Degenerative Spines
This week I'd like to share information on Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), bulging/herniated discs, and stenosis on the spine. Many people have been diagnosed with these issues, especially groups over the age of 50, and many people are told they have a bad back. This information can be misleading as many people hear their back is degenerating and think the back must be the problem. This thought process is misguided though. The joints and discs of the back encounter issues from improper stabilization. Let’s break this down.
If you have a degenerative disc, bulging disc, or herniated disc, this is a sign that the disc/joint is moving too much and wearing down, but we have to ask the important question, WHY? Why is the disc or joint degeneration to the point that it’s become a problem, causing pain, or pinching a nerve? Most likely the supporting foundation for the spine is dysfunctional, just like the foundation for a house. If the walls are constantly cracking, it might be your foundation.
If the joints and discs of the spine are degenerating it means they’re moving too much despite whatever it is you do for work, even if it’s sitting all day long and you don’t even think you’re using your back. The problem is that the joints and discs of the back are “picking up the slack” from lack of movement somewhere else. This means that if you have stiffness in your hips or even knees, your back will likely compensate when you bend over to pick up something from the floor since the knees and hips aren’t doing their jobs. This can also happen when sitting down, if the hip doesn’t flex properly, it can force the spine and pelvis to compensate and this can lead to significant irritation during sitting or even lying down.
This does not mean that all disc problems and back issues are the result of bad knees or hips, but it does mean that if you’ve tried treatment for your back before and it didn’t really help, it could be because the provider was treating the wrong area. This is common in my field when people say “Yeah, I went to PT for 4 weeks, but it didn’t do anything to fix my back.” This is because the problem isn’t your back, your back pain or bulging discs are just a symptom of poor stability in the foundational joints like the hips.
Remember that pain is just a symptom and treating pain is like giving a man a fish. It’ll make things better in the short term, but the underlying problem will cause the pain to return. Instead of short term fixes, let’s teach the man how to fish with proper education and movement analysis. Get out of the pain cycle and ineffective treatments and get your problem assessed today.
If you or someone you know is having difficulty with their back and previous “treatments” didn’t help, they should call Jump 4 Wellness at (520) 415-0747 for a free assessment to figure out what the underlying problem is.
Stay healthy Movers!
