How to Heal Degenerative Disc Disease Naturally? Some Easy Ways

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What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Imagine your spine as a stack of round, flat bones called vertebrae. Between each bone is a disc that acts like a cushion or shock absorber. As we get older, these discs can wear out or break down, causing a condition called degenerative disc disease. This can lead to pain, numbness, or weakness.

Natural Ways to Feel Better

There are many natural ways to manage back pain:

1. Physical Therapy: Think of this as a workout program for your back. It helps strengthen the muscles around your spine, making it more stable and flexible.
2. Yoga: Yoga is like a gentle workout that can help increase flexibility and reduce stress on your spine.
3. Chiropractic Adjustments: This is when a chiropractor (a type of doctor who specializes in treating the spine) adjusts your spine to help align it properly and reduce pressure on the discs.

You can also make changes in your daily life to help manage symptoms:

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Keeping a healthy weight can reduce stress on your spine.
• Regular Exercise: Regular physical activity can increase strength and flexibility.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking can speed up disc degeneration.

Trying Different Therapies

Herbal supplements are like nature's medicine. They can help reduce pain caused by degenerative disc disease because they have properties that relieve pain and reduce inflammation (swelling). Some herbs you might want to consider include Bromelain (found in pineapples), Turmeric (which contains curcumin, an anti-inflammatory ingredient), White willow bark (works like aspirin), Cat's claw (known to help with infection, inflammation and pain reduction), Chamomile (may help relieve sleep problems caused by pain), and Ginger (can reduce pain caused by inflammation).

Inversion therapy is when you hang upside down or at an angle. This uses gravity to stretch the spine, widen the space between vertebrae, and reduce pressure on the discs and nerves.

While there is no direct research indicating that lemon juice can treat degenerative disc disease specifically, it's worth noting that lemon juice is high in vitamin C which is essential for the health of collagen, a component of discs. However, always talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.

Eating Right and Staying Hydrated

Eating healthy foods plays a big role in managing back pain. Foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meats, beans, and healthy fats can help maintain a normal weight and prevent inflammation.

Small nutrients such as oxygen and glucose are supplied to the disc’s cells almost entirely by diffusion. Convective transport, arising from load-induced fluid movement in and out of the disc, has almost no direct influence on transport of these nutrients.

Drinking lots of water every day, especially during and after exercise, can improve hydration which is important for healing degenerative disc disease.

The Decompression Belt

One way to treat back pain is by using a special belt called a decompression belt. This belt works by stretching the spine, relieving pressure on the discs, and promoting better posture. It's easy to use at home and has no known risk factors. You can find more information about it here.

Avoiding Back Pain

Certain things can increase your risk of developing back pain. These include getting older, injuring your spine, doing activities that put stress on your spine, being overweight, not being active enough, not eating right, and certain medications. By knowing these risks early on, you can slow down the progression of back pain.