tasks to your daily routine, avoiding certain foods, stopping certain activities that hurt your back etc.

• Surgery

Surgery is the option when patients do not respond to certain therapies. If the same continues for three months, your doctor may recommend surgery. The surgery involves spine fusion and decompression surgery. The latter will remove the part of your joint to relieve the pressure on the nerves.

Visit Oklahoma Pain Treatment Centers for the treatment of your bulging disc in the lower back. It has professional doctors and pain physicians to look after your concern carefully. After an initial evaluation, doctors will provide you with the best treatment plan. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.

**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.