The most common symptom of degenerative disc disease is back pain. When DDD causes compression of the nerve roots, the pain often radiates down the legs or into the feet, and may be associated with numbness and tingling. In severe cases of lumbar DDD, where there is evidence of nerve root compression, individuals may experience symptoms of sciatica and back pain, and sometimes even lower extremity weakness.
Bulging Disc
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is part of the natural process of growing older. Unfortunately, as we age, our intervertebral discs lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing characteristics. The ligaments that surround the disc called the annulus fibrosis, become brittle and they are more easily torn. At the same time, the soft gel-like center of the disc, called the nucleus pulposus, starts to dry out and shrink. The combination of damage to the intervertebral discs, the development of bone spurs, and a gradual thickening of the ligaments that support the spine can all contribute to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.
Treatment
Your doctor will be able to discuss with you what your diagnosis means in terms of treatment options. For most people who do not have evidence of nerve root compression with muscle weakness, the first line of therapy includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. A soft lumbar corset is often prescribed in order to allow the back to have a chance to rest. Surgery is offered after physical therapy, rest, and medications have failed to adequately relieve the symptoms of pain, numbness and weakness over a significant period of time.
WEI PATCH TREATMENT
For neck, back, lower back pain and sciatic pain due to bulging disc, a treatment with 6 WHITEE Patches in the disc area and one 100ml LC Balancer is recommended over a 2-week period. A mechanical adjustment or exercise during the treatment is necessary to bring the disc back to the right position. A 2nd mechanical adjustment or exercise at the end of the two-week treatment is recommended to ensure the right positioning of the disc. Patients may not feel immediate pain reduction until the disc is being adjusted. For severe cases, 2nd and 3rd treatment sessions are recommended in the 2nd and 3rd month to achieve total symptom elimination. For aging related bulging disc, if patients experience the pain again later on, they may need another treatment session.
Herniated Disc
As a disc degenerates, it can herniate (the inner core extrudes) back into the spinal canal, which is known as a disc herniation. The intervertebral cartilage cushions between the bones collapse - and the cushioning material (like the soft center of a lozenge) migrates out through the channels in the bone to hit the nerve behind it, often surgery being the only known option. The weak spot in a disc is directly under the nerve root, and a herniated disc in this area puts direct pressure on the nerve, which in turn can cause pain to radiate all the way down the patient’s leg to the foot. 90% of disc herniations will occur at L4- L5 (lumbar segments 4 and 5) or L5- S1 (lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment1), which causes pain in the L5 nerve or S1 nerve, respectively.
Treatment
After the more conservative approach of waiting to see if the disc will heal on its own, any of the following maybe tried:
- Physical therapy
- Osteopathic/chiropractic manipulations
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Oral steroids (e.g. prednisone or methyprednisolone)
- An epidural (cortisone) injection
Surgical treatment is the common mode of treatment suggested for patient's suffering lumbar herniated disc.
WEI PATCH TREATMENT
For neck, back, lower back pain and sciatic pain due to a herniated disc, 3 treatment sessions over a 3 month period are recommended . Each treatment session takes 2 weeks that requires 6 WHITEE Patches to treat the disc area with one 100ml LC Balancer. A 2-week break is suggested following the treatment session. Patients may continue taking the LC Balancer during the break. After the 1st session, patients should experience significant symptom reduction. During the break, they may experience a return of some pain, but the pain reduction should be stablized at ~50% level depending on the individual patient's condition. After the 2nd treatment session, patient may get ~75% total symptom elimination. The 3rd treatment session is recommended in the 3rd month for sustained results. If the pain level is close to the original intensity during the break, the LC Balancer should be taken at 2-3 times a day instead of 1 time a day. For extremely severe case of herniation, the maximum pain reduction may be at 50% after 3 treatment sessions and longer period of treatment may be required. For aging related disc herniation, if patients experience the pain again later on, they may need another treatment session.