Mailbag! 6 Ways to Relieve Spinal Pain
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted April 26, 2022
I have degenerative disc disease, and I was wondering if you could tell me some ways to make it easier.
–Pamela from Albuquerque, NM
Pamela,
As I’m sure you already know, degenerative disc disease happens when the discs between the spine’s vertebrae shrink. This tightness makes it difficult for the nerves that travel through the spinal column, and they become pinched, causing pain.
Degenerative disc disease happens to a lot of us as we grow older, but not everyone suffers from pain.
While you might feel unlucky that you’re one of the people who has the pain, it can also bring you hope knowing that the right treatment can help relieve the pain.
The mainstream way to treat disc disease is to take anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and others. I don’t recommend those drugs for long-term use with my patients because of the damage they can cause.
A drug-free way to treat disc disease is to eat a low inflammation diet. While this can sound complicated, it just means staying away from foods that cause inflammation, including vegetable oils (like corn, sunflower, soybean, and others), sugar, and any processed foods.
Besides a diet, try some of the following:
- Stay active. While it can be hard to move around when you’re in pain, this is one of the best ways to relieve it. And it doesn’t have to be anything drastic— simply walking can do wonders. I suggest adding in a stretching routine as well, which can be found online. Make stretching as part of your day by doing it during commercial breaks when watching TV or set an alarm to go off a few times during the day.
- Physical therapy or chiropractic care. You cannot always find a practitioner or afford one, but they can dramatically help people with disc disease.
- Collagen. It’s a good idea to promote collagen production by using bone broth that’s high in natural collagen. You can also take collagen supplements.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight can relieve pressure on the spine, and the less pressure put on it, the better.
- Natural anti-inflammatories. There are many spices, like ginger, turmeric, rosemary, that can be added to food. You can always supplement with those spices if you don’t like the taste, or you want to make sure you are getting enough to be effective. Boswellia is another herb that works well to reduce inflammation. I also recommend that folks take 1-3 grams of fish oil a day to help keep inflammation at bay. CBD, an extract of cannabis, can help tame inflammation as well.
Your best bet to reduce pain is to do as many things as you can, and work with your doctor to make a “formula” that’s best for you.
P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click here to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Doctor-Approved Method to Ditch Blood Pressure Meds
In a world where drug solutions dominate healthcare, it’s refreshing to discover that best remedies sometimes don’t involve a single pill. A groundbreaking study shows simple relaxation techniques could be your secret weapon against one of America’s deadliest health conditions. Best of all? It’s free, easy to start right away—and your results are bound to...
Trouble Hearing? Your Heart Could Be at Risk
With research exploding and data pouring in, scientists are uncovering some weird (and surprisingly helpful) health connections. Today’s odd couple? Hearing loss and heart failure. Turns out your ears and your ticker are more connected than you ever imagined. A major study published in the journal Heart looked at over 164,000 people for nearly a...
Stay Up Late? It Could Destroy Your Mental Health
If you dread mornings but come alive at night, there’s concerning new research you need to know about. A recent study found that “night owls” are at higher risk for depression. But before you rush to set your alarm to get up with the sun tomorrow, there’s more to the story… Chronotypes are essentially your...
Go from Flabby to Fit with this Common Vitamin
If you’re like many of us, you woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and realized you’re no spring chicken anymore. Even worse—when you weren’t paying attention—it seems you somehow misplaced the muscles of your youth and have gone from fit to flabby. Aging has a way of humbling us like that. But scientists...
Seasonal Allergy “Off Switch” Discovered in the GUT
“Doc, why am I suddenly suffering from seasonal allergies when I’ve never had them before?” It’s a question I get all the time—and my answer might surprise you. Stop looking up at the trees—and start looking down at your gut… Your sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and runny nose might have more to do with what’s...
“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early
One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...
BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics
“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...
Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]
Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...
The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory
You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...
Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry
Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...