Degenerative Disc Disease - What's In The Doc's Toolbox

Long-term Outcomes of Degenerative Disc Disease

The degenerative process of the spinal disc may start gradually or suddenly, but progresses over 2 to 3 decades from severe and at times even disabling bouts of pain to a state in which the spine is restabilized and the pain is diminished.

Alongside the disc, the joints and the vertebral bones may also be affected by the degenerative process. Supporting muscles, blood vessels, and nerves can also be affected. Aging of the spine may be associated with other degenerative conditions, including1:

Spinal osteoarthritis. Small facet joints can become strained when the disc loses its structure, accelerating the degeneration of the joints.
Osteoporosis. The degeneration of the bony structure can increase the risk of fractures in the vertebral bones, contributing to overall instability and aging of the spine.
Spinal stenosis. A narrowed spinal canal can occur as the discs flatten, stiffen, bulge into the canal, or strain the facet joints.
Degenerative spondylolisthesis. One vertebral body can slip over another, possibly due to degeneration of the facet joints which may be a consequence of disc degeneration.

While degenerative disc disease itself may have a favorable outlook, other degenerating structures can sometimes affect nerves or blood vessels and lead to a variety of pain symptoms.

Decompression Table System Therapy. Cervical and Spinal Decompression part of your Chiropractic Care. BCC is dedicated to offering the latest, state-of-the-art therapies for treating pain in the low back and neck, sciatica, pinched nerves and bulging or degenerative disc diseases. We believe DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy to be the most advanced, non-surgical and pain free alternative. DTS Spinal Decompression is a leading non-surgical alternative for disc-related syndromes of the lumbar and cervical spine. DTS Therapy uses simple, yet sophisticated, FDA registered equipment manufactured by the leading rehabilitation equipment manufacturer in the US, The Chattanooga Group. Chattanooga's Triton DTS Decompression Traction System is the most popular decompression system with over 1,200 installations worldwide. Spinal Decompression Therapy is performed on this specially designed table in either a face up or face down position. Clinical consideration and your comfort are used in deciding which position will be best for you. You will remain fully dressed during the treatment and we suggest wearing loose fitting clothing. You will be comfortably positioned on the table and fitted with a wrap-around harness. This restraint is what allows the unloading of the spine and discs by the traction motor. Your position on the table, the harness, and the angle of the gentle distraction allows for accurate and focused treatment to the affected area. Once comfortable on the DTS table, the computer controlled traction device is programmed to deliver a gentle stretching force to the spinal vertebra. This force is delivered directly to the harness system. The DTS system applies the gentle force then releases it approximately every minute throughout the session.