Spinal surgeries, such as spinal fusion and microdiscectomy, are used to alleviate the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, which include pain, muscle weakness and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Even though surgery has been found to be effective in relieving these symptoms, the prospect of surgery can seem daunting and drastic. When spinal symptoms arise, it's reasonable for doctors and patients to seek less invasive procedures before resorting to spinal surgery.
Lifestyle Modification
Unhealthy habits can result in weight gain that puts stress on the spinal joints and weakened immunity that diminishes the body's capacity to heal. The UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center advises that by incorporating dietary changes and exercise into their lives, patients can lose excess weight and strengthen the core muscles that support the spine. Quitting smoking will allow the immune system to expend less energy on healing the damage caused by tobacco, and more on healing the damage caused by disc degeneration. When these lifestyle changes are successfully employed, substantial relief can result.
Chiropractic
Rehabilitation specialist Dr. John P. Revord states that low velocity chiropractic treatments can help relieve the effects of disc degeneration and reduce the need for surgery to repair herniated discs. Chiropractic uses manual manipulation of the spinal joints to increase mobility and relieve pain.
Active Physical Therapy
Revord advises that physical therapy can aid in recovery from disc herniation. Active physical therapy refers to a patient actively participating in their treatment by implementing a regimen of strengthening and stretching exercises specifically designed by a therapist to strengthen the spine. Physical therapists can also coach patients on safer techniques for performing daily tasks to avoid further damage to the spine.
Passive Physical Therapy
Dr. Peter Ullrich, an orthopedic surgeon with the NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin, explains that physical therapists can address the symptoms of disc disease through passive therapies such as the use of heating pads or ice massage to reduce swelling and muscle spasms. Sometimes heat pads and ice massage are used alternately. This form of therapy is most helpful during the early onset of pain.
Iontophoresis, a process wherein an electrical current is used to drive steroids through the skin, and ultrasound, a form of electrotherapy that overrides normal pain impulses, are two other forms of active therapy that are used to treat back pain. These forms of therapy are referred to as passive physical therapy in that they are done to the patient, with no active participation on his part.
