First off, what is degenerative disc disease? It is a condition that affects your discs and causes pain in your back. The symptoms include chronic headache, neck pain, arm pain, and more. There are many different treatment options available to you, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Visiting a Shrewsbury, NJ, center for degenerative disc disease treatment can be the best solution. They consider all the treatment options and pick the best for you. Aim for the best remedy for your degenerative disc in Shrewsbury. Here are five common treatments you can expect.
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Epidural Steroid Injections
One of the most common treatments for degenerative disc disease is Epidural Steroid Injections. This treatment involves injecting a steroid into your spinal fluid to help reduce discomfort and inflammation. The injection helps relieve pain, numb the nerves, and stop the spasms that cause muscle tightness in your body.
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IDET (Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy)
The IDET procedure is used to treat degenerative disc disease. The whole procedure takes only about 10 minutes with minimal pain levels. The treatment can be by using local or general anesthesia with the patient either supine, prone, or levitated over the operating table.
Once the patient is in position, the doctor incisions the skin, and the needle goes into the disc. A heating element is then placed on the end of the needle and activated. It causes the nerve endings around the disc to die, which reduces inflammation and pain.
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Percutaneous Disc Nucleoplasty
Percutaneous Disc Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that offers the benefits of both surgery and injections without the risks or recovery time associated with either option. The process takes less than an hour, with minimal discomfort during recovery.
Percutaneous Disc Nucleoplasty works by using radiofrequency energy to heat the nucleus pulposus within your disc space to reduce pain and inflammation. It uses a non-surgical procedure that adapts a precise amount of radiofrequency energy into the nucleus to create tiny channels that will allow fluids to seep through your soft tissue. The goal is to reduce the pressure in your disc space and reduce pain.
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Spinal Cord Stimulation
If other treatment methods have failed, spinal cord stimulation may be an option to help you manage your chronic pain. The stimulator is implanted beneath the skin on your back and sends electrical impulses through your spinal cord to interrupt the pain signals sent to your brain.
There are many different spinal cord stimulators, so talk to a doctor to determine which device will be the best option for your chronic pain.
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Artificial Disc Replacement
Another option is Artificial Disc Replacement, which involves implanting an artificial device in the spine to help alleviate pain and improve mobility. This procedure can be done along with other surgeries, such as spinal fusion or lamination, to provide long-term stability to your lower back.
It consists of multiple steps that ensure your safety at all times during surgery. The artificial disc is placed between the two vertebrae and is secured in place. The goal of the procedure is to help you return to your normal activities as quickly as possible and reduce or eliminate your pain.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition that affects the discs and causes pain in your back. The good thing is that there are common treatments for degenerative disc disease, such as epidural steroid injections, IDET procedures, percutaneous disc nucleoplasty, and more. You need to see a specialist as this will make you get the treatment you need.
