Are there alternatives to surgery for Cervical Degenerative Disk Disease?

Question

I'm 29 and have been diagnosed with CDDD. I don't want surgery. I don't know what other options are out there. All I see are articles on spinal fusion or artificial disk replacement. HELP!!

Answer 1

i am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. the nerves in your cervical spine (neck) go all the way down your arm while the nerves in your lumbar spine (low back) form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any of these are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness wherever these nerves go (down arms/legs).



as a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic.



but now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven't heard of it yet it is called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results).



my recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem since most people need another surgery 5-10 years down the road for the same issue. it's typically a viscious cycle. remember: surgery is always an option, so try something prior to surgery to see if you can avoid it--cause once you do the surgery there is no going back.



this treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!

Answer 2

Have you had an MRI or bone scan to rule out other causes of neck pain? I see many people who are given the "diagnosis" of DDD after having a simple x-ray. I hate hearing this diagnosis because it is often used incorrectly. This is because everyone's discs go through some sort of degeneration as we age. A certain percentage of the pain-free population even under the age of 30 has at least 1 degnerative disc. As we approach the age of 60, prevenlence of a degenerative disc reaches about 90% of the population. I'm sure a certain percentage of that population does have pain, but the importance here is that presence of a degenerative disc does not necessarily imply that the person has pain. Therefore, DDD is actually a misnomer because it is not actually a disease...it is a normal part of aging. Yet, if you have an EXCEPTIONAL amount of degeneration for someone your age, or if you have narrowing of the neurforamena, then DDD would certainly be an appropriate diagnosis.



I find many people who were given the diagnosis of DDD later had MRIs which confirmed the presence of a herniated disc. This can often be relieved with physical therapy. Bone scans could rule out other pathological conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis.



Take home lesson: if you have only had x-rays and do not find relief with good posture, anti-inflammatories (if recommended by your doctor) and stretching; don't let the diagnosis of DDD haunt you...there may be more reasons to explain your pain.

Answer 3

Be very careful abut doing anything. So much of what people suggest will actually make it worse. The only thing I would suggest that I know will not hrm him is to stretch. Place arms over something very stable and take all the weight with your shoulders so the rest of the body can stretch out. Do this for as long as you can twice a day. It will hurt a lot. This opens up the spine so it can slip back together on its own. If there is real dammage then it is the doctors that you need. Once the back is in proper place then go on a program of exercize to strengthen the back so this does not happen again.

Answer 4

You and your doctor are the only ones that can ultimately decide on surgery, but with that said you can do something about it. It will take a lifestyle change of sorts for most people, but in your case what other option do you have? #1 low glycemic diet #2 moderate excercise #3 High quality nutritional supplements. Your body obviously needs help rebuilding itself and you can't get all this from your food so you need high quality supplementation. For supplements you need active calcium (different then trying to drink a ton of milk, you actually need better sources) essentials (a mix of over 30 different vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants) procossa II (glucosamine sulfate,manganese,molybdenum, tumeric extract) bio-omega fatty acids and probablly some proflavanol depending on the inflammation.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Have you tried a neck brace,I have the same complaint and I would only consider surgery as the last resort.If you have a soft neck brace you can still move your head and neck so the muscles will still be used.good luck.