DJD and Low Back Pain

DJD/DDD Low back pain.

I am dedicating this BLOG to DJD or DDD.  Degenerative joint disease or degenerative disc disease.   For the most part they are the same or similar syndrome.  Different doctors use different terms so patients often get confused to the problem they have.  It is important not to get hung up on the terminology. 

Think of it like your hip.  Thousands of patients have passed through my door and said they have hip pain.  They are often concerned they might need a hip replacement. When I examine them the problem is often a sacro iliac complaint.   It is not the patients fault for the confusion, many years ago orthopedist should have referred to the common hip replacement as a femur head replacement.   Patients think of the SI joint as their hip, an orthopedist consider the femur head as the hip.

So when it comes to DJD, DDD or even a ruptured or bulging disc, it all generally means the same thing.  You hurt. The joints that were smooth and worked with ease years ago now are rigid or rough. Previous injuries or inflammation that has gone unchecked for years have led to the destruction of the joint. For this reason alone it is important to take care of your back and joints.  Not properly treating a back injury leads to DJD later in life.

In between every vertebra in your back you have a disc.  This disc serves several purposes.  It acts a spacer that keeps the two bones off the nerve in between the bones.  The disc also acts like a hinge which allows the joint to move in several directions. It also acts a cushion to absorb shock.

The disc themselves do not have a great blood supply, so the disc do not repair easily.  None of us live in a bubble; we put a lot of stress on these discs.   The disc over time start to degenerate, they get thin, get dehydrated, they stop doing their job. We try and restore these disc.

Figure A shows the L5/S1 disc space.  Notice how the space between the bones is smaller; this is a sign on x-ray that the disc has degenerated.   The patient may suffer back pain, or sciatica from this problem.  

At Moreland Chiropractic Clinic we use a tried and true method known as the Cox method to treat degenerative disc disease.  This method along with exercise and sometimes other lifestyle changes are very effective in treating the patient with DJD and sciatica.

So obviously you may be considering seeing a chiropractor, consider seeing us.  We have 18 years of experience and are the areas only NCCA ACBSP board certified chiropractor.  Experience is the key in picking any doctor. 

Unfortunately when a chiropractor graduates chiropractic college he or she is only required to see 10 new patients and perform 200 adjustments, this isn't even a busy week in an established chiropractors office.  Unlike doctors of medicine, chiropractors are not required to perform years of supervised residencies and internships.  When a chiropractor graduates and passes a board exam they are out there on their own. 

Our rule of thumb is ten years of experience and a board certification, we apply this rule to medical doctors as well.  As always we also suggest you talk to your doctor about chiropractic if you have questions.  You may be surprised that he or she may see a chiropractor himself.  An experienced established chiropractor will never ask you to "Not"  talk to your medical doctor about the care you are getting from the chiropractor.  We encourage it. We will send your records to your medical Dr. at your request.

So if you suspect you have a degenerative disc or a bulging disc come to Moreland Chiropractic Clinic.  You won't be disappointed.  

We are here when you need us.  We live in the community, have our whole life.  Many newer less experienced chiropractors live in different counties or even hundred of miles away and commute to work here.  In case you need your chiropractor in an emergency we are seconds away. A chiropractor that resides in St Louis or several counties away  isn't most likely going to run to the office when you need them.

Don't Delay, Call Today.

Moreland Chiropractic Clinic

Rolla MO

573-364-8086