Disc Herniation and Age-Related Degenetation

As we get older, it’s normal for the spongy discs in our spines to degenerate somewhat. It’s just part of the aging process. However, it is not normal for this degenerative cycle to cause pain, and for certain individuals, that’s exactly what happens. Commonly referred to as Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD for short), the shrinking disc can become a chronic source of pain, occasionally leading to issues with mobility and performing normal activities. Unfortunately, there are other causes of disc degeneration that are not related to age; a herniated disc, bone spurs, and osteoarthritis are all precursors to Degenerative Disc Disease and the pain that can come with it. At our office, Living Well Medical in NYC, we help patients who are suffering with disc problems and pain like DDD without surgery.


Among the more common precipitators of premature disc degeneration is a herniated disc. Anyone who has ever suffered from a herniated disc can tell you about the pain, the restrictions it can place on the way you live your life, the frustration. The typical reason that a herniated disc is so painful is nerve compression. In the lower back, the nucleus (the soft center of an intervertebral disc) of a herniated disc has broken through the annulus (the protective outer layer of a spinal disc) and presses up against the sciatic nerve roots leading to inflammation and irritation. In more serious cases, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness may also be experienced. We regularly treat herniated disc at Living Well Medical in NYC, but there are occasionally long-term ramifications like the early onset of disc degeneration as mentioned above. For patients suffering from herniated disc or disc degeneration, we have developed a comprehensive treatment protocol that combines several potent, non-surgical options to ease pain and suffering without surgery.

One of the core components of treatment for most Degenerative Disc Disease sufferers is non-surgical spinal decompression with the DRX 9000. This form of back pain treatment focuses on correcting spinal imbalances that result from disc malfunctions like DDD, herniated discs, bulging discs and disc-related spinal stenosis. During a treatment session, patients lie down on a table with a special harness around the waist. The harness connects them to a traction element that can be angled to target different areas of the spine, and a computer-guided program gentle applies a therapeutic stretch to the spine, elongating it and increasing the space between the vertebrae. This helps the disc bring in badly needed fluids and nutrients to repair itself. In addition, if herniation is occurring, the stretches can also help pull the nucleus of a herniated disc back inside the fibrous tissue of the annulus, potentially reducing or even eliminating the nerve compression that often causes pain.

To get the best possible results for our patients, physical therapy, chiropractic, cold laser therapy, and postural corrections might also be part of a treatment program involving spinal decompression. Only after a complete examination can our physicians establish whether or not spinal decompression with the DRX 9000 is right for you. As the NYC chiropractor who has been using the DRX 9000 the longest in the city, Living Well Medical’s Dr. Steven Shoshany can help you make the right decision for treatment.

Using fully digital x-ray and other cutting edge diagnostics right in our office like Nerve Conduction Velocity studies and EMG (electromyography), we have all the tools to find the source of your pain and effectively treat it. Call Living Well Medical in NYC today to find out more at 212-645-8151.