What are the treatment options for degenerative disk disease in adolescents?

MRI showed degenerative disk disease in 16 year old, and an EMG showed a pinched nerve in the c8

Often, DDD can be successfully treated without surgery. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chiropractic treatments, or spinal injections often provide adequate relief of these troubling symptoms. Surgery may be recommended if the conservative treatment options do not provide relief within 2 to 3 months. If leg or back pain limits normal activity, if there is weakness or numbness in the legs, if it is difficult to walk or stand, or if medication or physical therapy are ineffective, surgery may be necessary, most often spinal fusion.

Osteopathic treatment treats various aspects of the degenerative process returning the back to optimal functioning. The treatment involves gentle stretches and manipulation to the facet joints of the spine. Relaxation techniques to the resultant muscle spasm. The osteopath will not just treat the degenerate area but treat the whole spine.

The overall goal of treatment is to :

-make you comfortable as quickly as possible
-design a spine-care program to reduce further degeneration
-get you back to normal activity in a timely manner

Treatment is free.
Visit atbsnr.com and do the yogic exercises shown there.
More than 10,000 benifited so far.

There is a decompression machine that is excellent ecpecially in younger patients.There are 2 doctors(Dr.Mark Hashim &Dr.Mark Fallows)they are located in Florida but I am sure there are other docs that have these machines though there is 1 problem and that is that insurance does not cover them yet because they are newer programs.They run about 3,800.00$ I have degenerative disc disease and it hurts like hell,but I do know that some meds work for some people,as far as I am concerned the injections do not work @all for this disease and I don't think you want your child on heavy pain killers so if you can get this kind of money I think that would be your best bet! Its called the DRX 3000 or sometthing along those lines.Ask any pain management doctor and they should know...I hope this helps you!If you want the phone number to the docs I mentioned it is 352-527-4444.Good Luck!