Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments for the Cervical and Lumbar Spine – Brace Specialists Near You
1.) Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease. However, it is a term used to describe the changes that occur in the discs of the spine as you age. A normal progression for discs is to age and as they age there will be physical changes. – Spinal discs are usually soft in nature and have the ability to compress (acting as shock absorbers). These discs allow your spine to move more freely in both bending and twisting movements. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) can develop anywhere in the spine, but most often occurs in the lumbar and cervical (neck) region.
Back pain can develop at the site of the DDD, along with osteoarthritis, a herniated disc, and/or spinal stenosis. All this may be related to the changes we are talking about with your records.
A.) Osteoarthritis: This is the breakdown of cartilage that protects and helps cushion the joints.
B.) Herniated Disc – This occurs when there is an irregular bulge or when the spinal disc breaks open.
C.) Spinal Stenosis: This refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal of an individual. The spinal canal is what houses the spinal cord.
As a result of these conditions, more pressure can be placed on the spinal cord and this can lead to pain and compromised nerve function.
2.) Causes of DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease)
As a person ages, our spinal discs also begin to age. They break down (degenerate), causing a loss of fluid in the disc (loss of elasticity), and as a result, they will lose some of their ability to act as shock absorbers. The loss of fluid in the disc also makes the affected disc thinner and this will reduce the distance once found between each vertebra (spinal bone).
3.) What can a brace do to help me?
A quality back support (either for the lumbar or cervical spine) will help stop movements that will cause back pain. Many times when people put them on, they notice a few key things:
A.) Pain decreases
B.) Increased spinal stability
C.) Improved Posture
These back (or neck) braces do not cure degenerative disc disease. A cure for this problem is not widely available today. However, a quality backup can help alleviate the painful symptoms of the problem and this can help you get your life back. – The use of high-grade orthopedic supports is a conservative treatment option recognized by doctors and other medical professionals throughout the world to help treat pain problems conservatively.
4.) Does insurance cover back or neck braces?
It is very possible that your insurance will cover an orthosis (brace support). If you are interested in any form of back (or neck) support, please contact your local licensed orthopedist for more information. They will (almost always) help facilitate a claim on your behalf, doing most of the legwork for you in the process. If the brace is not covered at 100 percent, many times a large portion of the brace may be covered.
Note: This is health information. For medical advice on orthotics, speak to your local licensed orthopedist.