4 Exercises for Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

[@RehabScience]

Today's video covers exercises for cervical degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) describes a condition in which the discs in our spine (intervertebral discs) lose height and hydration as we age. As the discs degenerate, some of their ability to cushion against force and provide mobility to the spinal joints is lost. Even though this condition is labeled as a 'disease', it is actually something that is normal and associated with the aging process. Furthermore, many people who have signs of DDD have no neck pain. In individuals who do experience symptoms, pain may be isolated to the neck region or may cause that travels down one or both arms (radiculopathy). If you have pain that travels down one or both arms, I would recommend trying the exercises in this video and also adding the nerve mobilization exercises from my video on that topic. Here is a link for that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ena6i52KjZyhq5osi=VwrsPB3KdedU7i39 Book Link: a.co/d/hZR1sLz Peanut Massage Tool Link: amzn.to/3JvBSBy Theraband Link: amzn.to/3WdynHI

[@timosaksala4797]

There are doctors who consider it a metabolic disease, i.e. the degeneration of the discs, joints, tissue in general is due to low order inflammation , which in turn is due to bad diet.

[@regina6838]

I have pinched nerves C5 and both sides of C6. Thanks for explaining exactly what the exams showed me. My pain comes and goes.

[@DR_ibtissamghar]

Do you have any muscle weakness?

[@regina6838]

@@DR_ibtissamghar No I don't

[@EffSharp]

This is great. Thank you. My spine is a mess. My last surgery was a neck surgery and my physical therapy program didn’t give me a single exercise to do at home. I am now desperate to avoid another herniated disc.

[@blarpieman]

I believe that for most people the problems are not neck problems, but both tight pecks, poor posture, and overly tight thoracic spine muscles between the scapula. I fought for 8 months until a manual therapist told me to tape two tennis balls together and lay on them starting at t 12 to t1 and work your way upward. Over time the muscles will relax and the pressure will start to come off the cervical spine. I had 3 disc bulges w tingling, headaches ect. Now along with a cervical traction workout 4x a week I feel like a new person and my low back doesn't hurt anymore. Remember the place of pain is usually not the source of the problem unless its direct blow trauma. IMO

[@JJbro-rt5zu]

Interesting. I had a physical therapist massage my upper back below neck and it was so tight and stiff it actually was hurting almost and that shouldn't happen. Is there a connection there you think?

[@blarpieman]

@@JJbro-rt5zu yes mid spine musculature is a main cause of neck pain.

[@Chiroman527]

​@JJbro-rt5zu Absolutely there is a connection of the Cervical Spine to the Thoracic Spine and all the way down to the Sacroiliac Joints. I am a Sufferer of Neck and Back pain and terrible stiffness for Decades. I'm 73, male and sustained a fractured right Femur in 1966 at age 15 playing HS Football. As a result, tthe right leg is 1" shorter than the left. It was left Unaddressed by the doctor at the time and that leg length Discrepancy has wreaked Havoc with my spine and therefore my entire well being. Oh and 48 years of driving at least 3 hours a day commuting, sitting at desks and then PCs with Forward Head Posture has detroyed my neck. I didn't drink water regulalry at all.

[@IvyChoi-tl9zl]

These exercises are do-able & practical. Thanks

[@RehabScience]

I'm glad to hear the video was helpful!

[@tracylang4460]

Yayyy!!! You did it!! I've been waiting. Thank you, thank you!!!

[@RehabScience]

You’re welcome! I hope the exercises help you!

[@davetysdal5442]

C4 and C5 CDD here. Thanks for the video!!! Prednisone prescribed so far....

[@RehabScience]

I hope you find these exercises to be helpful! My book has a more comprehensive neck pain program, if you need another resource. Here is an Amazon link if you want to learn more about my book. amzn.to/40YE7Ho

[@MathWiz-k6c]

This may change my. Life I just got diagnosed with neck DDD With prior congenital cervical stenosis

[@RehabScience]

I'm so glad to hear my channel has been helpful to you!

[@authormichelle793]

Gonna try it. Thank you

[@mandarsangvikar1301]

Thank sir for Guidance. I salute you sir.. Great sir.. thanks sir

[@RehabScience]

Most welcome!

[@angelreid8559]

Sir, can you tell us what type of food help this DDD , also which type of food people should avoid? Thanks! ❤❤❤

[@sugardrop62]

Avoid fried in bad oils only use coconut oil, olive oil and avacodo oil. Stay away from inflammation food. Or gluten foods. Eat anti-inflammatory foods

[@Mrs51315]

Today is my last day of physical therapy... at first it helped... now i cant get out of bed the next day😭... i also have a pinched nerved ... i can't take this pain‼️ I'm 48

[@kimalonzo3363]

Thanks for the tips. I just try to use my foam roller on my neck in those spots. I will try to find a little ball somewhere. Is that band stretchy? I've seen videos where they say use a towel, but mine are way too bulky to do any good. And hi to Kirsten too!❤😊

[@RehabScience]

The massage balls often work better for targeting these small muscles. Yes, the elastic band is stretchy and I put a link for it in the description.

[@robertbehan9186]

Your shoulder video led me here. Both shoulders are very bad. As it is very late, I'm going to have to watch this and the lumbar video tomorrow. Do you have one for thoracic ddd? I'm so glad you shoulder video popped up. Maybe I can get some relief on these and other joints. Thank you!

[@RehabScience]

I'm glad you found my channel and I hope that the exercises help you! I haven't covered thoracic DDD yet, but my thoracic mobility video below may help you. Also, my book has a more comprehensive thoracic pain program that would likely help you. Here are links for both resources. Thoracic mobility: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH6wY5awhKl4i9Usi=gRC4CRWs_C_8Vl5l Book Link: a.co/d/2jMaKyr

[@esterkahingunga5813]

Thank you !

[@RehabScience]

You're welcome!

[@SteelyTheVan]

Thanks for this excellent and timely video. I’ve been using the flossing technique you demonstrated several weeks ago. That has been helping. I have been experiencing a cold thumb which I can only imagine is some impingement somewhere… any ideas what may cause cold fingers or more specifically thumb?

[@RehabScience]

You’re welcome! The cold thumb sensation is usually either due to compromise of the median nerve somewhere along its path or of the C6 nerve root in the neck. If things don’t improve with time, a skilled orthopedic physical therapist would be able to test you and help figure out where the symptoms are originating from.

[@angelreid8559]

Sir, if I don't have pain, do I still need to do this exercises?

[@EsomnqumaMamhlwane]

Hi sir Where can i get this little ball and a book. Back muscle on my neck are both painful and reports shows i have early left side discogenic spondylosis the physio im current attending does not give me exercise to do at home this channel helps please do more videos about this thank you

[@RehabScience]

Hello, you can use the link below to order the massage ball and a copy of my book. Ball: a.co/d/4JwDIG0 Book: a.co/d/cj2ewTM

[@anjan.hansen6978]

Super exercis

[@RehabScience]

Thank you!

[@trentvlak]

What if you added stress compression exercises such as walking with a 4kg mass balanced on the top of the head?

[@angelreid8559]

Sir, I have issues in my neck and I did X-ray and I have written report. Can I take picture of it and send it to you, then you explain something for me? How can I send you image? Thanks!

[@Frank020]

Oh man, I have pain. My forearm, and neck muscles get tight. My elbow feels like spinters. Epicondyle area tenderness..Maybe brachail C7 C6. My PCP did not want to give me a referral last time. 😢 Thanks. If i lie with my neck hanging off a flat about 1/2 inch below shoulder height a lot of pain goes away.

[@neilbachew3109]

That is me. Real pain. Help me.C5 C6 4years now. . Pain.

[@timosaksala4797]

But when you actually have a disc problem in your neck, like I do, you can't do even half of those movements because of the pain it causes.

[@Thomas-qk7wf]

Do you happen to have a link to that pillow? A search on Amazon showed a different style that appears too soft to use with a ball. Thank you.

[@Thomas-qk7wf]

I found it. I was searching for a pillow instead of a block.

[@RehabScience]

Glad you found it!

[@traceyvalentine1456]

I’ve have degenerative disc from my c3 to c7, will these exercises help?

[@RehabScience]

These exercises help most patients, but I can’t guarantee they will help you without performing an evaluation on your neck.

[@codyhodges3639]

Can this cause weakness in the arm and face ?

[@RehabScience]

This could cause weakness in the arms, but wouldn’t affect the face since the nerves that innervate the face come directly from the brain (cranial nerves) rather than the neck.

[@LisaBriddell]

I have cervical degenerate disk in neck does headaches become a symptom?

[@angiec5610]

It does for me

[@newts1964]

What of you have had fusion

[@TheTeamRandy]

I'm new to this neck pain game. One thing that's weird for me is that the neck pain seems to go up into the back of my head, below the scalp, occipital nerves ? It's not pain there per se, it's more like a feeling of inflammation, irritation. I'm 54, generally in a good shape. This sucks. PT ? Chiro ? Rolfing ? Yoga ? This has gone on for four months, sometimes I feel numbness in my fin gets, say if riding a bike, sometimes I feel a slight twitch or pinch in lower back, it's all mostly left side neck C-4 , C-5 ( C-6 and C-7 most pronounced ) had an x ray. Should I get an MRI ? Very weird in the back of the head, the feeling. Honestly, I'd prefer the neck pain only, the head thing is very irritating

[@alexandramariescavo]

This is the exact type of pain I have. Back of my neck into the base of my skull and I get headaches from it and sometimes occipital nerves. Pretty sure I have degenerative disc disease as I am only 27. It really sucks.

[@LisaBriddell]

@@alexandramariescavome too!!! Headache is so annoying!!

[@toobasalman2666]

My Lumbar curve is straight and also cervical curve become straight and difficulty in walking and balance also weakness in my legs and arms with numbness.... degenerative disc changes in x-ray in c4,c5,c6..i am 28😢..cracking sound in neck while exercising....cant walk for long..coz of scared of fall and imbalance walk.....and cant maintain balance while walk need support for standing......

[@RehabScience]

I am sorry to hear you are struggling with these issues. I would recommend finding a good orthopedic physical therapist in your area who can help design a program to help improve your mobility, strength, and function.

[@tracylang4460]

Are there any exercises in the book for trigeminal neuralgia type facial nerve stretches?

[@RehabScience]

Unfortunately, I did not cover that issue as it is less common than the other conditions I covered in my book.

[@angelreid8559]

Does ice bag helpfull?

[@RehabScience]

Ice can help reduce pain. Heat can reduce pain as well, so it’s good to experiment with both and see what works for you.

[@beetrootcrostini]

Chin to chest really hurts right now

[@arghasamajder5327]

Hlw sir I want to ask you a question. I am suffering from cervical spondylitis and I have done my x-ray. And it shows straightning of cervical lordosis. Whenever I move my head side to side and tilt it makes some type of grinding and crunching noises. So my question is that if we have loss of neck cervical curvature does it creates this type of Creepy noises ? And I am doing some exercises to make my Cervical curve back again . And if my curve backs in its own alignment will this noises be stop ?? And how much time it takes to get the curve back ??

[@RehabScience]

Hello, it’s important to know that many people who demonstrate a loss of cervical lordosis on imaging have no pain. In those who have pain, exercises that improve mobility and neck strength often help reduce pain and the noises you are referring to. However, exercise typically won’t change the posture of the neck or return the curve to normal. However, this isn’t something we worry much about in rehab.

[@arghasamajder5327]

@@RehabScience if exercise won't help to change the curve into its proper shape then what else should I do ??? Is there any other options?

[@RehabScience]

It is still very important to do these types of exercises as they can help relieve pain and improve function. Changing the curve back to normal alignment is not something to worry about. The only way to change the curve would be through surgery and surgeons usually won’t perform this type of operation.

[@valeriebwilliams701]

Start off by talking to your nutrition get off all animals and seafood anything that has a heartbeat. Leviticus chapter 11