Degenerative Disc Disease Carrollton, TX
- See It On Your Own X-Rays
- Decompression & Pain Relief
- Bone-on-Bone Screening
Degenerative disc disease is a type of condition related to aging. In this disease, the disc has become compressed, dried out, and has lost the ability to act as a shock absorber. And this is how Dr. Hoa Nguyen explains it to our patients at Dallas Spine Center in Carrollton, TX. To better understand this disease, you need to see your own X-ray.
In this condition, how far the change has progressed is the most important thing. If your disc has thinned out but not yet bone-on-bone, then you’re an ideal candidate for decompression. However, if the thinning is in the advanced stage, then it will be managed differently. This page walks through both paths so you will know what to expect before your initial visit.
What Degenerative Disc Disease Is
Degenerative disc disease happens when the cushioning in your spine starts to wear away. Normally, your discs sit between the cushion and the vertebrae. But as you age, this disc thins out. On an X-ray, the space between two vertebrae looks narrower than it should. It can affect your neck, your lower back, or both.
Thinning of the disc can cause neurological problems. Patients describe back or neck pain that travels into the arms or legs. Sometimes, the symptoms are accompanied by numbness and tingling. But there are cases where they don’t. A thin disc can also be the culprit behind a pinched nerve or sciatica that keeps coming back.
Dr. Nguyen Reads Your X-Ray
Degenerative disc disease shows up clearly on your X-ray. This is the reason Dr. Nguyen will request it as part of your first visit if you didn’t bring your recent films. The imaging test will be performed here at our chiropractic office. When the digital X-rays are available, Dr. Nguyen will go over them and identify which discs have thinned and how much space is still left.
“Degenerative disc disease is when a disc has been compressed, has been desiccated, has been dried out. The disc is very thin on the spine when we look at it on the x-ray.”
Dr. Hoa Nguyen, D.C.The imaging shapes your care. What matters most here is whether or not the disc still has room to respond to decompression. In addition to X-rays, your history and orthopedic exam will also be conducted to better understand your condition. Dr. Nguyen will ask you where your pain travels and what warning signs you experience.
Two Treatment Paths for Degenerative Disc Disease Depending on Your Discs
The treatment for degenerative disc disease will depend on what your X-rays show and how your body responds. Dr. Nguyen will tell you honestly whether or not your body will respond to chiropractic care or if you need pain management first.
When Your Disc Can Still RespondThe spinal decompression on the DRX9000 is ideal if your disc has not reached bone-on-bone, even though it has thinned. In this therapy, the bed pulls your vertebrae apart to lower pressure in the disc. The pulling draws in water, nutrients, and oxygen. Dr. Nguyen uses a successful protocol of 20 to 28 treatments, and each treatment lasts 28 to 30 minutes.
When Pain Management Comes FirstWhen decompression isn’t appropriate for your degenerative disc disease because it’s already in an advanced stage, your care will focus on managing your pain or keeping you comfortable. Dr. Nguyen may recommend shockwave therapy, a hot pad, a TENS unit, infrared therapy, and Hako-Med therapy, which is ideal for relieving back and neck pain.
We have patients here at Dallas Spine Center who fall in between. This means that one disc can respond to decompression while another is more advanced. If this is your case, your plan will be a combination of those two approaches. The goal is for each level of your spine to receive the most appropriate care.
What Your Plan Looks Like
Dr. Nguyen will plan your treatment based on your overall health. Most plans here at this office can run for around two months. Reassessments are conducted to determine whether the care is working or not. If decompression is included in your plan, your first session starts at 60 percent of the planned pull. Sessions are comfortable. Many patients fall asleep while lying on the table.
You may feel mild muscle soreness for a few days. This is the result of your muscles reacting to the pulling. It’s completely normal. When your plan is complete, you can choose to finish it, or you can transition to maintenance visits. For maintenance, you’ll visit our office every couple of months or once a year. The main goal here is to manage your spine well over time.
Watch For These Warning Signs
Degenerative disc disease changes slowly, most of the time. However, some symptoms can indicate that a more serious issue is happening inside that you may need to be seen by a medical doctor first. If any of these symptoms are present, Dr. Nguyen will assess you and may refer you out immediately:
- New numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Difficulty walking or loss of balance
- Severe back or neck pain
- Midline spine tenderness
- Signs of a concussion or head injury
- Signs of a spinal cord injury
If one or more of these symptoms arise, you need to be evaluated first by a medical doctor instead of visiting our chiropractic office. Dr. Nguyen will send you to the correct specialist instead of treating you with chiropractic care that won’t work.
Degenerative Disc Disease FAQs
What is disc desiccation?
Disc desiccation means that a disc has lost water content. Healthy discs have water that cushions the spine. As a disc loses that water, it becomes thin and compressed. You will see it as a narrower space between two vertebrae. It’s one of the primary changes that you see in patients with degenerative disc disease.
Can degenerative disc disease be reversed?
Degenerative disc disease can’t be reversed, but it can be managed. This is an aging-related condition. The realistic goal is to manage it well. If the disc has not reached bone-on-bone, decompression can lower the pressure inside the disc and help restore it. But for a more advanced case, the focus is to control the pain with shockwave, TENS, and other therapies.
What causes degenerative disc disease?
Degenerative disc disease is an aging type of condition. Discs can be compressed. They can dry out and thin. The thinning and drying out can start causing pain in your neck and back that travels into your arms or legs. Dr. Nguyen will obtain your full history to better understand your case at your first visit.
Does degenerative disc disease get worse?
Degenerative disc disease can progress as the disc continues to thin. This is part of aging. It’s the reason X-rays matter a lot. A disc that hasn’t reached bone-on-bone can still be decompressed. Dr. Nguyen will reassess your situation during your plan to track your progress and find out whether your symptoms are worsening.
Can a chiropractor help degenerative disc disease?
No chiropractor can regrow a worn disc. But Dr. Nguyen can provide you with the care that you need to make a difference in your pain. The first step is to look at your X-rays. If you’re not improving as expected, Dr. Nguyen will refer you for an MRI or to another specialist.
See Your Discs for Yourself
The $47 new patient special includes a consultation with Dr. Nguyen, an orthopedic exam, and digital x-rays that he reviews with you. You will leave knowing which treatment path fits your spine.
Dallas Spine Center, 3730 N Josey Ln #122, Carrollton, TX 75007. Serving Lewisville, Plano, Frisco, North Dallas, Addison, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Highland Village, The Colony, and Little Elm.