DDD - one of the joys of the aging process

Degenerative Disk Disease can go unnoticed ... or (in my case) can really let you know it is happening.

Back.com has a very easy to read analysis of DDD and these two images illustrates how the disk collapses.

In basic terms, DDD is the collapse of the disk between two vertebrae.

Check this site and follow the arrows to see what happens when DDD occurs. 

When this happens, it can go unnoticed or it can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve which translates into PAIN in the lower back or the neck or the right leg (which can be manageable or can be debilitating to the 

degree you cannot sit or stand for more than a few minutes). This means you spend most of the day (24 hours) flat on your back or stomach.

Causes - aging. injury. improper posture. one leg shorter. sports, etc.

In my case - all of the above caused herniation at L4-L5 and L5-S1.

Treatment - this site lists the various options of which I did not plan to follow.

The two options I looked into were Inversion Table (together with exercises) and DRX9000.

  

I believe most people (with continuous debilitating pain) succumb to the DRX9000 approach that boasts at least 86% success rate ... an offers your 

money-back, after 7 visits, if you are not satisfied with progress.

It didn't take very long to conclude a $200 

Inversion Table was a worthwhile approach before investing in a $4,600 DRX9000 therapy solution, even though the DRX9000 folks offer a convincing argument (as I would expect, after investing in a $100,000 piece of equipment). 

I will be seeing an orthopedic surgeon in early April. Hopefully, I see substantial improvement with the table before then ...