Degenerative Disc Disease Brooklyn, NY
- Chronic Disc Compression Care
- Spinal Decompression Candidates
- Honest, Measured Plans
There is a strong misconception whenever a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease is made. People walking into Nuro Chiropractic in Brooklyn are saddened after reading that result on an X-ray or MRI report. I am Dr. Brian Donovan, and I am here to tell you that the word disease misleads a lot of people.
When you hear the term, the first thing that comes to mind is age- and load-related changes in the discs and spine structures. Pain is not automatic if you discover you have degenerative changes. Lots of patients have them on a scan but do not feel any symptoms at all.
What Do You Feel If You Are Symptomatic
People who are experiencing symptoms describe it not as a sharp injury but as a deep ache or stiffness in the neck or lower back. Patterns commonly experience are the following:
- Stiff first thing in the morning
- Worse after sitting for a long stretch
- Pain with bending or lifting
- Aching after prolonged standing
- Flares with repetitive movements
- Better once you get moving
It is also a different scenario when there is a narrowing space around a nerve. There might be pain traveling into an arm or leg, along with numbness or tingling or weakness. In this situation, a neurological examination is highly suggested.
Is the Degeneration Really Relevant
Even though you have an imaging report that says degenerative disc disease, everything must come into place to build the proper treatment. The imaging must match your symptoms and examination; there are instances when it matches, but sometimes they do not.
“Your imaging does not necessarily determine your future.”
Dr. Brian Donovan, D.C.That’s what I say to patient to give them a peace of mind but it is for real and I’m not saying just to make stories. People can have similar films but the pain and function differ. An imaging is definitely not a conclusion.
My Evaluation Process of Disc Degeneration in Brooklyn
- 1 Evaluate the spinal range of motion, strength, sensation, reflexes when indicated, and joint and muscular function.
- 2 The right orthopedic and neurological testing is done to check if there are nerve structures affected.
- 3 Know what you can still physically do without having difficulties.
- 4 Imaging might be taken on the affected areas. You’ll know immediately if there is disc-space narrowing and other suspected bony changes, as we have a digital X-ray available in our office. An MRI might be recommended if I suspect you of having disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or nerve compression.
You’ll not expect that the third step is what matters more. What changes first is usually the function, so we track it carefully.
How Treatment Does Its Thing
- Improving the tolerance of the spine is achieved with the use of carefully chosen chiropractic adjustments, mobility and stretching, soft-tissue treatment, and progressive exercise. These are generally useful for mild cases of degenerative change.
- Lessen the loading of some structures with spinal decompression as part of the treatment. Great for managing serious disc-related symptoms.
- Managing the symptoms is important if there is no cure. Reliable options that you can get are Class IV laser, PEMF, and cryotherapy, when conservative therapy is not enough or suitable.
I will not give you false hope that I can transform a sixty-year-old disc into a young adult disc. There are things that are irreversible, and structural change took a long time to accumulate. The best approach that we can take is to make you feel good about yourself and improve your function despite those changes.
When Degenerative Changes Need More Attention
If you are having lower back issues, loss of bowel or bladder control, groin or saddle numbness, and progress leg weakness, a medical evaluation is needed.
Progressive arm or leg weakness, progressing numbness, walking and balance problems must not be taken for granted, medical evaluation is needed. There are more serious cases that referral to an orthopedist, neurologist, pain management physician, or spine surgeon is given.
If you have spinal stenosis or persistent neurological deficits with no to little response to conservative care, it must be given another look. Access to proper care must be a priority and not just an option.
FAQs About Degenerative Disc Disease
Can we consider degenerative disc disease as a disease?
No. It only describes changes that accumulate in the discs throughout the years. No infection or progression, just like the normal diseases that we know. The name is only instilling fear more than the condition itself.
Will a degenerative disc disease worsen?
The structural change is irreversible. However, symptoms are a different topic, and they can improve over time even if the findings on the imaging stay the same.
Will disc degeneration worsen because of chiropractic care?
If there is an appropriate selected care, expect that it will not worsen. You can expect that an older patient with a severe case may have a different approach from a healthy young individual. Treatment may include gentler or instrument-assisted techniques. Techniques change depending on the progress of the patient.
Is exercising prohibited for people with disc degeneration?
No. It is essential for you to build strength and endurance so that your spine will be able to withstand everyday load. What must be done is to make adjustments to the exercises and continuously check your progress along the way.
Can you have this even if I am only in my 30s?
People can assume especially if they have read the findings. However, this is not a cue that your spine is failing significantly. Now you know it is there, symptoms must be examined too rather than just relying on the findings alone. Related findings such as nerve root irritation are what I am really screening for.
Should You Be Stressed if Your Spine is Degenerating
We check the findings and determine if they are related to your symptoms, and determine what to improve. We focus on improving your movements, strength, and other factors that affect your daily life since we cannot change every finding on your imaging.
Nuro Chiropractic, 9408 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209. Serving Bay Ridge, Staten Island, Bensonhurst, Park Slope, Prospect Park, Borough Park, Manhattan, Dyker Heights, Williamsburg, and the greater Brooklyn area.