Degenerative Spine Disease

Pain Management & Treatment in Dallas & Surrounding Areas

Degenerative spine disease is simply “wear and tear” on your spine over time. You may first notice it as a slight discomfort in your back or neck after sitting or standing for extended periods. As the condition progresses, the pain can worsen, or you may start to experience burning or tingling pain down your arms or legs due to pinched nerves.

While there is no cure for this condition, there are many different treatment options available. At the Methodist Moody Brain and Spine Institute, our specialists can help you figure out if degenerative spine disease is the cause of your pain and guide you through an individualized treatment plan.

What is Degenerative Spine Disease?

Your vertebrae are separated by discs, which absorb shock and help your spine withstand the pressures of standing, walking, exercising, and the activities you enjoy. Over time, these discs can degrade and tear, putting more pressure on the rest of your spine.

There are a few different types of degenerative spine disease:

• Cervical Stenosis
• Lumbar Stenosis
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Spondylolisthesis
• Herniated Disc

Treatment Options

There are two approaches to treatment: passive and active. Passive treatments are treatments done to you by a medical professional. Active treatments are activities you perform yourself to manage the pain. Unfortunately, passive treatments alone rarely provide the results patients are looking for. It usually takes a combination of active and passive treatments to properly manage the pain.

Passive treatments for degenerative spine disease may include:

• Pain medication
• Chiropractic treatment
• Epidural injections
• Massage therapy

Some active treatments for spine degeneration include:

• Performing special back exercises
• Losing weight
• Quitting smoking
• Using ergonomic furniture and other devices, such as supportive footwear

Our back pain specialists can provide you with passive treatments for degenerative spine disease and teach you exercises that will help you manage the pain on your own. Most patients do not have much discomfort so long as they keep up with their treatments.

What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Minimally invasive spine surgery allows surgeons to access the spine through much smaller incisions. This results in less scarring, less blood loss, less pain, and a faster recovery.

All of the surgeons at the Methodist Moody Brain and Spine Institute have received specialized training in minimally invasive techniques. Schedule an appointment today with one of our neurosurgeons to see if a minimally invasive approach is right for you.