degenerative disc chiropractic services

Degenerative Disc Disease

If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, finding the most effective care option is critical for both limiting pain and maintaining maximum mobility and strength. By exploring all your options, you can ensure you receive the intervention you need to live without limitations and pain. Dr. Joe Piché and Dr. Lea Piché at Piché Family Chiropractic in Traverse City, Michigan, practice with a dual focus: alleviating your pain and correcting the underlying cause of your symptoms. To find out how they can help you manage your degenerative disc disease, schedule an appointment today.

Degenerative Disc Disease Q & A

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease essentially refers to at least one disc in the spine that is compromised. “Compromised” may mean worn, lacking disc space, inflamed, or otherwise damaged. This damage can result in pain among other symptoms.

What causes degenerative disc disease?

When Dr. Joe Piché and Dr. Lea Piché look at degenerative disc disease, their primary goal is to find out what’s causing your pain and how they can address that ROOT cause. These problems can be caused by genetics, wear and tear, or trauma. By identifying the root cause, Piché Family Chiropractic can ensure your pain isn’t just alleviated temporarily but improved in the long term. From this perspective, pain from degenerative disc disease stems from one or more of three primary causes:

  • Bulging or thinning discs, which puts pressure on the nerves in your spine
  • Spinal joint degeneration, which affects spinal mechanics
  • Spinal stenosis, which might cause both back pain and leg pain

How can a chiropractor determine whether you have degenerative disc disease?

Dr. Joe Piché and Dr. Lea Piché will use a multi-faceted approach to determine whether you might be suffering from degenerative disc disease. They’ll go over your complete health history with you, examine your spinal alignment, and observe your posture and gait (how you walk), as well as neurological assessments. In some cases, he may also order an X-ray or MRI to get a better look at the structures impacting your spinal health.

Once he identifies the condition you’re suffering from, a care plan will be developed to get you back to health as quickly as possible.

What chiropractic care might help?

There are several things Dr. Joe Piché and Dr. Lea Piché can do to treat the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, including:

  • Spinal adjustments
  • Instrument-assisted adjustment
  • Manual stretching techniques

The best care for you depends on the specific circumstances of your condition.