Comprehensive Treatments for Degenerative Disc Disease
Living with chronic back or neck pain can disrupt many parts of your life. Simple tasks like sitting at a desk, lifting groceries or even getting a good night’s sleep become daily battles. If you have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease (DDD), you might worry that major surgery is your only option — but that is rarely the case.
At the practice of Rojeh Melikian, M.D., we believe in empowering you with choices. Modern degenerative disc disease treatments range from conservative therapies to advanced, minimally invasive procedures designed to preserve your mobility. Our goal is to help you understand your options and guide you toward a personalized path to lasting relief.
Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease and Your Spine
To find the right DDD treatment options, it’s essential to understand the problem. Your spine is made up of stacked bones called vertebrae, separated by soft, shock-absorbing spinal discs. Over time, these discs — like the tires on a car — can wear down, leading to back pain from degenerative disc disease.
Back Pain From Degenerative Disc Disease: Causes and Symptoms
Back pain from degenerative disc disease is a leading cause of discomfort and lifestyle limitations for adults. While age is the most common culprit, spinal disc degeneration can accelerate due to genetics, obesity or past injuries.
Common symptoms include:
- Radiating pain: Sharp or shooting pain that travels down the arms or legs.
- Numbness and tingling: Sensations often caused by nerve compression.
- Stiffness: Reduced flexibility in the lower back or neck, especially after periods of rest.
Diagnosing Degenerative Disc Disease
Accurate treatment begins with a precise diagnosis. Dr. Melikian utilizes a comprehensive physical examination combined with advanced imaging tests, like an MRI or X-ray. These images allow us to visualize the extent of the degeneration and pinpoint the exact source of your back pain caused by degenerative disc disease.
Conservative and Interventional Treatments
For many, conservative treatment for degenerative disc disease brings meaningful relief and restores mobility without surgery.
Physical Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease
Physical therapy for degenerative disc disease focuses on core strengthening to support the spine and alleviate pressure on the affected spinal disks. Activity modification and anti-inflammatory medications are also recommended to control pain.
Pain Management for Disc Problems
Our pain management for disc problems includes targeted injections, like epidural steroid injections, stem cell injections or platelet rich plasma, delivering medication directly to inflamed nerves and degenerated disc. Facet joint injections and other interventional treatments can also ease persistent discomfort.
Surgical Options for Disc Degeneration
If conservative methods aren’t enough, Dr. Melikian offers leading surgical options for disc degeneration, always aiming to maintain safety and function while minimizing downtime.
Artificial Disc Replacement
Artificial disc replacement is a motion-preserving alternative to spinal fusion. In this procedure, Dr. Melikian replaces the damaged spinal disc with a high-tech implant, helping patients maintain spinal flexibility and recover more quickly.
Spinal Fusion With Modern Techniques
When instability is an issue, spinal fusion can stabilize the vertebrae. Dr. Melikian uses minimally invasive fusion techniques with smaller incisions, resulting in less muscle disruption and faster healing.
Microdiscectomy: Minimally Invasive Decompression
For those with herniated disks, minimally invasive microdiscectomy removes only the disk portion pressing on nerves, relieving pain rapidly with shorter recovery.
Your Personalized DDD Treatment Plan
Because every patient and every case of degenerative disc disease is unique, Dr. Melikian listens carefully to your story and builds DDD treatment options around your goals — whether that means conservative care, pain management or surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes back pain from degenerative disc disease?
DDD results from wear and tear of spinal disks, leading to decreased cushioning between vertebrae and increased nerve pressure.
How long is the recovery from minimally invasive spine procedures?
Recovery varies by treatment, but many patients are able to walk the same day and return to their activities within weeks.
Can I avoid surgery for degenerative disc disease?
Yes. Conservative treatments and pain management for disc problems help most people avoid surgery.
Ready to Reclaim Your Life?
Dr. Rojeh Melikian’s practice serves patients throughout Southern California, offering in-person, phone and video consultations. Whether you need conservative treatment for degenerative disc disease or surgical options for disc degeneration, Dr. Melikian’s patient-first approach can help you get back to an active, pain-free life.