Disc Degeneration/Injury Treatment in St. Marys
Gentle, non-surgical care for degenerative disc disease and disc injuries in St. Marys, KS, with spinal decompression, adjustments and home exercises.
Chiropractic care for disc degeneration/injury
Get to the root of your disc degeneration/injury
Also known as: Degenerative Disc Disease, Disc Degeneration, Disc Injury, Worn Discs
Discs that have worn down over the years, or been hurt in a fall, a lift or an accident, can leave your back or neck stiff and sore most days. At Prairie Star Chiropractic in St. Marys, Dr. James Durbin looks at how your discs and the joints around them are moving, then builds a gentle, non-surgical plan to ease the load on them and help you move more comfortably.
Symptoms of disc degeneration/injury
- ✓A deep, aching back or neck that is worse after sitting or standing for a long time
- ✓Stiffness first thing in the morning that eases as you move
- ✓Flare-ups after lifting, bending or a long drive
- ✓Pain that feels better when you walk or change position
- ✓Occasional pain, numbness or tingling into an arm or leg
Common causes
- Normal age-related drying and thinning of the discs
- An earlier disc injury, fall, sports injury or car accident
- Years of heavy lifting, bending or repetitive work
- Long hours of sitting with a forward posture
- Smoking and excess body weight, which both add stress to the discs
Our approach
How we treat disc degeneration/injury in St. Marys
- Step 1
Thorough exam
We go through your history and test how your spine moves, your strength, reflexes and sensation, and take x-rays only when they will change your care.
- Step 2
A clear, personalized plan
You get a plain-English explanation of what we found and a care plan built around what your discs and joints need, which Dr. Durbin reviews with you as you progress.
- Step 3
Gentle treatment & home care
Non-surgical spinal decompression and intersegmental traction ease the load on the discs, gentle adjustments restore motion to stiff joints, and simple home exercises build support.
The basics
Understanding disc degeneration/injury
The discs between your vertebrae act as cushions. With age, repeated strain or an old injury, they can lose water and height, so they absorb less shock and the joints around them take more of the load. That is what "degenerative disc disease" means. It is a description of change in the disc, not a disease that spreads, and many people have it on an x-ray with little or no pain.
When it does hurt, the pain usually comes from stiff, irritated joints and tight muscles around the worn disc, and sometimes from a nerve that has less room than it used to. Care aims at those things: restoring motion, taking pressure off the disc and building the strength that supports it.
New Patient Special
visit
A first-visit special for new patients.
Book your first visit
Book online in a minute, or call and we will find a time that fits your day.
Self-pay and cash-pay practice.
What to expect at your first visit
- We listen to how your back or neck pain started, what makes it better or worse and how it affects your day.
- We examine how your spine moves and check your strength, reflexes and sensation.
- We explain what we found in plain English and whether our care is a good fit for you.
- We plan your care together, with home exercises and regular check-ins on your progress.
How we care for worn and injured discs
Non-surgical spinal decompression gently eases the pressure on the disc. Intersegmental traction loosens stiff segments, and gentle chiropractic adjustments restore motion to the joints that take extra load when a disc wears down. Home exercises for your core and posture help keep that progress going between visits.
If your disc problem is sending pain down a leg, see our sciatica page, and if a disc has bulged or herniated, see Bulged/Herniated Disc.
Ready to find out what your discs need? Our New Patient Special makes your first visit easy, and you can book an appointment online.
Treatment options
Services we use to relieve disc degeneration/injury
Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques
Gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments in St. Marys, KS that restore motion to restricted joints and relieve back pain, neck pain, and headaches at the source.
Learn more →Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Non-surgical spinal decompression in St. Marys gently stretches the spine to relieve herniated discs, sciatica, and chronic neck and back pain — drug-free.
Learn more →Intersegmental Traction Therapy
Intersegmental traction in St. Marys uses a gentle roller table to mobilize each spinal segment, improve disc circulation, ease muscle tension, and restore flexibility.
Learn more →Related conditions
Other conditions we treat in St. Marys
Can a degenerated disc be reversed?+
The change in the disc itself usually stays, but pain and stiffness often improve a great deal when the joints move better, the disc is under less pressure and the muscles around it are stronger. That is what our care aims for.
Is chiropractic care safe with degenerative disc disease?+
Yes, when the technique fits the condition. We use gentle, low-force methods for worn discs, often with decompression, and we check for anything that would rule treatment out before we start.
How is this different from a bulged or herniated disc?+
Degeneration is gradual wear across the disc. A bulge or herniation is when disc material pushes outward and can press on a nerve. They often happen together. See our bulged and herniated disc page for more on that.
When should I see a medical doctor instead?+
Go to an emergency room for sudden loss of bladder or bowel control, rapidly worsening leg weakness, or severe pain after major trauma. If your exam ever suggests you need imaging or a specialist, we will tell you and help arrange it.
Do you bill insurance?+
No. We are a cash-pay practice and do not bill insurance. We explain the cost of your care plan before treatment begins, and new patients can start with our New Patient Special.