Degenerative Disc Disease Advice

Degenerative Disc Disease Advice To Decrease Pain in the Body

Degenerative Disc Disease Advice: Yoga, Dieting, Posture, & Care

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease or degenerative disc disorder, sometimes called DDD, occurs when one or more of the discs that lie between the vertebrae of the spine begin to dehydrate, shrink or compress.

The condition mostly occurs in the cervical spine or lumbar spine. It can be very painful and can have a tremendous impact on the quality of life for people who develop the condition.

Discs begin to degenerate as a normal part of aging and for many people, this doesn't cause problems. But in other people, degenerative disc disease that is not treated causes severe and on-going neck or back pain.

If you have back pain, you're not alone. Most people experience this type of pain at least once in awhile. Here is some degenerative disc disease advice you may find helpful for dealing with your back pain:

- Relax: Most degenerative disc disease advice experts tell us it's helpful to relax the muscles in your back. It can be hard to find a comfortable position, so try a few different ways. Try lying on your back with a small pillow tucked under your knees. This takes pressure off of your low back. Therapists and other degenerative disc disease advice experts recommend changing positions fairly often.

- Walk: Walking is probably the most frequently recommended exercise given as degenerative disc disease advice. Be sure to avoid hills, slopes or stairs when you're having an acute episode of pain. Choose a level surface and walk for only 20 minutes or less. If your leg or back pain gets worse, stop. Exercise increases circulation, so a slow, short walk on the level ground usually helps back pain.

- Don't let the pain get ahead of you: Degenerative disc disease advice usually includes controlling pain with analgesics (pain medication) on a routine schedule when it is acute. Pain medications are usually most effective when they are taken before your pain is out of control.

- Alternate ice and heat: No studies support the use of either ice or heat as being curative, but many people include applications of these as degenerative disc disease advice. Apply a heating pad set on medium or low for 15 minutes followed up in the next few hours by an ice pack for about 15 minutes. Never apply an ice pack directly to your skin, wrap it in a pillow case, tee-shirt or thin towel. If you don't have a heating pad, try a warm shower.

Here are some more suggestions you may find helpful that people have recommended as degenerative disc disease advice:

Degenerative Disc Disease Advice: Try Yoga

When you're having pain, it may seem like exercise is a bad idea. However, stretching and elongating the muscles of the spine can help decrease the pain that often accompanies degenerative disc disease. Yoga is low impact and is a wonderful way to reduce stress and tension as well and is recommended by some professionals as degenerative disc disease advice to reduce pain and stiffness.

Degenerative Disc Disease Advice: Watch what you eat

No one has come up with a diet that's proven as degenerative disc disease advice, but some conditions can make symptoms worse. For example, elevated levels of blood cholesterol and high blood pressure seem to make DDD worse. So to avoid these conditions that can contribute to your symptoms, eat a healthy diet, consists mainly of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods, lean proteins like fish, poultry, nuts and legumes, and healthy fats. Avoid salty, sugary snacks and processed foods.

Degenerative Disc Disease Advice: Stay active

One of the most important things a patient with degenerative disc disease need to do is to stay active.

Degenerative disc disease exercises cannot only maintain whatever functionality exists, but they're also a great way to heal the back. Exercises increase blood and oxygen flow, as well as other nutrients that the back and discs needs. This keeps the back and discs as pliable and hydrated as can be. Exercising can also improve a person's overall health by releasing endorphins which are natural pain relievers and stress reducers.

Exercises

Hamstring Stretches

- Warm up first before stretching

- Start by holding the hamstring stretch for 10 second

- You can gradually increase to 30 seconds

- While holding the stretch, remember to breathe

- Perform hamstring stretches twice a day.

Hook-lying march

- Start by lying on the floor with your back

- Bent your knees and place your arms on the sides

- Tighten your stomach muscles

- Slowly raise your legs 3 to 4 inches from the floor alternately

- Try to 'march' for 30 seconds

- Do this for 2 to 3 repetitions with 30-second breaks

Hook-lying march combination

This is just like the hook lying march but this includes raising and lowering the opposite arm over the head.

Bridging

- Lie on your back

- Bent your knees and slowly raise the buttocks from the floor

- Hold this 'bridge' position for 10 seconds

- Slowly lower to the starting position

- Repeat 10 times

You might also like to read:
- Degenerative Disk Disease Diet,
- Degenerative Disc Disease Exercises.

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Questions & Answers

What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Age2B

4 answers

What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?

Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5-10 times
Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Age2B

4 answers

How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Age2B

4 answers