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3 Ways To Combat Spinal Degeneration

Degeneration in the spine, whether its Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) or degenerative arthritis, is a very common problem, and while there are some studies that show there may be some genetic factors involved, the condition of the vertebrae and spinal discs depend largely on how much stress the spine is under and for how long.


4 stages of DDD. The model on the right shows the most severe. 

There are many factors that can accelerate the degeneration of the spine. One of the most common factors is repeated stress from daily activities. For example, people who perform manual labor or people who do a lot of running tend to develop DDD at an accelerated rate in their lumbar spines due to increased stress to the area.

Another factor that can accelerate spinal degeneration is a point of weakness or dysfunction in the spine. When this happens, instead of seeing degeneration throughout an entire region of the spine, the degeneration is isolated to two or three specific vertebrae. The picture on the left a great example of this. The C5 and C6 show signs of moderate degeneration while the rest of the cervical spine appears healthy. If the only factor of spinal degeneration was age, then all the vertebrae in this x-ray would be degenerative.

Unfortunately, many people think that once they have been diagnosed with a form of spinal degeneration, their only options are to live with it, pain pills, or wait until it gets so bad that they need surgery.

So, whether you currently have spinal degeneration or are looking to prevent it, here are three things you can do to help combat its effects.
Reduce Inflammation

Proper nutrition is not something most people think of when dealing with spinal degeneration, but one of the major preceding components to degeneration is chronic inflammation. Diets that are high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and trans-fats cause inflammation throughout the entire body. By eliminating inflammation causing foods, not only can you slow joint degeneration but also can reduce your chances of many other diseases including heart disease or cancer.

Traction/Decompression

 Spinal traction and decompression have been shown to provide great benefit to people who are suffering from degenerative conditions. Putting the spine under traction can help joint fluid to circulate more readily which can reduce friction in the joint and help draw nutrients to the area to promote healing. If you want to learn more about spinal decompression read "Chronic Back Issues? Non-surgical Spinal Decompression May Be Right for You".

Chiropractic Care

For individuals who are looking for treatment options other than pain medication or surgery, chiropractic is a great option. Chiropractic care can help fix areas of dysfunction in the spine, increase spinal range of motion, decrease pain and stiffness, and balance your neuro-muscular system. A chiropractor can also recommend home exercises to help increase core stability and flexibility and provide nutritional advice you need to decrease inflammation.

While there is no cure for spinal degeneration and some aspects of it are not reversible, many people are able find relief from pain, increase mobility, and increase their daily activities with chiropractic care.



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