Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery
Degenerative disc disease is a colloquial term that describes a natural part of the aging process. After years of enduring the wear and tear that comes with supporting the body during everyday activities like walking, sitting, bending, and twisting, the intervertebral discs can begin to lose water content and become less flexible. As discs age, they can become painful, shift out of place, or break open, causing pressure that results in pain traveling to other areas of the body. It’s not always easy to fight the natural aging process, and for those individuals who suffer from chronic back and neck pain due to aging discs, degenerative disc disease surgery may be the treatment of choice.
Non-Surgical Treatment
The conservative, non-surgical methods of degenerative disc disease treatment typically include one or more of the following:
- Physical therapy
- Over-the-counter pain medications
- The use of hot/cold compresses
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Intermittent rest
- Behavior modification techniques
- Exercise
- Stretching
- And others
Most doctors and spine specialists recommend that patients follow a regimen of these non-surgical techniques for several weeks or months. This allows many individuals to find temporary relief from the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, which can include pain, muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling.
Surgical Treatment
When non-invasive treatments fail to provide relief, surgery to repair or remove damaged, aging discs may be recommended. Laser Spine Institute has developed safe and effective alternatives to open back or neck surgery. Our laser-assisted procedures utilize state-of-the-art endoscopic technology and boast a 90 percent patient satisfaction rate. Contact Laser Spine Institute Scottsdale, or any of our other locations nationwide, if you wish to learn more.
