Studies have shown that for people with back pain, drinking alcohol can actually increase pain caused by conditions like degenerative disc disease, facet disease, herniated discs and other spinal diseases. For this reason, it may make sense for back pain sufferers to avoid drinking this winter.
The results of this study hypothesized that moderate alcohol consumption could potentially reduce one's risk for degenerative disc disease. The results of these studies show that one shouldn't be worried about the effect of their alcohol consumption on their back pain unless this consumption is excessive.
People with degenerative disk disease need to avoid foods that promote inflammation and physical activities involving heavy lifting and twisting. Additionally, a person should avoid smoking, if applicable, slouching, and consuming more than moderate amounts of alcohol.
Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
These flare ups can be caused by a simple action, such as bending over to tie your shoes, or twisting.
Degenerative disc disease isn't actually a disease, but rather a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. This pain can range from nagging to disabling. The condition can be caused by the drying out of the disc over time, daily activities, sports and injuries.
Treatment may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, or both, special exercises, medications, losing weight, and surgery. Medical options include injecting the joints next to the damaged disc with steroids and a local anesthetic. These are called facet joint injections. They can provide effective pain relief.
Pain medication and physical therapy can manage symptoms and help the body adjust to the damaged disc. Together, these treatments can relieve pain and improve function, often long term.
Unfortunately, there's currently no cure for degenerative disc disease, and once you're diagnosed with DDD, it's typically a lifelong journey of learning to live with back pain, neck pain, or other symptoms. Once your discs begin to degenerate, you can't really reverse the process.
In order to be eligible for Social Security Disability, your disc disease has had to progress into a severe form that has impacted the vertebrae so it causes chronic pain and impacts your ability to stand or sit for significant periods of time, which can be made evident through medical imaging.
Collapsing Stage (Stage 4)
In the final stage of DDD, the spinal discs become dangerously thin and may become herniated, collapsed, and/or disintegrated. The severe pain felt during this stage often results from bone rubbing against bone or from herniated discs pushing into nerves.
Can you live a normal life with degenerative disc disease? The answer is yes, even it forces you to be out of work for an extended amount of time. Do not give up. There are many methods of pain relief that you can do at home that can help you live a normal life.
But among its side effects, caffeine can leech the calcium deposits in your bone and actively undermine your spinal health. If your diet is not very calcium- and vitamin D-rich to begin with, or if you have a family history of osteoporosis, consider reducing your caffeine intake and see if it helps.
However, excessive drinking could be damaging to your lower back if you aren't careful. That's because alcohol saps your body of the moisture it needs to keep your muscles smooth and flexible.
Studies have shown that for people with back pain, drinking alcohol can actually increase pain caused by conditions like degenerative disc disease, facet disease, herniated discs and other spinal diseases. For this reason, it may make sense for back pain sufferers to avoid drinking this winter.
In truth, alcohol may worsen back pain—or it may actually help. It depends on a lot of things, such as how much you're drinking and if you have a spine condition that could worsen with alcohol consumption. Research reaffirms that alcohol's role in back pain can take several forms—both healthy and harmful.
The good news: Symptoms don't typically progress. "A diagnosis in your 30s or 40s doesn't mean you'll be in a wheelchair by 70," says Matthew Colman, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Rush. "In fact, with aging, the degenerative process sometimes burns out to a point where it causes less pain."
For a vast majority of degenerative disc disease sufferers, the condition will eventually resolve itself. For a select few, however, the condition will continue to get worse and lead to reduced range of motion throughout the aging process.
Long-term Outcomes of Degenerative Disc Disease
The degenerative process of the spinal disc may start gradually or suddenly, but progresses over 2 to 3 decades from severe and at times even disabling bouts of pain to a state in which the spine is restabilized and the pain is diminished. Spinal osteoarthritis.
So, are DDD and arthritis the same? Not really. But they can be related. DDD can cause spinal osteoarthritis in some patients.
By the age of 35, approximately 30% of people will show evidence of disc degeneration at one or more levels. By the age of 60, more than 90% of people will show evidence of some disc degeneration. Degeneration itself is normal, and does not necessarily cause pain.
Drinking water and keeping properly hydrated in general supports disc health, and the best way to help with degenerative disc disease is through prevention, including drinking water. Exercises for your back and maintaining a healthy body weight will also help prevent or mitigate degenerative disc disease.
While Degenerative Disc Disease isn't curable, there are a range of surgical and non-surgical options you can explore to find relief from your symptoms and stop or slow its progression.
Chiropractic treatment for degenerative disc disease can reduce inflammation in the spinal tissues, improve the range of motion of the spine, and relieve muscle tension. Chiropractic treatments can also reduce pressure on the spine, specifically the spinal discs, to promote healing.
Stage 3 – Stabilization
This condition, called spinal stenosis, triggers pressure that can cause limb pain, tingling, and numbness. During this stage, patients may find they lose control of the legs. Some patients will also lose the ability to close their eyes and know whether one of their limbs is raised or lowered.