Degenerative disc disease – Can Ayurveda help with spinal disc degeneration? - #16811

For the past few months, I’ve been dealing with chronic back pain that just won’t go away. At first, I thought it was just muscle strain from sitting too much or bad posture, but the pain started getting worse, especially when I bent forward or sat for long periods. Sometimes, I even feel a sharp, shooting pain going down my legs, and my lower back feels stiff in the morning. I finally got an MRI done, and my doctor told me I have degenerative disc disease. They explained that my spinal discs are wearing down, causing pain and reduced flexibility. They suggested pain medications, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery if the condition worsens. But I really don’t want to rely on medications long-term or go through surgery unless absolutely necessary. That’s why I started looking into Ayurveda to see if there’s a natural way to slow down or even reverse degenerative disc disease. Does Ayurveda have treatments that can help regenerate spinal discs or at least prevent further degeneration? Are there specific herbs, oils, or therapies that can nourish the spine and improve flexibility? I’ve read about Ashwagandha and Guggulu for joint and bone health—would they be useful in my case? Also, does Ayurveda see degenerative disc disease as a Vata-related disorder? Since Vata governs movement and dryness in the body, could excess Vata be causing my discs to wear down faster? If so, what can I do to balance Vata and promote spinal health? I’m also interested in knowing if Ayurvedic massages or Panchakarma treatments like Kati Basti can help with degenerative disc disease. If anyone has successfully managed back pain and disc degeneration with Ayurveda, I’d love to know what worked for you!