Cervical herniated disc, lumbar herniated disc

Lumbar and Cervical Disc Herniated Disc – Degenerative Disc Diseases

Lower back pain has affected millions of people across the country. As a matter of fact, it has found that number of patients suffering from this disease is increasing each passing day. Degenerative disc disease is a condition which affects young as well as middle-aged people on a daily basis. It might wax and wane before it decides to make things difficult and bothering for you. Lumbar and Cervical Herniated Disc are two most common conditions which make even accomplishing daily activities a challenge.

The intervertebral discs are situated between the vertebral bodies at every level of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines. These discs are made up of eighty percent of water. They work as shock absorber when you jump or walk or perform any motion related to the spine.

Studies performed indicate that near about forty percent of the people aged above forty years of age bear the brunt of this problem at some of the other level. There is very possibility that there might be no pain even if degenerative disc disease appears on MRI or X-ray. There are many people who are afflicted with severe back pain resulting from degenerative disc disease. It is not necessary that the disease occurs because of an injury. It can be genetic which lead to that disc level to start dehydrating earlier causing loss of height of the disc and lack of water triggering back pain.

As far as initial treatment is considered, healthcare professional or orthopedic surgeons start with medication, exercise and lifestyle changes. Activities such as jogging should be avoided, and only those recommended by the doctor should be the part of your daily regime. Make sure that you take the medicine as prescribed the doctor. Additional treatment includes pain management such as acupuncture, physical therapy, spinal decompression therapy and massage.

Only when these treatments fail to show any improvement that the doctor recommends surgery for cervical or lumbar herniated disc. Timely treatment and lifestyle changes can ease pain and stops further growth of the problem.