|
What should I avoid if I have degenerative disk disease? Things to avoid with degenerative disk disease include: Smoking. Smoking can worsen your pain and make treatment less effective. Lifting heavy objects. Heavy lifting stresses and strains the disks in your back, especially when you do it often. Drinking alcohol. Drinking too many beverages containing alcohol increases your risk of back pain. Staying seated for long periods. If you spend too much time sitting on the couch or at your desk, your back pain will increase. So, make sure to get up and move around once in a while. High-impact physical activity. Sports and other physical activities that involve jumping, running and other high-impact movements can be hard on your back. Instead, try low-impact physical activities like walking and swimming. What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?You may want to ask your healthcare provider: What’s the most likely cause of my degenerative disk disease? How can I slow the progression of the disease? What nonsurgical treatments are most likely to relieve my pain? What will happen if I choose not to have surgery? How can I prevent pain from returning after surgery? (责任编辑：) |