Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Cervical degenerative disc disease is a condition that affects the discs in your neck. These discs help to cushion and protect the bones in your neck, and when they start to degenerate, you can experience a variety of symptoms. These discs help to cushion and protect the bones in your neck, and when they start to degenerate, you can experience a variety of symptoms. In this blog post, we will discuss the symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as the treatment options and ways to prevent the condition from worsening. In this blog post, we will discuss the symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as the treatment options and ways to prevent the condition from worsening.

Common symptoms of Cervical Degenerative disc disease

Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease can vary widely from person to person. When cervical degenerative disc disease becomes symptomatic, the pain might develop slowly over time or appear suddenly. Some common symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease include:

• neck pain
• stiffness, 
• headaches
• radiating pain down the arms
• numbness or tingling in your arms and hands
• weakness
• muscle tension

These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they may come on gradually or suddenly. These symptoms can make it difficult to perform everyday activities, such as driving or cooking. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor so that they can diagnose the condition and develop a treatment plan. There are a variety of treatment options available for cervical degenerative disc disease, and the best option for you will depend on the severity of your symptoms. For milder cases, over-the-counter pain medication and ice may be enough to help relieve the pain. If your symptoms are more severe, your doctor may recommend physical therapy, injections, or surgery. In some cases, a combination of these treatments may be necessary. 

Diagnostic for Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

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A diagnosis of degenerative disc disease is usually made after taking a medical history, performing a physical examination, and ordering imaging tests. X-rays are often the first test ordered to look for changes in the bones of the spine. However, x-rays cannot show early signs of degenerative disc disease or detect damage to the discs themselves.MRI or CT scans are usually needed to confirm the diagnosis. These tests can show early degenerative changes in the discs as well as herniated discs or other problems that might be causing the pain.

Cervical Degenerative disc treatment 

There are several treatment options available for cervical degenerative disc disease, both surgical and non-surgical. The best course of action will depend on the individual patient's symptoms and overall health. In some cases, conservative measures such as physical therapy, pain medication, or epidural steroid injections may be enough to provide relief.

If conservative measures fail to provide adequate relief, surgery may be recommended. Several different types of surgical procedures can be used to treat cervical degenerative disc disease, and the best option will again depend on the individual patient's symptoms and overall health. Conservative treatments might include physical therapy, pain medication, steroid injections, and/or traction. If conservative measures fail to provide relief, surgery might be recommended. The most common type of surgery for cervical degenerative disc disease is an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Cervical Degenerative disc prevention

To help prevent the development of cervical degenerative disc disease, it is important to maintain good posture and alignment, avoid smoking, and maintain a healthy weight. If you are involved in any type of repetitive motion work or activities, be sure to take frequent breaks to rest your neck and avoid overexertion. Wearing a cervical collar during activities that may put extra stress on the neck can also help prevent degenerative changes from happening. If you have any concerns about your risk of developing cervical degenerative disc disease, be sure to talk to your doctor.

Prevention of cervical degenerative disc disease is difficult, as it is often the result of the natural aging process. However, there are a few things that can be done to help slow the progression of the condition, including maintaining good posture, exercising regularly, and avoiding activities that put unnecessary stress on the neck.

Upper cervical care and Cervical Degenerative disc disease. 

One of the most effective ways to treat degenerative disc disease is to ensure the spine is in proper alignment. Loss of alignment, which can happen due to injury or just day-to-day life, puts extra stress on the spine which can accelerate the degradation of discs. Adjustments bring back alignment and take pressure off of inflamed nerves. Upper cervical care is a specific type of chiropractic that focuses on aligning the top two bones in the spine. This area of the spine is particularly susceptible to misalignment because it supports the head, which is heavy and constantly moving. 

When the upper cervical spine is out of alignment, it puts pressure on the discs and nerves in the neck, which can lead to degenerative disc disease. Upper cervical chiropractors are specially trained to identify and correct misalignments in the upper cervical spine. They use gentle adjustments to realign the bones and relieve pressure on the discs and nerves. Upper cervical care is a safe, effective treatment for degenerative disc disease. If you are suffering from degenerative disc disease, we encourage you to do an appointment with one of our upper cervical qualified chiropractors. Upper cervical care may be the relief you’ve been looking for.