Degenerative disk disease is a common health issue that often affects elderly adults, but may also affect young people. Discs in your spine work like shock absorbers between the bones of your spine. Discs maintain a range of motions and help your spine stay flexible. When you become older, the spinal discs lose their shock-absorbing properties due to wear and tear. When discs cannot perform their function, bones in the spine suffer. This may decrease your range of motions and lead to back pain. 

If you suffer from degenerative disc disease, it is important to get it treated to prevent disability and improve the quality of your life. Below are 8 effective recommendations on how to relieve and treat degenerative disc disease symptoms. 

1. Physical therapy 

Physical therapy is one of the best and most effective ways to treat most spine conditions. By using specific movements and exercises, a physical therapist relieves pain and prevents further damage to the spinal discs. Strengthening your bank and abdomen muscles is key to treat and improve the symptoms of degenerative disc disease. When back muscles are weak, this adds pressure on the discs and aggravates existing spine diseases. 

A physical therapist can recommend a set of exercises for core muscle strengthening. A therapist may also help you improve posture, relieve pain, and reduce pressure on the nerves caused by disc degeneration. 

2. Pain relievers

Degenerative disc disease often causes pain and discomfort. The main causes of pain are inflammation and abnormal micromotion instability. When the inflammatory proteins from the affected disc leak and affect surrounding spinal tissues. This makes you prone to muscle tension and muscle spasms. In the case when inflammation affects nerve roots, it may cause pain and numbness that spread in the neck, shoulders, and arms. 

In this case, the doctor may prescribe you over-the-counter pain-relieving medications. They can help you feel better while NSAIDs relieve the cause of pain aka inflammation. Keep in mind, that it isn’t recommended to take painkillers longer than a week. 

3. Weight loss

Obesity can put you at risk of many serious health problems, including disc degenerative disease. Excess weight puts excessive stress on your spine parts, especially discs. This exacerbates the process of disc wear and tear and can aggravate your symptoms significantly. If you are overweight and have degenerative disc disease, it is important to lose excess weight to prevent serious health consequences like disability. 

Losing excess weight may be challenging, but you may ask your doctor to help you. Your general doctor can refer you to specialists like a physical therapist and dietitian. Making changes to your physical and diet routine may help relieve pressure on the discs and improve overall wellbeing. 

4. NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help to decrease inflammation and pain caused by degenerative disc disease. When part of your body is injured, your immune system responds by sending special cells that help repair damaged tissues. Part of this healing process is inflammation. It may cause pain and swell in the soft tissues. 

NSAIDs help relieve inflammation and pain or swelling associated with it. The most common  NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen. These medications are available without a prescription, but they cannot relieve severe inflammation. Only your doctor can prescribe you more potent anti-inflammatory drugs. 

5. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that can treat different health conditions. It works by promoting a flow of energy around your body. The therapists believe that blocks of energy in certain points of your body can trigger a wide variety of health problems. But the beneficial effect of acupuncture has a scientifically proven explanation. 

When the doctor inserts small needles in a certain point of your body, it promotes blood flow to this area. This helps stimulate the natural healing processes of your body and prompts the body to release endorphins. Endorphins can improve your overall wellbeing and relieve pain associated with degenerative disc disease. 

6. Muscle relaxants

Degenerative disc disease may lead to another serious health condition called a pinched nerve. Because of this, the electrical signals that move from nerve to surrounding muscles may be disrupted. This often causes painful spasms and discomfort. In this case, the doctors prescribe muscle relaxants to relieve pain and increase the range of motions. The muscle relaxant therapy usually lasts between 1-2 weeks. After that period pain often goes away on its own. 

7. Corticosteroids

The doctor may suggest corticosteroids if other medications cannot help relieve pain and inflammation. Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation around the injured disc. This relieves pressure and pain in the affected area. The therapy of oral corticosteroids usually lasts about 8 days. After the end of this period, the doctor reassesses your symptoms and prescribes another treatment if necessary. You cannot get them without a prescription, so you need to visit a doctor. 

8. Surgery

Degenerative disc disease surgery isn’t the first-line treatment. The doctor may suggest surgery if you've tried non-surgical treatments for a least 6 months and they haven't reduced your pain and other symptoms. During the surgery, the spine surgeon removes the affected disc and grafts two vertebrae together. The main goal of degenerative disc disease surgery is to relieve pain and improve a patient’s quality of life.