Do I need imaging like an MRI before my first visit?
No. You do not need imaging before your first visit. If imaging would be helpful to clarify your diagnosis, your nurse practitioner can order it as part of your care.
I have a herniated disc. Is that the same as DDD?
Related but not the same. A herniated disc is when part of a disc bulges or extrudes. DDD describes broader degenerative changes over time. Both can cause similar pain and both often respond to the same kind of conservative care. Your evaluation will clarify what is going on with your specific situation.
Should I avoid exercise if I have DDD?
No. Avoiding movement tends to make DDD pain worse, not better. The right exercise, paced and progressed correctly, protects the spine and reduces pain over time. Your PT team will help you figure out what to do, what to modify, and what to skip for now.
My imaging looks bad. How can I have less pain than the imaging suggests?
Imaging shows structure. Pain is influenced by structure, but also by muscle tension, movement patterns, nerve sensitivity, sleep, and many other factors. Many people with imaging that looks identical to yours have no pain at all. That is not a fluke. It is a real and important fact in modern pain care.
Can physical therapy actually help DDD?
Yes. While PT does not change the disc itself, it directly addresses the muscle imbalances, movement patterns, and joint mechanics that turn disc changes into ongoing pain. Many DDD patients see significant improvement in pain and function with consistent team-based care.
If I have DDD, am I going to need surgery eventually?
Not necessarily. Many people with DDD never need surgery. Conservative care can often manage pain and preserve function for years, in some cases for life. A surgical opinion makes more sense when conservative care has been given a fair trial and significant function or quality of life is still being lost. Your evaluation will help […]