Are you experiencing pain in your neck or lower back while bending or moving? If so, these might be the early signs of degenerative disc disease, a progressive degeneration condition that occurs when one or more intervertebral discs (discs that act as cushions for vertebrae in the spine) wear out or break down due to aging, injury, or other factors. These discs play a crucial role in providing flexibility and absorbing the forces during movements like walking, running, and lifting. Wearing down of these discs can cause problems during these movements and can lead to other complications. However, noticing these early signs of degenerative disc disease and seeking medical help allows better management of symptoms and improved quality of life. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org. to schedule an appointment with us.
When to seek help from a specialist
You should seek help from a specialist when your condition doesn’t get better with conservative treatments like medication, physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes, and you’re experiencing persistent and severe symptoms like:
- Unrelenting back pain: Chronic and severe back pain that lasts for more than 2 to 3 months.
- Nerve compression symptoms: You experience nerve compression symptoms like radiating pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of sensation in the arms or legs.
- Functional Impairment: You struggle with everyday activities like walking and standing, affecting the overall quality of life.
- Progressive Neurological Deficits: Worsening neurological deficits like muscle weakness, coordination problems, or bowel dysfunction may be a cause of concern.
Things to avoid
These things should be avoided if you’re living with degenerative disc disease to manage your symptoms and decrease its progression.
- Certain foods:
Being overweight or obese is one of the major risk factors that lead to degenerative disc disease. Eating foods like white bread, pastries, processed snacks, red meat, etc., not only increases your weight by also spikes your blood sugar levels, which triggers inflammatory pathways that worsen degenerative disc disease pain. Predominantly meat-based diets and processed meat consumption are associated with higher C-reactive protein, which is an inflammatory marker in people with chronic back pain. Consuming high levels of saturated and trans fats also increases inflammation, leading to degenerative disc disease.
Consuming caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate you and affect the main mechanism that may cause discs to degenerate. Instead, eating a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, lean protein sources, and whole grains can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. It also decreases inflammation and protects your spine.
- Certain Exercises:
Exercise is good for health, even with degenerative disc disease, to maintain physical fitness, cardiovascular health, and a healthy weight. However, certain exercises can worsen your degenerative disc disease symptoms, such as:
- High-impact activities: This includes jumping jacks, plyometrics, and jumping rope that put excessive stress on discs and joints. Even running can be harmful to the spine if it is not cushioned properly. Instead, choose activities like swimming, cycling, or elliptical training.
- Heavy weightlifting: This applies extra weight on the vertebral discs that can strain the discs, similar to being overweight or obese. Excessive strain on the spine can make discs wear out faster. Deadlifts are mostly risky. While weight training is generally a good form of exercise, it is only beneficial if performed under a trainer or physical therapist who recommends weights that you can manage, fixes your posture, and avoids repetitive exercises to safeguard your spine.
- Excessive twisting: Exercises that involve twisting the spine, like Russian twists or medicine ball throws with rotation, can put strain on your discs and facet joints. Even the twisting motion in a golf swing can be risky for some people if the swing mechanics are not optimized. This is also applied to tennis. So, for these sports or exercises, consult with your professional to learn the right posture or technique to do them, or what you should avoid permanently to keep your spine safe.
- Prolonged sitting:
Sitting for longer periods can increase low back pain and lead to low back degenerative disc disease. Instead, if your work requires you to sit for long periods, get up and move around every 30 minutes to avoid stiffness and strain on your spine.
- Ignoring pain:
Everyone experiences aches and pain as a part of growing old, which also involves neck or low back pain that gets better within a few days without medical intervention. However, if the pain you’re experiencing lasts more than a few weeks, you should talk to your specialist to discuss your treatment options. Ignoring the pain may turn into a long-lasting problem.
Noticing early signs of degenerative disc disease and seeking medical help is the best way to manage its symptoms and improve your quality of life. Don’t ignore any pain that lasts longer than 1-2 weeks and doesn’t get better with rest or home remedies. Seeking medical help allows you to find the underlying cause and treat it.
Need help with Degenerative Disc Disease? Visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!!! If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. Visit Doral Health & Wellness Pain Relief Department in Brooklyn, to get professional help and guidance on how to manage your problem. Call us on + 1-718-367-2555 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Log on to www.doralhw.org. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
