TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Foreword 1
- Acknowledgments 5
- Table of Contents 7
- Part 1 – Disc Disease Overview 11
- The Structure of the Human Spine 11
- The Spinal Vertebrae 11
- The Function of the Discs 13
- The Spinal Cord 14
- When Degeneration Sets In 15
- Inflammatory Disc Pain 15
- Mechanical Disc Pain 17
- Spinal Stenosis 17
- Bone Spurs 17
- Diagnosing Degenerative Disc Disease 19
- Special Section – Spinal Health Tips 21
- Practice Safe Lifting Techniques 21
- Stand in a Supportive Way 22
- Sit With Proper Posture 22
- Be Careful Reaching and Bending 23
- Carry Loads Wisely 23
- Eat Well and Exercise 23
- Sleeping Is Hard Work! 24
- Give Up the Cigarettes 24
- Part 2 – Disc Disease by Region 27
- Cervical Disc Disease 28
- The Cervical Spine 28
- Types of Neck Pain 30
- Diagnosing Cervical Disc Disease 31
- Treating Cervical Disc Disease 32
- Cervical Discectomy or Fusion 33
- Thoracic Disc Disease 34
- Thoracic Disc Herniation 35
- Diagnosing Thoracic Disc Disease 36
- Treating Thoracic Disc Disease 36
- Lumbar Disc Diseas 38
- Diagnosing Lumbar Disc Disease 38
- Treating Lumbar Disc Disease 40
- Part 3 – Standard Medical Treatments 41
- Non-Operative Treatments 41
- Physical Therapy 42
- Common Prescribed Medications 49
- Epidural Steroid Injections 51
- Heat and Cold Therapy 52
- Surgical Treatment Options 55
- Cervical Disc Procedures 55
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion 56
- Cervical Disc Replacement 57
- Thoracic Disc Procedures 58
- Laminectomy 58
- Thoracotomy 59
- Costotransversectomy 59
- Lumbar Disc Procedures 59
- Lumbar Disc Fusion 60
- Artificial Disc Replacement 60
- Part 4 – Alternative Treatments and Self-Care 63
- Exercise for Healing and Prevention 63
- Custom Braces 63
- Chiropractic Treatments 64
- Rolfing 66
- Acupuncture 67
- Magnets 68
- Meditation 68
- Ergonomic Furniture 70
- Herbal Remedies 70
- Alternative Therapies in Combination 71
- Special Section – Coping with Chronic Pain 73
- Stress Reduction 73
- Some Things That Don’t Work 73
- Endorphins, Natural Drug of Choice 74
- Practice Deep Breathing 74
- Don’t Concentrate on the Pain 75
- Keep a Pain Journal 75
- Be Kind to Yourself 76
- Part 5 – Nutrition and Spinal Health 79
- Hydration and Disc Health 79
- Back Pain and Obesity 81
- Inflammation and Back Pain 81
- Avoid Smoking, Reduce Alcohol Consumption 83
- Calcium 84
- The Vitamin D 87
- Afterword 89
- Relevant Websites 93
- Frequently Asked Questions 95
- Glossary 103
- Index 111
