Physical Therapy For Degenerative Disc Disease

Despite its name, Degenerative Disc Disease is not actually a disease.  Instead, it is a condition when one or more of the discs in the spine breaks down or – as the term says – degenerates.  This deterioration of the discs can result in pain that can be described as anything from nagging to debilitating.

Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease is an age-related condition.  Years of using the spine for day to day activities can cause this condition, especially for those who participate in physically demanding daily activities.  However, a car accident or sports injury can increase the pain associated with degenerative disc disease, such spine injuries that may have occurred in car accidents and in sports accidents.

Pain Relief

There are some individuals who can manage the pain associated with Degenerative Disc Disease very well. They can continue with their daily activities with no problems: they can lay down, sit and stand, they can wash dishes, run errands, and even participate in sports and exercise activities with only minor pain.

On the extreme opposite end, there are those other people who have pain so intense that it must be managed on a daily basis.  In many cases, the patient will opt for over the counter pain relief medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).

There are those circumstances when these medications simply aren’t enough to treat the pain, so other treatment options need to be explored.

How to Treat Degenerative Disc Disease

Aside from pain relief medications, there are other ways to reduce the pain associated with Degenerative Disc Disease.  The worst cases may require surgery to alleviate or lessen the pain; however, a proper treatment plan that involves physical therapy should always be considered.

Here at Physical Therapy Now in Miami, we implement a variety of strategic exercises that target the specific areas around the discs that are degenerating. These exercises can help strengthen the back, increase mobility and reduce pain associated with the condition.  A physical therapist will walk you through each exercise to ensure proper form to ensure you are getting the most out of each movement.

Your physical therapist will also speak with you about the other options available for pain relief from Degenerative Disc Disease.

Car Accidents and Degenerative Disc Disease

Car accidents can be the cause of intense back pain. If you already had degenerative disc disease before a car accident, that pain can be exacerbated directly because of the crash.

In some cases, the insurance company may deny your claim for treatment, citing a pre-existing condition and therefore, not covering the treatment you need.  If the insurance company denies your claim, you may need to consider communicating with a personal injury lawyer who can help prove that your Degenerative Disc Disease pain has been increased as a direct result of your car accident.

It is crucial that you handle this task with urgency. There are time limits in place when it comes to getting insurance coverage for car accident injuries, so beginning communications with your doctor, your physical therapist, your insurance company and – if need be – a personal injury lawyer should be prioritized.

Physical Therapy in Miami

If you need physical therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease and you live in the Miami-Dade area, reach out to your team at Physical Therapy Now.  Because we know getting to your physical therapy appointments needs to be convenient, we have numerous locations in and around the area.

Call us today to schedule your first appointment at (800) 481-4582.  We can help!