Lingering back pain can significantly impact your daily life and make even the simplest tasks challenging. One frequent cause of back pain in adults is degenerative disc disease. Fortunately, your chiropractor near you at the Spine Pain Center in the Irmo area of Columbia, SC, can treat degenerative disc disease with non-invasive and holistic chiropractic care. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and chiropractic treatments used for this painful condition below.

Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is a common condition affecting the spinal discs. These discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine, absorbing shock and providing flexibility. Our discs experience wear and tear over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and even nerve compression. While age is the predominant cause of degenerative disc disease, other factors also contribute to its development. These include:

• Genetics: People can be predisposed to this condition due to their genes.
• Repetitive strain: Jobs or activities that involve frequent bending, twisting, or heavy lifting can stress the discs.
• Obesity: Excess weight accelerates disc degeneration due to extra stress on the spine.
• Smoking: Smoking reduces blood flow to the discs and hinders their ability to heal.

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

The most common symptom of degenerative disc disease is back pain. Many people experience a dull or achy pain, while others may have sharp or stabbing pain. This pain may worsen with activities like sitting or bending. You can also have numbness or weakness in the arms and legs.

The location of the affected disc often impacts what pain you experience. For example, cervical degenerative disc disease causes neck pain, headaches, and arm pain. Lumbar degenerative disc disease leads to lower back pain, sciatica, and weakness in the legs.

How Our Chiropractic Care Can Help

While chiropractic care cannot cure degenerative disc disease, our chiropractors can help with pain and improve spinal function. Our back pain treatment often includes spinal adjustments to alleviate nerve pressure and promote healing. Spinal adjustments also improve joint mobility and reduce inflammation. Our chiropractors may also include the following in your back pain treatment plan:

• Physical rehabilitation: We include exercises to strengthen core muscles and improve spinal stability.
• Spinal decompression: Spinal decompression gently creates space between vertebrae to reduce disc pressure.
• Cold laser therapy: Low-level laser therapy helps reduce inflammation and promotes tissue healing.

Many patients experience significant pain relief and improved function thanks to our chiropractic care and alternative medicine.

Visit Your Chiropractor Near You at the Spine Pain Center for Lasting Pain Relief

If you are experiencing debilitating back pain that impacts your quality of life, consider contacting your “chiropractor near you” at the Spine Pain Center in the Irmo area of Columbia, SC. Our chiropractors can create a personalized treatment plan to help you feel your best again, so call us and schedule a consultation today at (803) 781-4092 to discuss your back pain management options.