For many years, patients have been told they have degenerative disk disease and that there is nothing they can do about it because it is a disease. Degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease at all; it is a consequence of putting too much pressure on a certain disc or group of disks. It is actually now called "Compressive Disks Syndrome."

As a disc degenerates, it will usually be symptom-free for the first years and sometimes decades. Eventually, the spinal disc will degenerate/compress to the point that it starts to bulge or herniate. At that point, it may put pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves, which often leads to pain, either at the site of the disc or "downstream" where the nerve ends.

An example of this would be sciatica, or radiating leg pain. The problem is not in your leg: the problem is in your low back, caused by something irritating or putting pressure on the spinal nerves. When this happens, it affects the nerves function. You may lose strength in certain muscles or sensation at that nerve level (numbness); you can also lose proper function of the organs that the nerve is attached to.

Spinal discs break down because of abnormal curves/kinks that cause stress points in our spine. These kinks lead to abnormal posture. These stress points, which are under constant pressure because of gravity, coupled with time, result in a loss of the inner fluids and degeneration of the outer shell. This loss of fluid prevents the discs from acting as natural shock absorbers. It also makes the disc thinner and shrinks the gap between the vertebrae.

This gap is where the spinal nerves come out from the spinal cord. If that gap decreases in height because of disc thinning, stenosis can occur, which is a narrowing of the hole the nerve comes through. This slow degeneration eventually leads to the outside shell of the disc cracking, allowing inner disk material to leak/bulge out, which is called a herniated or bulging disc.

Most traditional treatments for bulging disks, stenosis and sciatica fail because they address the symptoms and not the cause of the condition. Your degenerated disc is a physical problem and it requires a physical solution. There are no pills or injections that can create a postural balance in your body, which is necessary to reduce the nerve pressure. It requires stretching, unique postural exercises, soft tissue manual therapy and spinal adjustments. Clinics doing this type of work usually have at least a physical therapist and a chiropractor working together on the patients.

We can tell when a person has abnormal kinks in their spine by looking at their posture. Everything is attached to your spine, and if it is crooked, twisted or kinked, your posture will show it.

You can check your loved ones' posture by doing the following: Have them close their eyes and turn their head back and forth a few times and shrug their shoulders a few times. Make sure they keep their eyes shut while you examine their posture. First, look from the side view. Their ears should be directly above their shoulders and their shoulders directly above the leg attachment. This correct posture from the side view should produce a natural curve in the neck and the low back.

Now look at them from the front. Are both shoulders level, or is one higher than the other? Are the neck and head straight or are they leaning to one side? Are the top of the hips even with one another?

If they have abnormalities, get them checked out before they start developing pain, and other symptoms and problems.

Dr. Wayne Fichter is the lead doctor at Natural Spine Solutions, which specializes in the treatment of serious, chronic back problems, acute injuries and postural/scoliosis problems. Call (208) 966-4425 for all of your spinal and wellness needs.