Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Were you told that you have degenerative joint disease of the vertebral column or that there is some osteoporosis (thinning of the bone density)?

I see that you are open to alternative medicine, and so I recommend seeing an experienced practitioner of acupuncture. That can be helpful for musculoskeletal pain. If you don't see some improvement, even slight improvement, within 3 visits, then it may not be helpful for you (or you may need a different practitioner). In my experience, I've found those actually trained in China to be more knowledgeable in this practice.

I also recommend a consult with a physical therapist for stretching and strengthening exercises. Increasing the flexibility and muscular strength can go far to helping decrease the pain.

If the problem is osteoporosis, then you may want to consider a bone density scan to see where things are at, and treat accordingly (either with diet and supplements are more aggressively with Fosamax, etc.).

I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if I can provide further information. Please know that I will be here for a few more minutes and then will be off line until around midnight tonight (Central Standard Time) so if you have a follow up question I'll get back to you then.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician

---