Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease Care in Grand Junction, CO
Despite the name, this is not really a disease. It describes disc changes that accumulate over years, and how much they matter varies enormously from person to person.
Short answer
Despite the name, this is not really a disease. It describes disc changes that accumulate over years, and how much they matter varies enormously from person to person.
Understanding
What Degenerative Disc Disease Is
Discs lose water content and height with time. On imaging that shows as narrowing, and the joints around the segment often change in response.
The term sounds alarming and frequently is not. Many people carry these changes for decades without significant pain.
Symptoms
What patients commonly describe
Stiffness that is worst in the morning and eases with movement
Episodes of sharper pain separated by quieter stretches
Discomfort with prolonged sitting or standing in one place
Occasional radiating symptoms if a nerve is irritated
Contributors
What can contribute
Cumulative years of load and motion
Old injuries that changed how a segment moves
Smoking and reduced circulation to spinal tissue
Long periods of inactivity
Our approach
How this is evaluated and cared for here
Care follows the examination. Nothing on this page is a treatment recommendation for your case.
Care aims at motion, comfort, and function rather than at reversing the imaging. Restoring movement in the segments that can move often reduces the load on the ones that cannot.
Adjusting technique is matched to your findings, and lower-force methods are available. Decompression and soft tissue therapies are used when they fit the case.
Meet your chiropractor
Meet Dr. Dean Younker
Dr. Dean Younker took over Peak Performance in 1997 and has cared for patients in Grand Junction ever since. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Northern Colorado and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland University in Kansas City. He is a member of the Colorado Chiropractic Association and the Grand Junction Chiropractor Association.
“Because no two patients are the same, here at Peak Performance, we take the time to listen to each patient. We then develop a personalized treatment plan. Our promise is to help you live your life better.”
FAQ
Common Questions
Is degeneration reversible?
The structural changes are not undone by care. Comfort and movement can still improve substantially, which is what care targets.
Does everyone with these findings hurt?
No. Imaging findings and pain correlate loosely, which is why the examination matters more than the report.
Should I avoid activity?
Usually the opposite. Appropriate loading tends to help; the specifics depend on your examination.
Related Pages
Medical disclaimer
This page is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Results vary from person to person and no outcome is guaranteed. Always speak with a qualified provider about your own situation, and call 911 for a medical emergency.
Next step
You Don't Have to Keep Planning Your Life Around Pain.
If pain is affecting the way you sleep, work, exercise, travel, or spend time with the people you love, it is worth finding out what is going on. Let's start with a conversation.
Engage With Your Life Again.