Spinal discs degenerate for a variety of reasons. Cells within a disc can die naturally as we age, but the process is generally exacerbated by genetics, obesity, and smoking. Traditional treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease includes over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, spinal mobilization, and surgery. However, the use of stem cells as a treatment has been rapidly gaining popularity.
Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that’s a part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It originated in China and has been around for over 2,500 years. It’s a technique used to balance the flow of energy, also known as life force, chi, or qi. Qi is thought to flow through pathways in your body. The goal of acupuncture is to remove energy blockages and balance your energy flow, which helps to regulate your emotional, mental, and physical health.
Obtaining an accurate diagnosis that identifies the underlying cause of the pain, and doesn’t just correlate to the symptoms, is important in guiding treatment. As a foundation of the diagnostic process, the patient provides a detailed description of symptoms and medical history. From this information, a doctor will usually have a general idea of the source of the patient’s pain.
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back and neck pain, and also one of the most misunderstood. Simply put, degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. In some cases, degenerative disc disease also causes weakness, numbness, and hot, shooting pains in the arms or legs (radicular pain). Degenerative disc disease typically consists of a low-level chronic pain with intermittent episodes of more severe pain.
Low back pain might begin as acute due to an injury but can become chronic. Managing pain appropriately at an early stage can help limit symptoms in both time and severity. Identifying the symptoms and getting a diagnosis that pinpoints the underlying cause of the pain is the first step in obtaining effective pain relief.
A dysfunction in your cervical spine can lead to pain that radiates through your shoulders and down your arms. If this is the case for you, an injection of cortisone steroid can be a great short-term solution. Read on for a step-by-step overview of this common procedure: In your cervical spine (neck), there is a sac called the dura that contains your nerve roots, cerebrospinal fluid, your spinal cord, and nerves.
Most commonly, mechanical issues and soft-tissue injuries are the cause of low back pain. These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots, and improper movement of the spinal joints. The single most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament.
It's Complicated - Your knees have lots of moving parts, and you use them a lot, so lots of things can go wrong, like, too much of one kind of motion, especially if you don't work up to it, it can lead to "overuse" injuries. Simple wear and tear is a problem, especially as you age. Accidents can crack bones and tear tissue. With some conditions, your body attacks its own joints. Your doctor can help you sort out what's going on with your knee when it doesn't feel right.
The ancient form of alternative medicine is growing in popularity as a viable treatment for a range of conditions. In the midst of the opioid crisis, acupuncture has been growing in popularity in the United States. Primarily used for pain management, this ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine, which involves thin needles being inserted into the skin, has gained support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid as a viable treatment in recent years.
Knee - The biggest joint in your body is sort of like a Swiss Army knife. It helps you sit, stand, lift, walk, run, and jump. It also has lots of parts that can get injured: tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones that you can crack, tear, dislocate, and more.
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