Degenerate Disk Disease

Degenerative disc disease do you have it? That is a question that everyone should be asking him or herself. Do you have low back or neck pain? That is the question that needs to be asked. We depend on our body for many things that when our body is injured or gets injured, we are not able to finish our daily activities. And when we are physically limited living is it difficult. It was interesting to note that 80% of adults will experience back pain at some time in their lives, and only 1 Ð'-2 % will need spine surgery.

The spine is (backbone) formed of 33 interlocking bones called vertebrae. That are separated by soft compressible discs and supported by many different ligaments and muscles. These discs absorb shock for the spine and provide flexibility to bend and twist. The outer portion of a spinal disc, called the capsule (annulus fibrosus), is made of tough, elastic cartilage. The capsule surrounds a mass of jelly-like material called the nucleus (nucleus pulposus). The spine is divided into five segments: Cervical (neck), Thoracic (upper and middle back), Lumbar (lower back), Sacrum (pelvis), and Coccyx (tailbone). In each segment, the vertebrae are numbered from top to bottom. For example, a C3 is the third vertebra in the neck area, while a T6 is the sixth vertebra in the Thoracic area.

As I was researching I asked the question, what is Degenerative disk disease? Degenerative disc disease is not really a disease, but a term to describe normal changes of the disc in the spine as a person ages. Aging is the most common cause of disc degeneration. As we age, our spinal disc break down which may result in degenerative disc disease in some people. As the body ages, the discs in the spine dehydrate, or dry out, and lose their ability to act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. The bones and ligaments that make up the spine also become less flexible and thicken. Excessive pressure on a weakened disc can cause some of the jellyÐ'-like material in the center of the disc to squeeze through tears in the capsule. Unlike muscles, there is minimal blood supply to the disc so they lack the ability to heal or repair themselves.

With degenerative disc disease, chronic low back pain, sometimes starts in the hips, or as an aching pain in the buttocks or thighs while walking; a constant tingling or weakness through the knees may also be evident. Similar pain may be felt or may increase while sitting, bending, lifting, and twisting. Many people have no pain, while others with the same amount of disc damage have severe pain that limits their activities. The pain may start after a major injury (such as from a car accident), a minor injury (such as a fall from a low height), or a normal motion (such as bending over to pick something up). It may also start gradually for no known reason and get worse over time.

With all this information on what causes degenerative disc disease, it makes me wonder if I already have the process started in my body. With the research that has been done, I understand that healthy eating, light exercising, and drinking plenty of water keeps our bodies in motion. Another thing to look at is our daily lives. What kind of stress are we putting on our bodies? What affect does our jobs have on our bodies? There are so many variables as to why our bodies are like they are. I myself do not eat right, and I do a lot of heavy lifting and I don't drink plenty of water. This is a prime example of someone not taken care of his or her body. It would be a wise choice to seek a health professional to help me get on a program that will benefit my body to live a healthy life. One health professional that could help in all of these questions would be a Chiropractor. Your Doctor of Chiropractic looks at your overall health Ð'- focusing not only on your spine but also on your lifestyle. This total approach to wellness helps determine the best treatment for your problem. A Chiropractor is trained to improve the health of your spine. Special chiropractic methods, called adjustments, can help relieve, slow, and sometimes stop the process of degeneration. A Chiropractor can also give suggestions to help you maintain a healthy life style and an exercise program for your symptoms.

Often, degenerative disc