Degenerative Disc Treatment › Degenerative Disc Disorder › Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disorder
Chiropractic Treatment Option for Degenerative Disc Disorder.
Chiropractic treatment is highly recommended for degenerative disc disorder. This is because it is non-invasive and has no adverse side effects like some drugs do. Surgery is usually the last resort in the treatment of degenerative disc disorder and is avoided. Surgery will only be recommended after a failed 4-6 weeks of alternative therapy such as chiropractic therapy. Surgery is also recommended in emergency cases i.e. where the patient's neurological functions are being affected e.g. loss of bladder control.
The first step in chiropractic therapy is to determine the type and extent of damage caused by degenerative disc disorder. This will involve determining the favored posture of the patient to enable the application of the appropriate treatment. The chiropractor will take the patient through a full body physical examination which includes stretching, flexing and bending. This will help the chiropractor to determine the positions in which the patient is most comfortable in and those that are uncomfortable or painful.
After diagnosis, the chiropractor will then suggest a chiropractic treatment program for degenerative disc disorder. This program will include a series of exercises and stretches that are best suited for the type of injury displayed by the patient. The patient then undergoes about 5 trial appointments in which the chiropractic program is tested. The program is only continued if the patient shows improvements such as reduction in leg and back pain. Tests are performed at regular intervals to determine if muscle strength or length is improving with time.
If no improvements are evident after a period of about 2 weeks of chiropractic
treatment, an alternative treatment for degenerative disc disorder is suggested.
Chiropractic therapy goes beyond prescribing a set of exercises for the treatment of degenerative disc disorder. It is the chiropractor's job to identify any biomechanical problems and postural faults that may be aggravating the patient's condition. This may include pelvic obliquity caused by having a significant leg length difference. This can be solved through the prescription of heels for the deficient leg.
If the patient displays improvements after chiropractic treatment then the chiropractor prescribes more exercises that can be done in the privacy of the patient's home.
Chiropractic Treatment Option
Chiropractic Treatment Option for Degenerative Disc Disease
Article published December 21st, 2010
Back to Info Center: Degenerative Disc Disorder | 
