For immediate pain relief, your md will be able to prescribe vioxx, anti inflammatory medication and anti spasm medication. But for healing and curing you can forget about your md and his high tech machines and any technical words used to describe your condition.
I have an acute attack of herniated disc 6 weeks back. Rested in hospital a few days. Now 90 % cured I think. Mri shows herniated disc l4 l5. Same discs degenerated. My doctor says once bulged can never go back and disc once degenerated cannot be healed and can only try to arrest degeneration and I can never be 100% healed. Thats all he says to me.
In short he cant and didnt do anything useful for me. I think if one is to wholly depend on doctors, you can just lay down and die.
I think money and time spend on therapists , any therapists whether pt, chiro, massage, chelation, prolotherapists, moxibustion, acupunture etc gives better benefits. The only time doctors are any use are in case of emergencies and where surgery is required. And that is only 5% of back pain cases that justifiably needs surgery.
Essentially, I cured myself through reading and learning and doing all the right things. First, disc degeneration by itself dont cause pain otherwise all the old people will be in pain. Second, bulging disc in l4 l5 cannot account for my residual pain which is on and off now only at the buttock.
Arthritis and rheumatism is another matter. But all these are known as degenerative diseases just like cancer and diabetes and blockages. If can cut and throw, doctors will just that. If not, doctors and their medications and high tech machines can hardly be relied upon to heal and cure the problem. Yes there are mulpitle options for diagnosis but after that where is the cure?
Only the body can cure itself. What is required is knowledge, conviction and practice. Treat any and all degenerative disease like war. Do every thing possible to defend the body, change whatever lifestlye that needs changing, have a positive attitude, try as many therapies as you can afford and sounds reasonable. Research and look for good books. I think time and money spend on these are many times better than time and money spend on feeding the over pampered doctors. That is the best way to deal with any degenerative disease. Take matters into your own hand. It is your body. My doctor couldn't be bothered.
If you can, change to a natural diet full of all the good stuff and avoid anything that makes your body any more acidic.