Armor Physical Therapy Offers Degenerative Disc Treatment

If you are suffering from degenerative disc disease, you know how difficult it can be to complete day-to-day tasks due to pain. Because the lower back carries most of our body weight and goes through a lot of everyday stress and strain, lower back problems and injuries are very common. Injury to the lower back can lead to weakness, numbness and tingling all the way down the spine to your feet.

Degenerative disc disease can be caused by a number of factors, such as injury, age or lifestyle choices. Our team at Armor Physical Therapy can determine the cause of your degenerative disc disease and create a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief.

Common causes of degenerative disc disease

Often, degenerative disc disease develops slowly over time. While there are a number of factors that can cause this condition, the most common causes of degenerative disc disease include:

• Age-related wear-and-tear
• Back or neck strain due to physical activity, poor posture or heavy lifting
• Physical injury, such as a car accident or a fall
• Genetics

Once the cause of the condition is determined, our physical therapists can work with you to help you find relief. Typically, our physical therapy treatment for degenerative disc disease involves a number of guided stretches and exercises to strengthen the core, which helps to reduce the stress and weight placed on the spine.

Armor Physical Therapy treatment options

Degenerative disc treatment plans normally include pain management and physical therapy. Initial pain management starts with over the counter pain medications such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Applying heat to the lower back can improve circulation, which reduces the muscle tension and improves mobility. It can be helpful to apply heat before physical activity to relax the muscles, and then afterward apply ice packs to help reduce inflammation and numb any mild pain.

Massage therapy can reduce tension and spasms in the lower back muscles, as well. Lying down takes the pressure off the spine, which can help to relieve pain. Massage therapy can also improve circulation and provide healing nutrients and oxygen to tense muscles.

Let Armor Physical Therapy help treat your degenerative disc disease

If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of degenerative disc disease and you would like to learn more about the available treatment options, please contact Armor Physical Therapy to schedule a consultation.