Low Back and Chronic Pain Relief Blog

What Does It Mean To Have FibroMyalgia?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Today’s blog post comes from Dr. Bellinger’s November Newsletter.

At my Glastonbury CT office, I often see patients who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is not a condition that you can say has a specific cause with a clear origin and means of diagnosis. It is one of those conditions that are obscure and can only be diagnosed by eliminating other, more common conditions. Fibromyalgia is one of those conditions where the degree of pain and disability can be profound and life quality interrupting, yet all the tests come back negative and there are no other conditions to explain the collection of symptoms. It is at that point when the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is typically made.

Fibromyalgia is typically a chronic (symptoms have been present for at least 3 months) condition where the patient complains of widespread, generalized muscle, ligament and tendon pain accompanied with fatigue and multiple tender points on the body that hurt with only light pressure. To be considered “widespread,” it usually affects both sides of the body and is both above and below the waist. It occurs in approximately 2% of the population in the US and women are 3-4 times more likely to develop fibromyalgia. The risk of fibromyalgia increases with age and can be secondary to other physical or emotional trauma, or it can occur all by itself. No obvious pattern usually exists as signs and symptoms can vary depending on weather, stress, physical activity, and even the time of day.

Sleep quality is an issue that seems well agreed upon as regardless of the number of hours in bed, the deep, restorative stages of sleep are seldom reached. Other sleep disorders frequently associated with fibromyalgia include sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.. “central sensitization”. This is basically a low threshold for pain because of increased sensitivity in the brain to the incoming pain signals. Certain chemical (neurotransmitters) changes in the brain have been identified resulting is hypersensitivity creating an overreaction to pain signals.

The American College of Rheumatology has established two diagnostic criteria that include

widespread pain lasting at least 3 months
at least 11 out of 18 positive tender points using just enough pressure to whiten the fingernail bed.

What are these 18 tender points that have been identified?

Tender Points seen in Fibromyalgia patients

Lower neck in front (2)
Edge of upper breast bone (2)
2 cms below side bone at elbow (2)
Just above knee on inside (2)
Attachment of neck muscles at the base of the skull (2)
Midway between neck and shoulder (2)
Muscle over upper inner shoulder (2)
Upper outer buttock (2)
Hip bone (2)

There are no direct blood tests to confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia but other conditions can affect or cause Fibromyalgia can be diagnosed with blood testing. These include:

thyroid disease (thyroid function blood tests)
inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid (ESR),
complete blood count to assess anemia and infection.

At Ct Spine and Disc Center in Glastonbury CT, we take pride in providing quality, evidence-based care and appreciate the opportunity to do so when patients choose our clinic for their chiropractic care. We realize that there are many healthcare options available. If you, a friend or family member require care for fibromyalgia, we would be honored to offer our chiropractic services.

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New Study Shows Smoking Linked To Chronic Low Back Pain

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:04:00 +0000

A recent Canadian study showed that regular smokers were more likely to have chronic low back pain. The study looked at survey data of over 70,000 people and showed that the daily smokers had about an 8% higher likelihood of back pain than the non-smokers.

The Study was published in the Clinical and Investigative Medicine.

We know smoking regularly has a lot of negative effects on the body, here’s yet another one. But you must remember, this is only one factor. If you stop smoking it may be only one piece to the ‘lose the pain’ puzzle.

Mental health (stress), proper rest, fitness, diet, sleep, and posture play the biggest role with your back. In fact these factors play a major role in your overall health. The most important thing to know is that you must take action to get rid of your back pain. Look at your lifestyle- if you know you smoke too much- cut back. If you know you don’t do any exercise- start doing some.

Source: Cigarette smoking and chronic low back pain in the adult population

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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“I Squat Down When I Lift, But I Still Get Back Pain!”

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:29:00 +0000

There are a few reasons for this. First, bending your knees and squatting helps, but you still may not be maintaining your normal lumbar lordosis. To do this, it’s recommended to hold your stomach in tight and keep your head up.

Next, avoid lifting things that are much too heavy. No matter how perfect your technique you can still injure your back by being foolish. The same goes for carrying something; don’t do it if it’s too heavy. Also, keeping things in close to the body helps with lifting or carrying things as well.

Lastly, keep in mind your lumbar discs are biggest early in the morning, making them more susceptible to injury. This combined with the fact your muscles are often more rigid in the morning can be a big negative for your low back.

Remember “practice makes perfect.” So keep these tips in mind when lifting and your back will stay healthier, and the proper way to lift will become habit.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Dr Oz Talks About Prescription Pain Medication

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:09:00 +0000

Yesterday my wife was watching Oprah and said I should watch this episode. I did and was shocked at some of the ststs I saw. It's so scary to be addicted to pain medication, and even scarier is that it really can happen to anyone.

In our office we see alot of people on different medications. These meds are meant to help in the short term and are not something to be taken for months and/or years. At our office we use natural methods to get rid of your pain so that you can get off of these medications.

Medications are drugs, there is no difference between a street "drug" or a prescribed "drug", as Dr Oz mentions. Becareful, they both have nasty side effects.

Watching this reminded me of another show I had watched and it was about heroin addicts. To be honest, most started by taking prescriptions for their back pain and ended up switching to heroin because it was cheaper and easier to get.

If you are suffering with severe back pain and have tried almost everything, don't give up hope - DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression has been a life changer for many.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Glastonbury Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Jerry Rice: Spokesperson for the Foundation of Chiropractic Progress

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:34:00 +0000

I was lucky that my father took me to his chiropractor when I was just a kid in high school. I had a sports injury and his chiropractor, my chiropractor, helped me get back out on the field. It was around this time, when I saw all the people he helped, that I knew it’s what I wanted to do…

I remember the super star 49ers team with Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, etc … and how chiropractic treatment was part of their regimen and how it was an integral part in keeping them healthy and at the tops of their game when they were winning games and even back-to-back Super Bowls.

Here’s what Rice had to say when joining the foundation: “Chiropractic care has been instrumental in my life both on and off the field, and I’m excited to share this with the American public. I have been blessed with a long and healthy career as a professional athlete, and as I move forward into the next stage of my life, chiropractic care will continue to be an important part of my game plan.”

That’s the great thing about chiropractic care is it can help so many people, from athletes at any level, to people suffering from back pain after a work injury, to people who want to maintain their health or mobility.

Listen to Jerry and make sure to visit our office if you’re suffering with back or neck pain, and if it’s been awhile, come in to see one of the Chiropractors and get your spine checked.

Source:

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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One of the Most Commonly Overlooked Sources of Back Pain…

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:51:00 +0000

The quadratus lumborum muscle is one of the most common muscles to cause back pain. This muscle runs from the last rib and the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae down to the top of the pelvis on each side.

If you have pain on only one side and commonly sit alot without good back support your pain my be arising from your QL muscle. Check with your doctor to confirm this however because your pain may be arising from another muscle or something else altogether.

Pain from this muscle typically travels down to the SI joint (sacro-iliac) and lower buttocks. Also pain can often be felt around the top of the pelvis and in the groin and lower abdomen on that side.

One good stretch to do often is to lie on your side with your back towards the side of the bed. Extend your top leg back and down towards the floor. Then turn your upper body slightly in the other direction while reaching up with your upside arm. Hanging that upper leg off the side of the bed will help increase the stretch. Having someone help assist the stretch as in the picture may help facilitate more stretch also.

This muscle may be easier stretched or treated by your chiropractor. And be careful, if you are in a lot of pain, you may not be able to do the stretch for the QL’s.

If you have severe pain in your back or have a disc condition such as herniated disc, bulged disc, or degenerative disc, see your chiropractor or spinal decompression specialist for advice or treatment.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Tips For Heavy Lifting That Can Save Your Low Back...

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:25:00 +0000

Here's 5 tips on lifting that can help you avoid back pain or a back injury:

1. Get help- have someone help you lift awkward shaped or extremely
heavy items. Also, use a cart or dolly if possible. If you already have a back injury then you may want to avoid heavy lifting altogether. Why chance it?

2. When possible, lighten your load- break up loads into smaller pieces
or quantities. It may take slightly longer but well worth it. Don't become a statistic.

3. Use your legs when lifting and lift and release something from a
straight-on position, never twist your body. Twisting is one of the most common ways to injure the back because it puts torsion stress on the discs and ligaments.

4. Minimize your reach and widen your stance. Your back doesn't have
to work as hard if you broaden your base and limit your reaching for things.

5. Hold items close to the body and at waist level. This is where you
are strongest and safest.

Keep these tips in mind when lifting. They will help prevent low back pain
and help you keep minimal stress on your low back discs.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Glastonbury Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Shedding Pounds Will Help Shed Your Back Pain...

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:54:00 +0000

Hello. Dr Bellinger here. I’ve seen hundreds of patients in my chiropractic and spinal decompression office. One thing I can tell you about back pain is that if you take off extra weight you are carrying, it will most often reduce your pain.

Extra weight causes extra pressure on your spine. This intern creates more pressure on nerves and stress to the discs. Muscles and ligaments along the spine also have to work harder to support the added load. This will also leave you at an increased risk for a back injury as well as speed up the wear and tear process.

Often times now we find that children that are obese accumulate extra breakdown and degeneration to their spine, discs, and joints. To illustrate the example try carrying around a 50lb back pack all day for just one day to see what your back might feel like with an extra 50 lbs. Now imagine doing that for 10 years.

Extra weight also can create postural shifts. For example, individuals with a large belly, it tends to pull their pelvis forward and create a hyperlordosis. This is an increased curvature of the low back spine. So, not only does the big stomach put increased stress on the back muscles and spine but it also causes spinal shifts that will automatically create nerve pressure.

Chiropractor and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression specialist, Dr Bellinger can help put together a specialized plan to get your back healthy and loose the extra weight.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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How can Stress affect my Back?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:52:00 +0000

Stress is the response your body has to certain experiences. This response can be mental, physical, or both.

Stress tends to disrupt your body’s normal physiologic equilibrium (homeostasis). If your low back tends to be your weak area (sometimes you know it, sometimes you don’t) stress will often cause low back pain.

Speak to your chiropractor about ways to relieve stress, it can be vital to keep your body healthy and your back pain-free.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Unexpected Positive Side-Effects of Chiropractic Care and Spinal Decompression.

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Most of us make our first visit to their chiropractor because of back pain or neck pain. After treatment not only is our back or neck pain better, but often we have better posture, more energy, and better flexibility. Seeing your chiropractor has also been shown to prevent colds, boost our immune system, and prevent spinal degeneration.

Take unwanted pressure off the nerves and the body will function at its best. This will get rid of pain but will also keep you healthy.

See your chiropractor for low back pain and neck pain, but also use him or her to maintain your health and prevent aches and pains. For more severe back pain or back and leg pain your chiropractor may recommend spinal decompression also.

CT Spine and Disc Center offers advanced chiropractic treatment and specializes in non surgical spinal decompression. Located in central Connecticut- Seeing patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Washington Post Discusses Top-Rated Back Pain Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:41:00 +0000

The June 2nd Washington Post Health section included an article reporting on survey results in April, in which survey respondents rated chiropractic/spinal manipulation as the top treatment for back pain.

Most people who suffer with back pain have tried many things to get rid of it. Hands-on therapies like Chiropractic rated in the top.

Low back pain can severely limit your life. Most people report difficulty with sleep, work, and their daily activities.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Glastonbury Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for chiropractic care or non-surgical spinal decompression.

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Connecticut Spinal Decompression – A Very Advanced form of Lower Back Traction

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Spinal Decompression looks a lot like traction, however it is much more than a traction machine. The way decompression differs is that it creates a suction effect in the spine, which pulls any bulged or herniated discs back into place. Once done consistently, the disc material will stay there and the body has a chance to heal the outer fibers of the disc.

All traction really does is stretch you. This opens the holes that the nerves come out of usually giving some relief. The problem is that when one goes back to gravity (gets done with traction) the pressure on the nerves returns and therefore the pain comes back.

For more information on advanced back traction visit: Spinal Decompression Connecticut!

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Consumer Reports says: "Chiropractor Best Choice For Back Pain Relief!"

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:40:00 +0000

Consumer Reports lists chiropractors as your best choice for back pain relief.
When compared to seeing your medical doctor (treatment with medication), survey respondents said they were more likely to be “highly satisfied” with their chiropractic doctor.

Here are some of the great things about seeing your chiropractor:

1)Chiropractic care is safe and drug free- the chiropractic adjustments allow the body to function like it should by freeing up nerves from pressure. This allows the body to heal itself. Basically it is the body healing from the inside-out, not outside-in like with medications. Which, by the way, have harmful side effects too. Not to mention, for severe back pain sufferers, some are given very strong, even addictive medications.
2)The chiropractors at CT Spine incorporate therapies (stim, ice, muscle massage) and stretches, or exercises, to help with your condition or back pain. Often times without removing nerve pressure (the chiropractic adjustments do this) the body does not heal. So you can have physical therapy and get instructions for home exercises, but they may do more harm than help.
3)Because chiropractors use natural methods of treatment (adjustments, natural therapies, nutrition, muscle work) they take the time to listen, and are often open to newer, non-traditional treatments to help with your pain. One example of this is using the DRX 9000. For more information on CT DRX 9000 or CT Spinal Decompression visit CTSPINEDR.COM.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Do my leg and butt muscles play a role in my back pain and sciatica?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Most often your leg and butt muscles do play a role in your back pain and sciatica. As I mentioned in the last blog, everything in the body works together. Having leg muscles that are extremely tight will limit the flexibility of your pelvis and therefore limit movement of the lower back.

If your calf muscles are tight it affects your hamstring muscles; if your hamstring muscles are tight it affects your gluteus muscles; if your butt muscles are tight it affects your low back muscles.

Just like we talked about previously, if one area of the body has a problem, something else must pick up the slack. For example, if the hamstring muscles are extremely tight your low back may have to flex more to make up for the lack of motion in the leg muscles. This can put excessive stress on the spine and discs which leads to injury.

Make sure you stay limber by stretching leg muscles as well because it can save your back from injury.

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I get pain when its bad weather outside, does that make any sense?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:07:00 +0000

…“the pain I experience in my neck and mid back are worse with the changing weather”. This is something I hear quite a few times from patients. In fact, some of my patients even let me know when a rain storm or snow storm is coming! They can “feel” it in their joints. Why does this happen, you ask?

When this occurs it tends to put more pressure on your spine and discs. This is why it is very common for our patients with herniated discs or bulged or degenerative discs to feel slightly worse on these days. It’s much like gravity putting slightly more pressure down on you. A 2007 study by Tufts University showed that an increase in barometric pressure or an decrease in temperature caused an increase in arthritis pain. Specifically, every 10-degree drop in temperature corresponded with an incremental increase in arthritis pain. Other studies in cadavers have found that barometric pressure affects pressure inside the joints. In one experiment, when pressure in the hip joints was equated with atmospheric pressure, it threw the ball of the hip joint about one-third of an inch off track.

Gravity pushes down, and your spine and discs are built to withstand these forces. But when a disc is injured (a disc tear, a bulged disc, etc . . .) or the spine is out of alignment (subluxations, scoliosis, and degenerative change) this extra pressure can be noticeable.

Keep your spine and discs healthy with spinal adjustments and DRX 9000 spinal decompression therapy by your chiropractor.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Our Glastonbury office helps you find lower back pain relief. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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"I Only Have One Bad Disc, I Think I Can Tough It Out And Wait For It To Get Better On Its Own..."

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:34:00 +0000

First, let me start off by saying that everything in your spine and back work together. You know the old saying: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link". Well, this holds true for your back also.

We've seen hundreds of patient's in our Connecticut office at this point, and I can tell you your discs very rarely get better on their own. Occasionally, inflammation will go down, pressure from that inflammation comes off the nerves, and you may feel a little better. However, you better believe there is still a weak spot there and it can get re-aggravated.

Often times what happens is if there is one weak area, or bad disc le's say, usually the level above or below will pick up the slack. This means you are risking another disc level to have a problem.

We see this all to often. One has a bulged disc at L5 (making this area weaker than lumbar discs 1-4). The body has to help pick up the slack, and the L4 level has to work overtime. Now, because of this, you sustain injury to L4.

The more levels of damage and the longer they've been there makes it harder to fix.

Luckily, with the DRX9000 Lumbar Decompression we can heal discs which we could not in the past. However, don't wait until it's too late. We have had to unfortunately turn people away who let their back deteriorate too much.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Our Glastonbury office helps you find lower back pain relief. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Lower Back Rehabilitation: A Vital Tool To Keep Your Back Pain Away!

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:43:00 +0000

Rehab for the lower back pain or sciatica patient should include natural, safe therapies such as chiropractic care, spinal decompression, muscle massage, low back stretches, and lower back strengthening exercises. Along with that, ice, heat, electrical muscle stimulation, endurance exercises, balance/proprioceptive exercises, nutitional advice, and support or postural improving products should be utilized.

At often times with the initial chiropractic care we use muscle therapies such as trigger point massage, heat or ice, and tens. We also will give recommendations on support belts or low back and/or neck pillows or cushions to use.

After the initial chiropractic care or spinal decompression for acute back pain or sciatic pain, we often start with some simple low back stretches and exercises. This helps rehabilitate the back quicker and gets you back to your usual daily routine.

Initially using ice on the low back helps alleviate pain and decreases inflammation. When pain is less often, or to loosen up the back before physical activities, heat can be recommended.

The most common muscles I find patients need to stretch are the low back, glut muscles, hamstrings, and the calves. Stretching the low back and leg muscles helps increase flexibility, balance, musculature from one side of the body to the other, and gives pain relief.

Muscle massage or electrical muscle stimulation helps retore blood flow, decrease inflammation, and break up muscle knots (in other words- trigger points) to balance out the lower body and speed recovery as well.

Most often, once we heal the back significantly, we want to strengthen the core to help prevent future injury. Your core region is the mid-section of your body. If you put a hula hoop around your waist, this is your core. Start with walking, which actually helps build lower back muscle endurance and helps strengthen the core. Gradually work up to light back extensions and planks.

Building proprioception or the proprioceptive muscle is also key to healing and rehabilitating the back. These are smaller muscles that we don’t always think about but help with balance. Doing some light cardio with combined movements, standing on one foot or using a balance board helps with this.

For more information you can email us HERE.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Dear Doctor, I have Butt and Leg Pain. Can you Help me?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:08:00 +0000

Pain starts in my left rear-end and travels down my leg. Sometimes I even get numbness. I don’t really have much back pain. Is it back-related?

Over and over we see patients with pain in the legs and buttocks or numbness and tingling in the legs, but no back pain. Most often the problem still comes from the lower back.

The reason is that nerves have specific referral patterns, measuring pressure on one part of the nerve may refer or send symptoms to another area.

In the low back the lower nerve roots form together to create your sciatic nerve which travels down near your sacrum (or tailbone region) and exits out the buttock on each side and sends nerve innervation to the legs.

Depending where the pressure is and how severe it is will determine your symptoms. The nerve roots that branch off the spinal cord are a bundle of nerves; depending which fibers in those nerve roots are irritated will determine where your symptoms may occur- leg pain, foot numbness, back pain, shooting pain down the leg starting at the base of your rear-end, muscle cramping in your calves. . .

Some symptoms are more common for certain conditions or a disc problem at a specific level often causes similar symptoms. This is specifically why we do specific exam tests or lab tests, or take pictures of the spine and/or discs.

So, to answer your question in the title- the answer is often: yes! However, our consultation and exam with you will give us a clear yes or no.

If you suffer with symptoms in your lower extremity such as leg pain and tingling/numbness in the legs, call our office for a free, no obligation consultation right away.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Glastonbury, CT- Serving patients in central CT and MA. If you suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine, we can help you. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression.

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How Does Chiropractic Care Help Put The Disc Back In Place?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:47:00 +0000

Your chiropractor may use many different therapies and techniques to put the spine back in its best position. Aligning the spine helps the discs fall back in place.

Having the spine in its best position also increases the strength of your spine allowing it to better tolerate stress, strain, and simply gravity.

Making sure your spine is in normal alignment, most importantly, frees nerves from pressure. It gives the nerves adequate space between the vertebrae as well as allowing the body to work like it should. Down to even the cellular level your body processes nutrients, gets rid of waste, and functions 24/7.

Adjusting the spine (adjustments or manipulations) also helps mobilize the spine. This helps the body by allowing better blood flow and oxygenation of your system. Most often pain is due to internal inflammation putting pressure on nerves. Getting your body and spine moving allows for the inflammation to go away and allows oxygen and hydration in. Blood flow is important because cells created for healing can travel to the area of the body that needs repair and waste toxins can be pulled out.

At a neurological level, the nervous system can be more activated or the dysfunctional part can be reactivated) to balance your body's nervous system out. This may help restore immune system function so your body can heal as quickly as possible.

So at one level, putting your spine in its best alignment (orthopedic) will help the strength and function of the spine and discs. At another level (neurologic) it will help your body function better by activation your nervous system which is the main control center of the body.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression or chiropractic care.

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Latest Independent Lumbar Disc Disease Study: 76% of patients satisfied after treatment using DRX-9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:44:00 +0000

The following is information was from an independent study done in Japan. The success of the drx, at this point, is worldwide. Any doctor’s office using the correct protocol should get these results or better. At our office in Glastonbury CT we enjoy having these high success rates with patient’s that suffer from severe BACK PAIN, SCIATICA and the like. The drx9000 has proven extremely effective in the treatment of disc disease (disc degeneration, herniation, bulging, etc.).

Here’s what the lumbar disc pain study showed:

Japanese study titled, “The treatment of lumbar disc disease using DRX-9000” is published in the December issue of the Nigata University Journal of Health and Welfare. After treating fifty patients on the DRX-9000, Dr. Noriaki Yamamoto and others reported that 76% of patients were satisfied with the treatment. The patients received 30-minute sessions every week or 2 weeks, for 3 months and revealed a decrease in pain of 4.91 ± 0.93 to 2.69 ± 1.02 (p<0.01). Although the treatment program used by Dr. Yamamoto did not follow Axiom’s published protocol, positive results were still demonstrated. A previous study following Axiom’s protocol which was published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of Medicine revealed a mean patient rating of 7.61 (0-10 scale) at the mid point of treatment and 8.1 after the final week of treatment. To review additional clinical studies please go to the makers of the DRX9000's website.

The foregoing study was not sponsored by Axiom Worldwide. Axiom has made no determination of and makes no representations as to the design, scope or manner in which the study was conducted. Axiom Worldwide's referencing the presentation of the study should not be construed to mean that Axiom Worldwide represents that the study establishes any conclusive success rate or the efficacy of the device. The information is offered simply to demonstrate the exciting activity ongoing with the DRX9000. As always, individual patient’s experiences with the DRX9000 may vary and patients should always consult with their physician to determine whether treatment on the DRX9000 makes sense for them.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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I Have A Tear In My Disc, What Does This Mean?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Most often times your doctor or your MRI report is referring to a tear of the Annulus Fibrosis. This is the outer layer of your disc.

This disc is made up of an outer fiber called the annulus. This is a cartilaginous material slightly more firm than the inner, more gel-like nucleus pulposis.

When the nucleus leaks out it’s referred to as a disc herniation or protruded disc. This usually creates significant nerve pressure and therefore pain.

We don’t always have to have a bulged disc or a herniated disc to have serious back pain.

You can also simply have a tear in the annulas fibers. The annulus has nerve fibers as well. Often times a tear of the annulus can cause a lot of pain.

With our discs there are a few types of injuries or conditions that cause pain or neurological symptoms. The conditions are disc protrusions (herniated discs), disc bulges, disc degeneration (flattening and bulging), and a disc tear. Nerve fibers in or around the disc get irritated from any one of these disc conditions and can result in serious back and/or leg pain.

Our Connecticut office uses advanced chiropractic techniques as well as DRX 9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression to heal your spinal discs and end your back pain.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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Can A Disc in the Lower Back Just Go Bad?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:53:00 +0000

Yes and no. Over time we will get some degeneration in our spine no matter what. Just from work, sports, physical activities, slips and falls etc . . . your body will have some wear and tear. However, that degeneration should be minimal and not cause major back pain.

What typically happens is that an injury happens to part of your back (one of your discs may sustain an injury); then over the years wear and tear and stress accumulates at that “weak spot.” Often times then something irritates that disc enough to cause nerve pressure and pain.

So you see, it doesn’t really go bad on its own. Usually something got the injury started and then it gets worse as time goes on. Sometimes it can be something very simple- a long trip on a plane, a cough, bending and lifting a child.

Here’s an example: Fred never had back pain his entire life, but after helping his neighbor move some furniture the next day he had lower back pain and soreness. The pain went away after a couple days. Fast forward six years . . . Fred presents with severe pain in the lower back that he appears to have just “woken up with” one morning. X-ray and MRI revealed one level of his spine had significant degeneration and a bulged disc.

What had happened, most likely, is that Fred injured his low back about six years ago while moving furniture; in fact, he may have had an injury even prior to that. Stress and degeneration have accumulated at that level in his spine until finally there was enough pressure and irritation to cause low back pain.

Until now, the only thing naturally that really helped with disc degeneration and bulging discs was seeing a chiropractor for spinal adjustments. Now we have a newer and more advanced method to help that gives substantially better results than anything out there. To learn more click this link: How Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Works.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. We offer different treatments for chronic and acute lower back pain. Call us at (860)633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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What Kind of Doctor Using Spinal Decompression?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:51:00 +0000

In my experience it has been mostly chiropractors that use it. I have also seen it used in an orthopedics office, neurologist’s office, pain clinic and a multidisciplinary clinic (those clinics that have a variety of Doctors such as chiropractors, medical doctors and physical therapists that work together).

It tends to be Doctors that use more of a natural approach as non-surgical spinal decompression is just that- non-surgical. Its helps the body do its own healing without masking the pain with medications. Don’t get me wrong however, sometimes medications help get through the acute phases of pain if unbearable.

It does take some looking around because there are so many doctors and so many specialists to begin with not to mention each may practice a certain way.

Since chiropractors don’t give prescription medications to their patients they tend to be more knowledgeable of the various natural treatments like drx9000 non surgical spinal decompression.

Most surgeons do surgery and most M.D. and D.O’s treat their patients with medications regularly. This isn’t always the case however, and whatever Dr you go to should refer you to the appropriate practitioner when necessary.

At the CT Spine and Disc Center in Glastonbury CT, our Doctors are trained in specialized testing procedures for patients suffering with lower back pain from disc herniation, disc herniation, disc bulging and sciatica. Call our central Connecticut office at (860) 633-8756 to see if you will be a candidate.

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What tests will my doctor do to help determine what’s wrong with my back?

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:14:00 +0000

First, your doctor or chiropractor will ask you about your pain. Things like how long it’s been going on, was there an incident that started it up, where is it located, how much back pain (or leg pain or foot tingling etc…) is there and how often is it, does it travel, what medications for your back pain are you taking, etc.

Next, a thorough exam needs to be performed. This should include specific tests to determine the nature and cause of the problem. For your back, it should include observatory and palpatory findings, ranges of motion, orthopedic testing and neurological testing.

Then any advanced testing and/or imaging should be performed and/or reviewed. This will include things like MRI’s, x-rays, CT scans, discograms, nerve conductions, EMG’s, bone scans, or blood work, to name some.

Last, all of these findings need to be correlated together. It is not enough to simply look at an MRI without doing an adequate consultation, or simply doing a consultation with no real exam. It sounds like common sense, but inadequate consultations, exams, and testing happens everyday.

Without the proper testing an individual will not get the correct diagnosis, and without the correct diagnosis, the patient will often not get the care he/she needs.

Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut CT Spine and Disc Center Specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

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It’s EXTREMELY Important To Educate Yourself On Your Back Condition!

noreply@blogger.com (CT Spine and Disc Center LLC) — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Nowadays, anyone can google what symptoms they have and learn more. Let’s say, for example, you have an L5 radiculopathy (you may know this because one of your doctors diagnosed this), or let’s say you have disc and facet degeneration at L4. Get on the internet, do some research, go to the library, ask around.

Keep in mind there’s a lot of junk out there on the web, and you can get the wrong diagnosis or bad advice, but educating yourself is very important.

I recently spoke to someone who said she saw a surgeon she was referred to by her primary care doctor. This surgeon told her she needed surgery right away (by the way all he did was read the MRI; no exam was even performed). This individual, the patient, said “I’d like to get another opinion or think it over before I do anything.” Before she left the surgeon replied, “be careful on the road, if you get in an accident you could be paralyzed.” Pretty unbelievable and scary night!

There are good and bad doctors of all types just like there’s good and bad politicians, or chefs, or truck drivers, but the bottom line is be educated so you make the right decisions with your health.

The person in the story I described above may be rare, but you better believe crazier things have happened. If you don’t feel comfortable with your doctor, find another.

At CT Spine and Disc Center, our chiropractors will do the necessary tests needed and look at any MRI’s, x-rays, etc … and ask the right questions and give you the honest answers you need. In fact, numerous patients have told us that they have never had such a thorough exam before.

So educate yourself so you know what your options are and make the right decision regarding your spine health.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica or radiculopathy, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources

Symptoms of Lumbar Radiculopathy

Treatment options for low back pain

Surgery for your Back???

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