Neck pain and stiffness can signal the onset of degenerative disc disease, but the symptoms of this debilitating condition don’t often end there. Nerve pain, numbness, and reduced range of motion are quick to follow and lasting when left untreated. And, being a degenerative condition, these peripheral problems will themselves only worsen.

Chiropractors cannot stop or reverse degenerative disc disease, but they may be able to assist patients in mitigating its more serious effects – pain and range of motion restrictions included. Moreover, chiropractic has been proven to reduce the frequency of flare-ups and duration of symptoms, giving sufferers a better shot at living normally.

The chiropractors at Ideal Spine Health Center are no strangers to degenerative disc disease. We frequently see Boise, ID patients suffering from this condition and, using tailored Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) treatment plans, help them to manage symptoms effectively.

The cycle of pain and mobility

Degenerative disc disease is almost invariably associated with the cervical spine. Patients tend to feel stiffness and low, radiating pain in the neck at the onset of the condition. They shake it off under the guise of sleeping wrong or turning too fast, only to later realize their symptoms are worsening instead of getting better.

Most patients seek chiropractic help when they’re stuck in the pain-mobility cycle. This cycle is a never-ending loop of chronic pain and one of the hallmarks of degenerative disc disease. Pain restricts the range of motion for a person when it comes to moving their head from side-to-side and when they attempt to stretch or strengthen the area, it only causes more pain. Sufferers are left paralyzed as to what they can do to feel better and the condition is allowed to fester.

Chiropractic’s mobility-centric options

Restoring range of motion to the cervical region and enabling the spine to retain that range of motion is key in keeping the symptoms of degenerative disc disease at bay. Healthy movement in this region:

  • Reduces disc and nerve compression;
  • Promotes strength and stability within the cervical spine;
  • Retains disc elasticity;
  • Lessens stress on any one part of the cervical spine.

To keep the cervical spine open to a health range of motion, chiropractors will focus adjustments and treatments that enable this. Adjustments to cervical vertebrae, traction, stretching and strengthening the cervical area, and postural analysis all work to coordinate better movement. This in turn lowers the threshold for pain and mitigates the frequency of which flare-ups occur to restrict movement and incite pain.

Managing all forms of pain

Chiropractic works to treat the entire condition and all of its varying symptoms from patient to patient. This includes addressing all types of pain, which may present as:

  • Muscle tension and pain caused by stiffness;
  • Nerve pain caused by pinched cervical nerves;
  • Neurological referred pain, caused by lost nerve signals;
  • Movement-induced pain.

By tackling the pain portion of the pain-mobility cycle, chiropractors are able to open up the potential for a restored range of motion. This effectively reverses the cycle. Now, healthy movement can help to stave off pain and a lack of pain promotes continued movement!

At Ideal Spine Health Center, we understand what living with degenerative disc disease can do to the quality of life of our Boise, ID patients. That why we work to isolate the cause of pain and the restrictors to your mobility quickly, using a CBP evaluation process and treatment approach.

For a free consultation regarding your degenerative disc disease diagnosis, please contact us today to learn more.

Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.