When you find yourself experiencing frequent bouts of lower back or neck pain, you may be struggling with degenerative disc disease and not even know it. Degenerative disc disease, or DDD, is the wear and tear of one or more of your spinal discs. When left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to regular discomfort and difficulty performing everyday activities. So it’s important that you know a few dos and don’ts of living with degenerative disc disease to keep you in the best possible health.
Do—Promote Better Posture
Poor posture is one of the core contributors to regular back pain and spinal issues. Sitting incorrectly for many hours a day can cause additional strain on the spinal cord that leads to discomfort. This is especially true if you already have DDD to contend with. As such, making an effort to improve your posture with the right ergonomic support and sitting alignment can go a long way. Generally, you’ll want to sit with your back straight and the tops of your legs parallel to the ground.
Do—Eat Healthier
It’s also crucial that you embrace a healthier diet. Believe it or not, what we eat can greatly impact the body’s response to painful symptoms. Certain nutrients can help better support the healing process, and while they won’t eliminate your DDD, they can help reduce your symptoms over time. Because of this, make sure that you start incorporating healthy fats, like those in salmon and nuts, and foods with anti-inflammatory properties, like strawberries, blueberries, and ginger, into your diet.
Don’t—Stop Moving
Along with the dos of living with degenerative disc disease, it’s also important that we cover a few don’ts. As you live with this condition, it’s vital that you work hard to maintain an active lifestyle. This could mean going for regular walks or even working out to build muscle mass. Either way, these activities help strengthen your bones and muscles and reduce feelings of stiffness or pain from DDD flare-ups. Just be sure to participate in low-impact exercises to avoid injuring yourself or putting more strain on the spine.
Don’t—Skip Out on Treatment
Above all, though, don’t forget to seek out treatment for your DDD symptoms. There’s only so much you can do by changing your daily habits, and sometimes, you need the aid of a professional to make a noticeable difference. These doctors can assess your specific condition and provide specialized aid to help relieve some of your discomfort. They can also provide key advice for managing your pain.
At Pain & Spine Specialists, we provide our patients with targeted relief from their DDD symptoms. Our team of pain management specialists has years of collective experience with this condition and will develop treatment plans custom-tailored to your needs. As a comprehensive pain management practice, we also help alleviate pain from other sources. So contact us today to learn more about how we can help you stay comfortable in your daily life.