Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for "degenerative disc disease." This is a condition that affects discs in the spine (backbone).
Over time, the discs between the vertebrae wear down. This is called "disc degeneration." It is a normal part of aging and does not always cause symptoms. But sometimes, the disc wears down enough that the vertebrae start to rub together. The nerves of the spinal cord can also become pinched. These problems can cause neck and back pain, as well as tingling, numbness, weakness, or stiffness in the arms or legs. If you have these symptoms, you have degenerative disc disease.
The doctors think it is safe for you to manage your symptoms at home.
You might be waiting on test results. The staff will notify you if there are concerning results.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Take all your medicines as instructed. You can take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
●To help with neck and back pain:
•If the doctor gave you a neck or back brace, wear it as instructed.
•Put a gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the painful area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin.
•Gently stretch your neck and back.
•Use good posture when sitting or standing. Hold your head up, and keep your shoulders down.
•Lift with your legs instead of your back.
•Keep your neck in line with the rest of your body when sleeping. You might want to sleep with a pillow under or between your knees if this eases pain.
●Try to stay as active as possible without causing too much pain. It is OK to rest your back for a day or so. But get up and move around gently during the day as you can. After a few days, slowly start to increase your activity level. If something causes your pain to come back or get worse, stop and go back to doing easier activities that did not hurt.
●Ask your regular doctor if losing weight might help with your symptoms. If so, they can help you lose weight safely.
●Ask your regular doctor if seeing a chiropractor or getting acupuncture or massage would help with your symptoms.
●Consider using a cane or walker to help you move around.
When should I get emergency help?
●Return to the ED if:
•You cannot walk or control your bowels or bladder.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●Your pain gets worse, even after taking pain medicines and resting.
●The numbness or weakness in your arm or leg gets worse.
●You cannot do your normal activities because of pain.
●You have new or worsening symptoms.
