Our Arlington Heights Chiropractor Treats Disc Degeneration
Disc degeneration may be a natural phenomenon, but that doesn't mean you have to keep suffering from its effects. The back pain, neck stiffness and extremity symptoms associated with this age-related issue can be minimized without drugs or surgery. Arlington Chiropractic Clinic physicians will be happy to help you gain control over this vexing problem.
Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease isn't a disease in the normal sense of the word. Instead, it's a collection of problems related to age-related alterations in the fluid-filled discs between your vertebrae. These fluid-filled cartilaginous discs play an essential role in protecting the spinal column from bumps and shocks; they also help to maintain a consistent space between the vertebrae so that the facet joints articulating those vertebrae can function without strain.
Over time, a sequence of natural circumstances can create an ever-worsening set of discomforts collectively known as degenerative disc disease. As your body loses hydration with age, the discs may lose internal water content, which causes them to lose height and bulge outward. The reduction in spacing places extra stress on the facet joints, triggering pain and inflammation that may evolve into osteoarthritis. The lack of support within the bulging disc may also cause it to herniate. A herniated disc can be extremely painful, not least because the material that protrudes from it has inflammatory qualities that irritate neighboring nerve roots. At the same time, all these shifts in the spinal structure have caused the spinal canal to become too narrow. This condition, known as spinal stenosis, can put pressure on nerve roots or directly on the spinal cord itself.
Telltale Symptoms of Disc Degeneration
Disc degeneration makes its presence known in a variety of ways, none of them pleasant. Neck or back pain and stiffness is a common complaint. You may also experience odd tingling, numbness, muscle weakness or pain sensations in an arm or leg. These problems occur when a major nerve root becomes pinched and/or inflamed, which interferes with normal nerve signaling.
Chiropractic Care and Other Drug-Free Answers
"Chiro" means "by hand" -- and in the case of disc degeneration, you'll find that "chiro" also means natural pain management and symptom relief. Your Arlington Heights chiropractor can administer spinal adjustments to bring your discs back into their normal position within the spinal column, relieving neurological symptoms and improving your comfortable range of motion. Physical therapy may also be recommended to help you lend extra strength and support to your spine, or to overcome muscle atrophy caused by nerve impingement. We can even introduce you to anti-aging services that can help you slow the changes caused by Father Time.
Call Arlington Chiropractic Clinic Today!
If you'd like to age more carefully and with less pain, start by controlling your degenerative disc disease. Do the right thing for your discs by calling Arlington Chiropractic Clinic, PC at (847) 259-4493 for a consultation! We look forward to meeting with you!
