5 Things To Avoid With Degenerative Disc Disease

To cure degenerative disc disease naturally you can use physical therapy, exercise, yoga, chiropractic adjustments, dietary supplements, and eating healthy. If all else, you can opt for surgery. Below are 5 things everyone suffering from degenerative disc disease should avoid doing.

What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease is caused by aging.  85% of people will have some evidence of degenerative disc disease by age 50. As we age the discs between our vertebrae dehydrate and can’t absorb shock.  So, when we walk the discs don’t cushion as they once did.

Ligaments and bones also thicken and become less flexible with age. While muscles can repair themselves discs receive very little blood flow and don’t repair.  While the discs cannot be repaired; quality of life can be restored naturally.

Signs And Symptoms Of Degenerative Disc Disease

Your back and neck will most likely be in excruciating or continual discomfort. The location of the weak disk and any other alterations it has created will determine your particular symptoms.

The following are some of the most common symptoms:

• Are you experiencing pain in your lower back, buttocks, or upper thighs?
• It appears and then vanishes. It might be mild or severe, and it can persist anywhere from a few days to months.
• When you sit, it hurts more, and when you move and walk, it feels better.
• When you bend, raise, or twist, it hurts worse.
• When you shift positions or lie down, it gets better.
• Degenerative disk disease can cause numbness and tingling in the arms and legs in some people. Your leg muscles may also become weak as a result of this. This suggests that the nerves around your spine may be impacted by the damaged disks.

What To Avoid If You Have Degenerative Disc Disease

If you are suffering from degenerative disc disease, it is strongly recommended to avoid all of the following things listed below.

1. Inflammatory Foods

When your body encounters something that it fails to recognize, the immune system activates. This includes viruses and bacteria to chemicals and other foreign particles. The body will go into attack mode, sending out inflammatory cells to fend off invaders.

Acute inflammation is normal, but chronic inflammation happens over time when your body cannot repair or overcome a certain level of damage. These are some foods that can lead to increased inflammation:

• Chips, crackers, and cookies.
• Fried foods.
• Processed and red meats.
• Refined carbohydrates.
• And more.

2. High-Impact Exercise

Exercise is possible and even recommended with degenerative disc disease. However, it’s crucial to make sure your exercises/activities are safe for your back.

High-impact activities, such as heavy lifting, pulling, and pushing, can aggravate your back. Things like tai chi and yoga are recommended as starters. These are great low-impact ways to regain muscle strength and mobility.

3. Awkward Lifting

If you are in pain, there can be a few benefits to maintaining a neutral spine while lifting things. When suffering from pain, many individuals will have a stiffer squat and tend to change their lifting mechanics.

Always try to find a helper if you plan on moving or lifting heavy items. Sharing these tasks will reduce the stress on your spine.

4. Prolonged Positions

Everyone knows that movement is healthy for your spine. Sitting for long periods of time can reduce blood flow to different parts of your back. Moving frequently helps to provide nutrition to the discs and keeps the joints of the spine lubricated.

While posture doesn’t directly correlate with back pain, there are certain postures that can aggravate existing symptoms.

5. Overused Medications

Over-the-counter medications can help ease pain temporarily, but they are not recommended for long-term use. Prescription medications are also effective, but undoubtedly come with unwanted side effects.

Consult with your healthcare provider to discuss benefits, risks, and alternatives to over-the-counter treatments.

Degenerative Disc Disease Chiropractor

If you live in or near Glendale, Arizona; We Care Chiropractic can help treat your degenerative disc disease.  While there’s no cure for it you can live better through chiropractic treatment and using the natural treatment approaches listed in this post.  For more information about how we can help you live better with our chiropractic treatments please give us a call at (623) 825-4444