[Crystal33]

I suffer 4 levels of DDD, chemical pain from T spine disc tear leakage, and mechanical pain from associated sequestered fragment.
For several months I have been mainly resting hoping my body will improve things. There seems to be many views on what conservative care should consist of.

Conservative care to avoid an operation seems similar to post op though longer time frame, unless the op is a failure.
The following is the approach I have settled on but would appreciate views/criticism of others.

MECHANICAL/PHYSICAL:
Avoid any level of sitting, bending, lifting, or twisting that causes pain.
Lying down is preferable to sitting as it takes pressure off discs.
Gentle walk as able without pain and with good posture, straight back and shoulders.
Hydro therapy - reduced load on discs.
Other physical therapy on a no pain basis.

CHEMICAL:
Anti inflammatory as needed. Try to keep level of activity below that which causes pain, and requires pain medication, as this will cause healing setback and prolong condition.

NUTRITIONAL: Healthy diet. Drink alot of water. Glucose/sugar with each meal. Glucosamine supplement. Water seems important to nucleus. Discs contain significant amount sugars, glucosamine.
Possibly take half aspirin a day to thin blood which could help to get more nutrition into disc (a theory only). Decreased disc nutrition is a cause of disc degeneration.

BEHAVIOURAL: Sleep after lunch each day. Discs expel fluid and waste during day under compression and slowly take in fluid and nutrition overnight when they are not compressed. Having a sleep period after lunch possibly may enable the discs to take in nutrition twice a day instead of once a day. Has there been any research into this? I think i read somewhere that Dr Bertagnoli, or other eminent person, said primitive man used to live differently than us and our way of life sitting/standing most of day contributes to disc degeneration.

PSYCHOLOGICAL: Unlike most other injuries, realize and accept that it may take a few years for body to deal with problem. Therefore along the way don't raise activity level above level of healing to the point of pain as this will cause flareup and healing setback.
I read Doug's diary on chirogeek website. His operation was a failure and ultimately his own body improved his condition over several years. Along the way he suffered numerous setbacks that mostly seem to have been caused when he raised his physical activity level above the level of healing achieved by his body at the particular point in time.