Your spinal discs act as a natural cushion between vertebrae in your spinal column, aiding in movement and stress absorption. Over the years, our discs can slowly lose some of their natural flexibility, putting them at a heightened risk of cracking or becoming misshapen and irritating nearby nerves. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in disc degeneration in the cervical (neck) region, and many medical experts believe the rise in smartphone use has directly contributed to this growing issue.
If you’re dealing with new or intermittent neck pain, or you’ve been told that you have some moderate degeneration in your cervical spine, don’t ignore the issue. Disc degeneration will only continue unless you confront the problem head on. In today’s blog, we explain how you can care for degenerative discs in your cervical spine.
Why Do Spinal Discs Degenerate?
A number of factors can contribute to spinal disc degeneration, but before we explore those factors, let’s take a closer look at the makeup of a spinal disc. When you’re young, your spinal discs are about 85 percent water. This makes them incredibly flexible and durable, which is perfect considering all of the stress you put on your spine each day. However, as you age, your discs slowly start to lose some of this water content. The average water content of a spinal disc of a 70-year-old is typically between 60-70 percent, and even though they are still retaining a fair amount of water, this can serve to make the disc more brittle. Weaker and more brittle discs are at a heightened risk for developing small cracks that can misshape the disc or lead to a more significant fracture.
Our discs will lose some of this water content no matter what we do, as some hydration loss is simply a byproduct of the natural aging process, but a number of other factors also play a role in disc degeneration. Some of those factors include:
- Weight
- Posture
- Trauma/Injury
- Genetic predisposition
- Lifestyle
- Smoking
You have a lot of control over most of those contributing factors, so it’s important that you take ownership in your disc health.
Maintaining Or Improving Cervical Spinal Disc Health
If you are dealing with neck discomfort or imaging results show that your neck pain is likely caused by degenerative cervical discs that are irritating nearby spinal nerves, you’ll want to proactively treat the problem. Continuing on with the same habits that got you to this point will only provide a platform for further degeneration, which will almost assuredly lead to worsening symptoms. Moreover, disc degeneration isn’t really something that can be reversed, so the sooner you start treating your disc issue, the more natural disc height and structure you’ll be able to preserve.
So what are some of the best ways to treat your cervical disc degeneration? In most instances, we only need to take some simple steps based on the factors that contribute to spinal disc degeneration that we listed above. For example, your doctor will likely recommend that you:
- Lose Weight – Shedding some weight can take some stress off your spinal discs, slowing the natural degenerative process.
- Address Posture Problems – Really make it a point to be aware of your neck posture throughout the day. If you’re constantly leaning forward to look down at your phone, or you’re hunched forward at your work desk, your neck is going to be under constant strain, and that will eventually cause problems for your cervical discs. Strive to have ideal posture with your head positioned directly above your shoulders to limit excess strain on your cervical discs.
- Treat Injuries – You may not be able to prevent all injuries, but do your part to fully treat a neck or shoulder injury so that it doesn’t linger and alter how stress is dispersed in the area.
- Be Active – Live an active lifestyle that promotes healthy muscle and soft tissue development, as these structures help to support your spinal column and take some strain off your cervical discs.
- Kick The Bad Habits – Finally, try to limit habits like smoking and excess alcohol consumption, as these make it harder for your discs to get the nutrients they need to function properly.
And of course, if you really want to address a disc issue in your neck, don’t be afraid to connect with a specialist who can really help you understand what’s going on and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. For more information, or for help with an neck or spine issue, give Dr. Jackman and his team a call today at (651) 430-3800.
Helping Your Child Get Comfortable With Their Scoliosis Spinal Brace
