Spinal Decompression

One cause of back pain that actually does not involve a degeneration or injury to the tissues of the spine is referred to as piriformis syndrome. This disorder actually affects the sciatic nerve as it travels deep through the hips. The piriformis muscle crosses over the sciatic nerve as the nerve travels down from the lower back through the hips and then down the length of the leg to the foot. When the muscle puts excess pressure on the nerve, chronic feelings of pain and numbness can result from the compressive forces.

This syndrome is common in runners, people who bicycle often, and can be found in the general public as well. The piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve near the site of the rotator muscles of the hip, resulting in pain and a loss of feeling. The first sign of the syndrome is a chronic ache in the hips or numbness that that be felt deep in the hips and progress down the leg or even all the way down to the foot. Typically, only one side of the body is affected, as the sciatic nerve branches out from the lower back to either leg.

With piriformis syndrome, the pain can be chronic and be felt when moving, running, walking, or even sitting down. Sitting is one activity where the sciatic nerve is directly compressed by the piriformis muscle. We have all had the experience of sitting in one position or another for too long and our entire leg falls asleep. That is the sciatic nerve "turning off" due to pressure being placed on it at the hip. Thankfully, for the vast majority of us, this is a temporary numbness and only an annoyance, but for some people it is a painful chronic condition.

Pain and discomfort can also extend upwards into the lower back and people may feel as if their lower back is the site of the injury instead of the hips. This can make diagnosing piriformis syndrome difficult for doctors, as they have to take into account the possibility that the problem is caused by a herniated disc or otherwise compressed spinal disc that may cause numbness down the length of the sciatic nerve. This is why doctors may have x-rays or an MRI done on a patient with piriformis syndrome -- to rule out the possibility of a more serious back injury.

Treatment for the disorder typically involves reducing physical activities that place pressure on the sciatic nerve. This may mean standing up more if sitting causes discomfort, as well as taking a few days or weeks off of running or biking. Anti-inflammatory medications may help to reduce swelling if there is any injury or trauma to the piriformis muscle. Stretching and strengthening exercises may be recommended for some people who can move with little discomfort, in order to strengthen and improve the tissue quality of the muscle. And the good news is that surgery is extremely rare for this disorder.

For many people suffering from piriformis syndrome, the chronic feeling of numbness traveling down the leg to the foot may be extremely uncomfortable. Thankfully, that cause of the problem is well known and often responds to treatment and rest. The muscle can be relaxed, stretched, and strengthened so that it does not cause excess pressure anymore, and the nerve can heal quickly so that normal feeling returns once the muscle has relaxed. So while the pain may be chronic once the muscle clenches and applies pressure to the nerve, it does not have to be a permanent source of discomfort for many people.

Research on the functional results after surgery as it relates to a patient's emotional health shows a definitive link. Multiple studies over the last few years in the literature show the connection between a patient's emotional well being and how it influences the postoperative functional recovery.

This link has been highlighted in areas such as joint reconstruction, spine surgery, trauma, and sports medicine. Patients who have a lower emotional health have a higher risk of not improving functionally as much as they should after surgery. This risk stands across multiple demographics including gender, socioeconomic background, and age.

So what exactly does emotional health include? Emotional well being refers to whether the patient tends to be anxious, has less coping skills and social support, and potentially lives with a low-grade depression. This low-grade depression is not one where the patient physically is undergoing treatment for it, but it's a part of who they are.

In addition patients overload their emotional coping skills and have a tendency toward poor social support. So how are surgeons supposed to identify patients who are either living with a reduced emotional well being or on the brink of an emotional health breakdown post-operatively? One of the best ways is for the surgeon to spend time discussing these areas with their patients that could put them at high risk.

This may include discussing such issues as anxiety, depression, and discussing potential poor coping skills which may definitely come into existence when someone has to cope with just having had a major musculoskeletal surgery. There are some patient questionnaires that can help identify patients at increased risk for lower emotional well being, and may include the SF 36 or the SF 12.

It is unclear then, if a patient tends to be at high risk for a reduced emotional well being, whether to intervene preoperatively to try and help with this issue or to change the postoperative course to try and get a better chance of recovery functionally. Currently, there are studies being funded by in NIH that are ongoing and looking at the aspects of emotional health as it relates to surgical outcomes.

It may be that if the patient is deemed to be at risk for an emotional well being issue, then there can be more post operative resources devoted to that patient's emotional health which can help improve their functional outcomes. Here's an example. This patient has some low grade depression that is picked up and activated by the surgery, then maybe that patient is unable to perform the full amount of physical therapy multiple days for week due to being depressed.

Noticing that before surgery and increasing resources to help increase that patients emotional health postoperatively can allow a patient to do the necessary rehab. Unfortunately most patients consider orthopedic surgeons to be high technology and low on the emotional scale. So it may be that additional ancillary support is necessary to help in these situations.

Patients want to be seen as people, and not diseases, and unfortunately in medicine all too often that is what occurs. Physicians, in order to cope with the magnitude of disease that they see on a daily basis, tend to place patients into categories and ignore a lot of the emotion associated with the patient's underlying mindset. One of the things that has been proposed to help with the emotional health of patients is to utilize a multidisciplinary approach for postoperative care that includes counselors, psychologists, social workers and other additional ancillary support.

And it stands right now, a patient's emotional health is an extremely subjective matter. Hopefully as more research is performed it will be possible to identify those who are in need of additional support and with new research potentially identify how exactly to help the patient to increase their functional outcomes along with reducing pain.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) affects more than 25 million Americans each year and current studies indicate the problem of seasonal allergies is on the rise.

Numerous clinical observations and case studies have led researchers to propose that methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) may help to significantly reduce the symptoms of SAR.

In a study conducted in 2002, fifty people with chronic SAR, completed a study. They consumed 2600 mg of MSM per day. As part of the study, respiratory symptoms, energy levels and immune and inflammatory reactions were measured. All of the participants noted remarkable improvement and tests performed on the individuals in the study measured and confirmed that the use of the supplement MSM had made a physically distinctive rectification of SAR symptoms.

The results of the study suggest that MSM supplementation of 2600 mg per day for 30 days may help reduce the symptoms of SAR; additionally few side effects are associated with the use of MSM.

(information obtained for this article was found in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Feb.2003, Vol. 9, No. 1: 15-16)

A PERSONAL NOTE: I have used MSM as a supplement regimen for 10 years. I have been a chronic hay fever sufferer all of my life, and I discovered that using MSM stopped the runny itchy eyes and scratchy throat during the hay fever season. I still sneeze but the more irritating side effects of hay fever have been chiefly eliminated.

For more information on MSM and other supplements go to http://www.freshproductsandideas.com

As one ages, the spinal intervertebral disc undergoes significant changes. Normally the intervertebral disk is comprised of 80% water. With age, that percentage begins to decrease and the spinal disc begins to lose hydration and undergo degeneration.

Some discs undergo rapid degeneration and that can lead to degenerative disc disease. This may or may not lead to pain. The disc can lose height from lack of water, and it can also start to bulge similar to a tire that is getting flat and bulging. Disc degeneration is diagnosed from either x-rays or an MRI, which can be ordered by a Pain Management Doctor.

Just because a person has degeneration present of spinal discs does not mean pain is inevitable as there are many individuals walking around with discs that are dehydrating, degenerating, and bulging but not causing any pain at all.

As the spinal disc continues to degenerate, it can lead to a cascade of degenerative spinal arthritis that occurs as follows. As the disc loses water and degenerates, it loses disc height. The joints behind the disc space, called facet joints, begin to experience abnormal stresses as the disc becomes defective in its ability to absorb stresses. These stresses go to the rest of the spinal elements at the affected level, in this case the facet joints.

The facet joints begin to degenerate and become arthritic, this involves overgrowth of bone around the joint and further pain. Because the degenerative disc is not always affected symmetrically, the patient may end up with scoliosis due to the degeneration that continues to build on itself.

Treatments for degenerative disc disease are multiple. They are all quality of life treatments, as degenerative disc disease and spinal arthritis are not life threatening. Pain management doctors offer facet injections, nucleoplasty, physical therapy, spinal decompression therapy, bracing, radiofrequency ablation, among other treatments. Surgery should be considered as an absolute last resort.

Degenerative disc disease is characterized by severe lower back pain. The symptoms of degenerative spine are easy for a person to recognize, the most common being stiffness and tingling in the spine. It is also one of the most misunderstood diseases. Degenerative disc is not actually a disease, but a term used to explain the normal changes that occur in your spinal discs as you grow with age.

Healthy spinal discs are extremely elastic and can be compressed. They separate the interlocked bones that make up the spine. Discs are responsible for absorbing shock that is caused to the spine, making it flexible, and able to bend and twist. As the discs get older, they become less elastic and problems occur.

Degenerative discs can occur anywhere along the spine, but the highest probability is for them to occur in the lower back--also called the lumbar region--and the neck--also called the cervical region.

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease are numerous. The most common symptoms are stiffness, pain and restricted activity, and depending on the nerve root affected, the pain can occur in the neck, legs and knees. In most cases, the symptoms are of mild pain, but sometimes there is deep pain that often increases when the joint is moved, and lessens when the joint has fully warmed up.

Intense pain is caused by compression of the nerves, which occurs when the spinal disc gets thinner. As a result, the space between the bones narrows. Sometimes, in severe cases, bone and nerve compression is caused that, apart from causing pain, also gives a burning sensation, numbness, and tingling. An extreme case can be that the organs connected to these nerves become diseased, with the seriousness depending on the way degeneration is caused in the discs.

Patients showing symptoms of degenerative spine complain of chronic pain in the lower back along with intermittent attacks of low back pain. These small episodes of pain from disc degeneration can last from a few days to a few months. The amount of chronic pain varies and can range from being a simple irritation to serious pain, disabling the affected person. In some cases the pain can become intense and then return to a low level or disappear entirely. Activities like bending, lifting and twisting can worsen the pain while activities like walking and running can give some relief rather than sitting for a long time. It is recommended to change positions frequently. Lying down is the best option. The symptoms and treatment for degenerative spine disease are covered further in more articles at [http://www.degenerativespineoptions.com]

However, in an active person aged between 30 and 40, the pain should not be severe and persistent. If it is, then medical advice should be sought. If degenerative disc disease is the cause of the pain, then ignoring the pain will only lead to the pain getting worse as time goes on. With the range of excellent treatments for back pain now including exercise, medicine and a range of surgical procedures there is no need to allow the pain to continue. A consultation with your doctor will enable you to consider the best treatment options for the type of back pain you are suffering from.

Without the require for any kind of herniated disc exercises and herniated disc treatment, many research have revealed that the the vast majority of herniated disc cases and its symptoms will deal with themselves in about six weeks. Noticeable development was confirmed in 73% of patients after 12 weeks even without surgery. Naturally, as a result of chemical radiculitis, a doctor may prescribe NSAIDs to relieve lower back pain. Prolonged use of NSAIDs however, may bring about cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health complications.

Epidural Steroid Injections. These have been observed to give only temporary alleviation in a few selected instances and may also lead to serious side effects. Precisely focusing on TNF to reduce discomfort, etanercept is one medication that is in its experimental stage. However, if employed as part of a herniated disk treatment, it may be a very costly answer for any patient.

Chiropractic Care. Medical trials on osteopathic and chiropractic spinal manipulation have generated contradicting results. Though allowed for patients who have encountered relief with this procedure, the WHO has disapproved spinal manipulation in cases of frank disc herniation accompanied by signs of progressive neurological deficiencies.

Spinal Decompression. This is an appealing treatment that has displayed efficiency in providing alleviation not only to disc herniation patients but also to chronic lower back pain caused by other problems. Usually mistaken for typical traction, spinal decompression involves accumulating negative pressure into the spine that would draw extruded materials back into the disc center. This is specifically productive in sciatica. An in depth discussion on spinal decompression can be seen in the page.

Surgery. This is done as well for slipped disc treatment, is only considered when all conventional treatment choices have been taken and healing of the disc herniation and pain alleviation has not been achieved. In instances of significant neurological deficits like caude equina syndrome, surgery may also be necessary. The goals of surgery are the relief of nerve compression (in order to improve healing of the afflicted nerve), alleviation from the accompanying back pain, and the repair of normal function in the patient.

The following are surgical choices for herniated discs:

• Discectomy/Microdiscectomy - Nerve compression alleviation;


• Hemilaminectomy/Laminectomy - Performed to ease compressed nerve and address spinal stenosis;


• Chemonucleolysis: Conducted to fix protruding, bulging, or ripped discs;


• Lumbar fusion - Patients with repeating lumbar disc herniations should undertake this procedure;


• Dynamic stabilization - Uses bendable materials to strengthen the spine if it is affected by degenerative variations;


• Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) - A heat probe is used to shrink disc tissues and cauterize small disc nerves;


• Nucleoplasty - Tissues in the nucleus pulposus are ablated and taken away using Coblation簧 technology and this disc decompression procedure is minimally invasive

Artificial Disc Replacement. The stem cell therapy is one type of herniated disc treatment presently being researched. Intervertebral disc degeneration can be stopped or partial regrowth of the disc is plausible with the autogenic mesenchymal stem cells being experimented on animal specimens.

The US is in the midst of a pain management problem of epidemic proportions. To put it in "medical" terms, the "patient" is on life support in the intensive care unit, and the "doctors" need to huddle to figure out how to save the "patient". According to a recent Institute of Medicine study, over 110 million Americans suffer from chronic pain at an annual cost of over $500 billion dollars. Wow!

So what to do? One of the most interesting facts that came out of the the IOM report was that while the cost of pain management annually is in the hundreds of billions of dollars, the amount of money spent on pain research is only between $200 to $300 million dollars. There is a huge disconnect between the amounts of what it cost and what is being done to rectify some of the problem. More funding at the NIH level is necessary to help produce viable solutions for helping patients and get the pain management situation off of "life support".

Very few of the new medications coming into the marketplace are for pain. What exists now are mostly narcotics, which can work very well but have lots of side effects and addiction potential. New drug classes are needed desperately to help with pain that have different side effect profiles, less tolerance, and less problems with addiction.

More education for medical providers is necessary. During training, medical students receive very little training in pain, which is amazing considering the extent of the problem. It would be impossible to have all patients in pain taken care of by pain management specialists, so all doctors, especially primary care doctors, deserve pain management training.

Along with the training changes, another aspect of pain treatment recommended in the report is to shift pain centers to comprehensive integrated models rather than simply "pill mills". This would entail services such as physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, psychology, interventional pain management, and spinal decompression therapy along with medications.

There is considerable space in the report discussing reimbursement changes as well. When you look at reimbursement for the time spent on patients in pain and all the education and options, the visits can easily take 45-60 minutes. Right now, reimbursement is lacking for these extensive visits.

The report was received very well with 35 professional organizations lauding the findings. If the recommendations can be even partially implemented, maybe over the next few years the "patient" can be upgraded from critical to stable.

Research into whether or not there is an association between bras and back pain does exist. However, it has primarily been in the form of large polls, discussions, and anectdotal evidence rather than any level 1 studies. The common thread seen in the research is that an ill-fitting bra can cause significant pain for females. Rather than considering a breast reduction as a primary form of treatment, receiving an "expert" bra-fitting can ease the problem.

An online poll was conducted in 2006 by Harris Interactive for the nonprofit North American Spine Society and the bra company Maidenform. More than 1,300 women participated in the poll. Fifty-nine percent of the women said their bra caused them to have back, shoulder, or neck pain. The biggest problem cited by these women consisted of the bra straps, followed by the bra's band around the rib cage, the supportive underwire built into many bras, and the bra's cup size or cup fit. Not all of the women were unhappy with their bras. Thirty-nine percent of the entire group said their bras never hurt their back, shoulders, or neck. The remaining 2 percent said they don't wear bras.

Women who are suffering from back pain from their bras are often simply wearing the wrong size.

Many female patients who resort to plastic surgery to ease back pain could achieve the same result by wearing bras that fit. In 2009, over 120,00 breast reductions were performed, a 137 percent increase over 1997. These bras can be expensive and are typically not fashionable. It may be necessary to enlist the services of a custom bra maker. However, it's a small price to pay to avoid potential complications of surgery. There are psychological considerations for surgery as well, so it's not a hard and fast rule it can or should always be avoided.

Wearing the wrong size bra can result in the weight of the breasts being carried by the shoulders rather than the chest and contribute to back pain. It is thought women tend to underestimate the width of their back, while overestimating their cup size. This means their breasts don't get proper support and can lead to pain in the chest, neck and shoulders. Here's a link to an article on considerations for a proper bra to prevent resultant back pain.

A bulging disc is a spine related condition in which a disc weakens and, due to constant pressure, shifts out of its normal position creating a bulge. As a person ages, the spine loses its fluids and becomes immensely vulnerable to different stress factors. Excess weight, poor posture, smoking and other degeneration diseases take a toll on the spine and weakens it constantly.

The best chiropractic therapy for bulging discs is spinal decompression. This involves manual and mechanical measures to proceed with the therapy. It uses a mechanical traction unit that is controlled by an on-board operating computer. This unit basically controls the force and angle of the disc distractions and neutralizes the body's capacity to generate muscle spasms.

During this therapy, the patient is supposed to lay, fully clothed on the table for decompression. The vibrating units are used to relax the muscles in the spine in order to maximize the effectiveness of the therapy. To open up the segments of the spine, the decompression table is tilted at a particular angle to use the gravitational pull to extend the spine. When the spine is extended, the pressure on it is reduced. This results in the therapy being more effective.

Apart from playing a significant role in reducing the spinal pressure, the therapy also helps to create a vacuum in the spinal region which, in turn, aids the spine into get back to its normal position and reduces the bulging disc. Non-surgical therapy using spinal decompression also reverts nerve impairments, helps spinal discs to heal and also reduces spine loading.

Non-surgical spinal decompression is thus, most advisable due to the following reasons:

1. It is very safe and the entire procedure is very gentle.
2. The therapy is comfortable and painless.
3. It is a lot more affordable than surgery.
4. It is not invasive.
5. This therapy is completely FDA certified.
6. The therapy is a proven success.
7. It provides a long-term relief from bulging discs.

There are several versions of spinal decompression that take into consideration your personal needs and adjusts accordingly to provide maximum comfort. The Range-of-Motion decompression technique adjusts according to the patient's spinal posture during the process of decompression. This helps the pulling process from the traction unit to reach deep in the tissues and the other spinal regions. These particular points are generally not accessible by linear decompression and are mostly neglected in other treatment techniques.

The way non surgical spinal decompression therapy works on bulging discs is incredible. The therapy has worked wonders for those who have tried it and are now leading normal lives without physical restrictions. It is considered to be a "better alternative" than any surgical or medical treatments. It does not involve any pain during the whole procedure and it is entirely comfortable. Moreover, unlike other surgical treatments, this is very affordable and gives relief from pain for an extended period of time. For a person who has being suffering from bulging disc, it is never too late to take advantage of such a promising therapy that assures long term pain relief.

Modern lifestyles have been largely blamed for a plethora of health complaints. One of these areas is the high prevalence of back and neck pain which has pervaded society at an alarming rate. Due to the constant strain that contemporary lifestyle puts on our body, the American Chiropractors Association (ACA) has reported that one half of all working Americans complain about back pain every year and that this is one of the main reasons for missing work. If you are accounted for in these statistics, you might be looking for a solution to your back pain and spinal decompression, which has created a reprieve for many patients, could work for you. So, what is spinal decompression?

The Basics of Spinal Decompression
Simply put, this is a spinal disc rehabilitation technique used by chiropractors by utilizing FDA approved equipment and technology. This technique works by stretching the spine and relieving pressure on the spinal discs. The procedure can either be surgical or non-surgical and due to the effectiveness of non-surgical spinal decompression, this analysis will focus on the same. The technique works by unloading due to distraction and positioning which separates the spinal vertebrates from each other and create a vacuum effect, or negative intradiscal pressure, inside the disc that is being targeted.

The effect of this negative pressure is retraction of bulging or herniated discs, which cause much of the pain and irritation, into the main disc. This is what chiropractors aim to achieve during spinal decompression. The pain discerned in most of the lumbar region emanates from the pressure applied on the nerves in this region and when that is relieved, through sequential sessions over some time, you will feel better and your mobility will be greatly enhanced. Spinal decompression is also critical in allowing more oxygen into this region and this can eventually lead to healing of the degenerative discs.

How a Spinal Decompression Session is done
At this point, you might be wondering what will happen during this therapy. Many advances in medical technology have been made since the 1980s when the technology was first used. You will not need to undress and a pelvic harness will be fitted as well as a thoracic one across the chest before you lie on a table face down. The table is automatically controlled through an on-board computer which determines the angle and force of distraction. The table thus enables the application of traction force to the spinal discs which over time will induce the vacuum effect. Each session takes about 30-45 minutes though this can vary depending on your condition.

Now that you appreciate what spinal decompression is, the obvious question is whether you can benefit from this therapy option. A consultation with your doctor and chiropractor is essential before undergoing spinal decompression. Some of the conditions that might be improved upon include back and neck pain, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, worn spinal discs among others. However, if you have a fracture, tumor, mental implants or advanced osteoporosis you cannot undergo spinal decompression due to the heath risks involved.

This is one of the safest and most convenient therapeutic solutions for your back pain and the fact that all the equipment is FDA approved makes it even more ideal. The cost is also lower than surgical procedures which might lead to complications around the highly sensitive spinal region.

Back pain, often caused by neuralgia or nerve damage can result in spasms and often intense pain. This is because the nerves are compressed or have pressure on them, which can be as a result of a number of causes. Back decompression is one of the treatments used to alleviate back pain and take pressure off the nerves.

Herniated disks are often the cause of back pain as it puts pressure on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and nerves. When nerves in the spine or back are compressed the problems with the disks can get even worse, causing the disk bulge to increase in size thus putting even more pressure on the back muscle nerves or the spinal nerves and their roots. This can result in intense back pain. Spasms occur to try and isolate the sore muscles, but can often result in more pain. Herniated disks are one of the causes of back pain that can be treated with back decompression. When disks have worn away or slipped so that they are no longer aligned, the back may also need to be treated with back decompression as it can cause intense pressure on the nerves. Arthritis or injury can also cause compression in what is called facet joint syndrome. This can cause inflammation in the joints and intense pain. Pinched nerves can also result in severe pain and the need for back decompression.

Back decompression can also be called vertebral decompression, spinal decompression, lumbar decompression or traction. The aim of back decompression is to relieve the pressure of whatever is causing back pain, whether it is a result of degenerated disks, herniated disks or pinched nerves.

Traction is a manual process that does not involve any type of surgery, eliminating the risks involved with back or spinal surgery. This mechanical process was first developed in 1985 by Dr. Allan Dyer. Chiropractors are normally responsible for this type of back decompression. Sometimes this can involve light spinal decompression exercises which help alleviate compressed nerves by stretching them and strengthening surrounding muscles. This can include lying on your back and doing stretches that target the spine. Sometimes equipment or special beds are used by chiropractors or physiotherapists to aid stretching.

There is also a surgical type of back decompression which involves two different methods. The first is a microdiscectomy and the second one is a lumbar laminectomy. While this involves physically making space for the nerves to heal and ease pressure, it is often the last resort in treating back pain.

Because back decompression relieves pressure on damaged nerves, it can often ease intense pain which is one of the major benefits. It also allows oxygen to flow freely through the spine and back which may have been lacking due to ischemia. Different stretching and strengthening exercises help to increase the space between disks. This also helps to realign the disks thus targeting the cause of nerve pain.

Back decompression especially involving the spine, can aid inflamed areas working the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the process as well. This helps to ease problems with disks and alleviate nerve damage or pressure. It is a form of treatment to look into if back pain and spasms affect a person on a regular occurrence. While anti-inflammatory medication or painkillers might alleviate the problem temporarily, back decompression can target the actual cause of the problem, which will help to prevent the pain from occurring again as well as aiding in the actual healing of the cause as opposed to just numbing the pain.

Prior to receiving a final spinal cord stimulator implant, the patient needs to receive a spinal cord stimulator trial. The trial can tell the physician if the patient will potentially do well with the final implant. The typical rule of thumb is if the patient receives 50% or greater pain relief with the SCS trial, then the final implant is indicated.

The SCS trial is done in as an outpatient by a physician trained in such procedures. The patient receives IV sedation but cannot be knocked out fully as the physician needs input from the patient during the procedure. The patient is placed face down on a procedure table that allows x-rays to go through it (radiolucent). The procedure is performed with a fluoroscope (real time x-ray machine).

The skin and soft tissues down to the spine are numbed fully and then a guide needle is placed through the anesthetized track. Through the guide needle, the spinal cord stimulator trial catheter is fed and goes into the epidural space, which is the area around the spinal cord. The fluoroscopy machine helps guide the catheter placement, as the catheter contains a visible piece of metal on it.

Once the catheter is placed in the initial position deemed acceptable, the representative from the spinal cord stimulator company being used passes a sterile power attachment into the operating field and the physician then turns it on and initial programming of the electrical stimulation is performed.

The patient now becomes an active participant in the procedure. Sedated but not out, the patient will then respond where he or she feels the electrical sensation. The catheter is manipulated by the physician and placed so that the patient feels the electrical sensation where the pain is typically felt on a daily basis. This could be leg pain, back pain, or both.

Once the placement obtaining optimal electrical coverage is achieved, the catheter is stitched to the skin where it comes out and multiple bandages are placed to keep the area sterile. The SCS trial is then left in place for the next 3-5 days as an outpatient with the catheter receiving electrical impulses to see how it works. The catheter is attached to a battery pack/program unit which attaches to the patient's waist.

On a follow up visit to the physician's office, the catheter is removed in the office with a wound check. The patient then relays how much pain relief was achieved and the decision is made whether or not to proceed for a final spinal cord stimulator implant.

When a pain goes from being short-term to chronic, it can become difficult for the person experiencing the feeling to know the difference. After all, certain tissues can take days, weeks or months to heal fully, especially tendons and ligaments that do not receive a lot of circulation to begin with. So knowing the characteristics of acute pain is helpful for anyone who has sustained an injury and is worried that the pain may be lasting for far too long and developing into a chronic syndrome.

With an acute injury, there are often the signs of damage to the tissues. These include swelling as more nutrients and inflammatory chemicals are delivered to the injured site, redness as blood vessels open more fully to increase circulation, and a feeling of heat in the injured spot, also due to the increased delivery of hot blood. These are the body's main responses to tissue damage, and they are used to isolate the injury and begin healing it as quickly as possible.

The most important factor to keep in mind with acute pain and inflammation is that they are associated with actual tissue damage. People typically experience all of these symptoms of swelling, redness, and heat at the site of an injury when there is actual damage to the tissues in that area. And pressing on the inflamed body part or rubbing the site of the damage can cause flare ups in the level of pain. This all would indicate an acute injury, rather than chronic pain.

With acute pain, there is also usually a pattern with the feelings of pain and stiffness in the affected body part. The stiffness is often at its worst at night before bed and in the morning after rising. This happens because the circulation of fluids and nutrients throughout the night can cause the viscosity of certain tissues to increase, making them harder. Increased pain and stiffness in the morning is one main factor of lower back pain due to the increased fluid in the discs.

A final sign of acute injury is that anti-inflammatory medications and over-the-counter drugs help to reduce the pain and swelling. These substances decrease the involvement of certain pro-inflammatory compounds that circulate to the injured area with acute tissue damage. Taking the anti-inflammation drugs helps by reducing these pain-producing compounds and, for most people, the pain is more bearable in the short term. Chronic pain, on the other hand, frequently does not respond to medications such as these.

Tissues can take a varying amount of time to repair fully, and they never really regenerate. The tissues will always be slightly different from what they were before the injury occurred. But most tissue damage is acute, and the pain will go away on its own over a few days, weeks, or months, depending on what has been injured and how badly. If an injury is still painful after the normal time that the tissues should have healed, then the risk of developing a chronic pain syndrome begin to rise.

Golfer's elbow afflicts the inside area of the elbow of golfers, typically the left inside elbow of right handed ones. It is caused by a tendency to have too much strain on the muscles and tendons that are constantly pulling in the area and they get inflamed and get tight.

9 times out of 10 when people set up for their swing, they carry through the impact zone and have a tendency to "chicken wing" their arm (pulling the arm in) rather than follow through up to a nice finish. This action fights the centrifugal force that is generated along the downswing and rather than shifting stresses into the ball, it places them into the inside area of the left elbow.

It doesn't take much of a "pull" to create significant stress on those tendons and ligaments when you have all the momentum and weight of the club going away from your body.

One problem that golfers can experience with their left arm (if they are right handed golfers) is that during follow through golfers may hyperextend and lock their elbow. You want it to be straight at impact, but not hyperextended.

What causes this "chicken wing" pull action and hyperextension problem?

The number one reason is improper alignment. Most golfers have improper alignment, and then need to alter their swing to hit the target. If you are not lined up correctly, your arms will not be able to "clear your body" to achieve a solid square impact. To get close to a square impact, the club will need to be pulled back towards the ball, stressing the inside tendons of the elbow.

The number two problem is when golfers hit down too much on the ball rather than hitting "through" the ball. During the golf swing you should feel as if you are swinging up rather than hitting down on the ball. This will relieve so much stress being placed onto the tendons around the elbow and avoid the tendonitis.

The continual stress and strain from hitting the turf hard will lead to the annoying golfers elbow. The best way to keep it from coming back is to learn how to properly align your body at stance and also work towards a swing that hits through the ball and up rather than down.

If you develop golfer's elbow the best initial treatment is anti-inflammatory medication along with icing and bracing the forearm. This is called "counterforce" bracing. Physical therapy can help substantially along with a steroid injection into the inflamed area.

Facet injections are minimally invasive procedures that temporarily relieve pain resulting from an inflammation in a facet joint. Pain associated with a facet joint is not fully understood, but it is believed that it is possible that it stems from one of several causes, injury, arthritis, or degeneration, and it can produce symptoms similar to disc degeneration. A facet injection's benefits only last temporarily; from a mere day up to a year as it is a minimal procedure. Facet injections are usually used in conjunction with physical therapy and/or other forms of treatment such as chiropractic spinal manipulation.

Dual purpose

Facet injections work by introducing a long term corticosteroid, along with an anesthetic agent developed to numb the area, into the facet joint that is painful, either entering the capsule or alongside the surrounding tissue of the joint. The facet injection also has a purpose beyond the temporary pain relief; it can also be used as a diagnostic procedure. The facet injection blocks pain signals sent to the brain by numbing the nerves in that area, patients that benefit from these injections may be candidates for facet rhizotomy, which is a procedure in which the nerve endings in the affected area are deadened by use of an electric current that destroys the nerves and prevents them from signaling the brain for pain.

Candidates for facet injections are patients suffering from (any or all of these symptoms) neck, lower back, arm combined with leg pain, caused by inflammatory response in the joints. Facet injections are often recommended for patients that did not show improvement to other remedies such as rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy or back braces.

Facet injections can be used to treat spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, sciatica, herniated disc, arthritis, or post-operative pain. People with active infections, are pregnant, have bleeding problems should not receive these injection. Also, persons with high blood pressure or diabetes should use caution as facet injections may raise levels of blood sugar (this effect last for about 24 hours), and can raise blood pressure levels.

Speedy pain relief

Facet joint injections are administered as an outpatient treatment by surgeons, physiatrists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and neurologists using a fluoroscope. A fluoroscope is like an x-ray machine that allows the doctor to see the needle to help assure proper placement and a proper path. The patient usually feels a sensation similar to pressure but doesn't really feel pain as the area injected is usually numbed with a local anesthetic prior to the injection. Often the patient will be given drugs to lessen anxiety to help them relax during the injection. Most patients can walk immediately following the injection, but they will need someone to drive them home. The patient should notice pain relief within a week following the injection. If a lessening of pain is not noticed after ten days a second injection may be given, but if after three injections the patient feels no relief they are unlikely to benefit from further treatment. Typically half of patients given facet injections will gain relief from the treatment, and the procedure may be given three times per year.

Lower risks

Risks involved are considered minimal, but there are some; these include internal bleeding, infection at the site, allergic reaction, pounding in the temple, and damage to the nerve. There are also side effects which include fluid retention, hot flashes, mood swings or interrupted sleep patterns, and a rise in blood sugar levels. Diabetics have to be monitored carefully due to this. Also, patients who take anti-clotting or blood thinning medications should discuss the treatments with their family physician before beginning treatment.

Facet injections are a good choice in treatment to try before deciding on an invasive surgery when it comes to combating moderate to severe back pain, as it may just do the trick- with a lowered chance of complications and health risks.

Caisson disease is a disorder which occurs in divers who have been brought to the surface rapidly without conforming to the safety precautions. Some workmen are particularly susceptible. Nitrogen being more lipid soluble, more bubbles are formed in the nervous tissue and hence neurological symptoms predominate. The spinal cord is most commonly affected, the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres are affected to a lesser extent. Autopsy shows hemorrhages in the white matter and micro infarcts. Other tissues involved include the joints, skin and lungs.

Clinical features: Symptoms start within three hours of surfacing, but rarely they may be delayed by several hours. Mild cases show pains and cutaneous lesions. In the severe types neurological and pulmonary lesions are prominent. An apparently mild case may rapidly become severe and hence the initial presentation may be misleading. Early cutaneous manifestations include pruritis, erythematous skin lesions and cyanotic patches, and these should alert the physician of the impending disease. The commonest presenting symptom is joint pain (bends) felt over the knees, shoulder, hips and elbows.

More serious features are retrosternal pain (chokes) and neurologic manifestations. Tachypnoea, hypotension and shock may follow the onset of chest pain and the patient may die in coma. The neurologic symptoms include parasthesiae, girdle pains, varying degrees of motor and sensory deficits, headache blurring of vision, diplopia, papillary abnormalities, dysarthria, and vestibular dysfunction characterized by vertigo, nystagmus, nausea and vomiting (staggers).

Diagnosis: The condition is likely to be missed by the unwary physician. History, the circumstance of the case and the physical manifestations should suggest the possibility of decompression sickness. Delay in onset of symptoms should not go against the diagnosis if other features are suggestive.

Course and prognosis: The course is unpredictable sine mild cases may rapidly become serious and die. Prognosis depends upon the promptness and adequacy of recompression and graded decompression. This measure should be instituted without delay even in hopeless cases. Many a time, the recovery is remarkable. Neurological deficits tend to persist if treatment is delayed. Early recompression can prevent the development of neurological lesions. In fairly suggestive cases, valuable time should not be wasted by undertaking detailed clinical examination before recompression.

Treatment: Specific treatment is to institute immediate recompression in a pressure chamber as an emergency measure. Respiratory depressants like morphine should be avoided. The pressure equivalent and the duration of recompression have to be decided by personnel trained in recompression techniques. Usually, a pressure of 2.8 atmospheres (283.7 KPa) is beneficial. Hyperbaric oxygen helps in improving oxygenation of ischemic tissues.

In patients with neurological deficits, shock, or cerebral edema, corticosteroids are beneficial. Low molecular weight dextran (dextran 40) helps in reducing vascular sludging. Infusion of appropriate fluids helps in restoring blood volume, improve the circulatory state, and mobilize trapped bubbles. After suitable recompression, the patient should be carefully decompressed, allowing sufficient periods at each stages to prevent recurrence of bubble formation. Susceptible persons should refrain from diving till recovery is complete.

Discs are positioned between each vertebra bone in your spine. A disc is made up of two parts: the outer ring is called the annulus; the inner part is called the nucleus. The annulus is hard and fibrous, while the inner nucleus is made up of soft gelatinous material. These discs allow for easy mobility of the backbone as we move and bend, and act as cushions between the vertebral column.

The effects of frequent excessive pressure on your back can cause the discs in your spinal column to rupture or be herniated. Ordinary aging will decrease the height and the softness of the disc, so they will become less effective as shock absorbers. A ruptured or herniated disc happens when pressure causes the nucleus to push against the annulus to the degree that the annulus rips. The majority of herniated discs will rupture toward the spine, causing pain, pressure and irritation on the nerves.

If the rupture is bad enough to cause irritation, you will often times have pain shooting down the leg, following the course of the nerve. You may also experience numbness, weakness or tingling in the leg. More severe cases can involve pain in both legs and loss of bladder or bowel control. If those symptoms occur, a doctor should treat the problem immediately.

Most of the time, a ruptured or herniated disc can get better without surgery. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs (also known as NSAIDS) such as Advil or Aleve can relieve the pressure and alleviate the pain after a few days. If, after a few days, the NSAID is not mitigating the pain, the next step may be prescription medicine such as higher strength NSAIDS, pain medication, steroids or muscle relaxers.

If the stronger medication is also not effective, you'll need further testing in the form of a MRI or CT scan. The results of these tests can establish if you will need an epidural injection of Cortisone. The injection is into your back, around the root of the nerve being pinched.

If none of these treatments help, a microdiscectomy may be needed. A microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure that is done trough a small incision. Using magnification and special instruments, the surgeon can remove the portion of the disc that is ruptured and causing discomfort. A microdiscectomy is less invasive than a traditional lumbar laminectomy, usually being performed with epidural anesthesia so the patient can stay awake during the procedure. The likelihood of vomiting or nausea after a microdiscectomy is decreased, and patients can usually go home a few hours after surgery.

After your symptoms subside, start an exercise or walking program to rehabilitate and strengthen your back to significantly reduce the chances of a slipped disc or pinched nerve from happening again. If you are overweight, losing the extra pounds can remove the excess pressure on your back. Practice safe lifting techniques with proper back mechanics when moving heavy objects.

Spinal Decompression is a successful chiropractic treatment that is being used for patients with lower back pain, neck pain, disc problems, and sciatica

Spinal Decompression, what is it, and how does chiropractic treatment help?

Spinal Decompression is procedure for lower back and neck pain that Chiropractors are treating more and more people for every day. Lifestyle and the need to seek eternal youth has made many people increase their recreational activities (running, martial arts, tennis, golf, bodybuilding, etc.) all with the goal to improve health because more of us spend more time sitting in a chair in front of a computer slowly damaging our posture as we develop disc problems from any of the above activities. Spinal decompression therapy is used primarily to treat disc injuries in the neck and in the lower back.

Spinal Decompression is very effective at treating bulging discs, herniated discs, pinched nerves, sciatica, radiating arm pain, headaches, and facet syndrome. Most chiropractic offices have computerized mechanized machines that assist the chiropractor in treating this condition. Once you lie down on the decompression table, the machine does all the work. You shouldn't feel any pain and your back will have a sense of feeling like it has a new lease on life after having these treatments.

Whether treating your lower back or neck, you lie comfortably on your back and either have soft padded straps around your back and waist, or soft rubber pads positioned behind your neck.

As the Spinal Decompression table pulls on your spine, it gently divides the vertebrae from each other, producing a vacuum inside the discs that are being targeted. This vacuum begins to suck the bulges or herniations back into the inside of the disc, and off of your nerve base. This occurs on a microscopic basis each time, but cumulatively the effects can be quite amazing. Along with this process, it creates an action which pumps nutrient-rich fluids from the outside of the discs to the inside. This reaction helps the healing process of the damaged and degenerated disc.

How long will the treatment program take?

Every patient I see will have a chiropractic treatment plan developed specifically for their condition. On average, I tell most of my patients that the total time of treatment can be a 2-4 month process and will require multiple visits each week and then slowly decrease to once a week as their spinal issues start to heal. Each session can be as little as 30 minutes or can be as long as an hour. It all depends on whether I'm treating just the lower back, or if I'm treating the back and neck along with any other prescribed therapy.

Will Spinal Decompression treatment work for all spinal problems?

Spinal decompression is not a cure all for all back and neck problems. It is very effective for a great majority of the patients I see. I've listed some of the health issues you should expect to see great improvements for:

Sciatica, neck pain, Headaches, Chronic neck pain, Chronic low back pain

There is much more damage done by a misaligned spine than just the physical aspects. Chiropractic adjustment is often necessary because of organ dysfunction and mental health problems that have their origins in poor spinal health. While a medical doctor can treat the symptoms produced from a spinal misalignment, chiropractic adjustment has proven to be the best way to address the real problem.

Extremity Chiropractic Adjustment

Chiropractic doctors use manipulation and adjustment of the extremities to mobilize joints and muscles that are often causing musculoskeletal imbalance. Readjusting the functionality of the extremities addresses the problems caused to the nervous system and relieves chronic pain associated with it.

Pelvic Deficiency

One of the causes of extreme pain and misalignment of the spine comes from the way a person stands and holds their hips. Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique analyzes the length of a person's legs to ascertain if a pelvic deficiency is the cause of physical pain. If one leg is shorter than the other, one side of the body will have excessive pressure and cause much discomfort.

This chiropractic adjustment is used to correct pelvic and vertebral misalignments through the use of the Activator mallet, which pushes and sets joints into the correct position for proper use.

The Thompson Technique is another chiropractic adjustment based on analyzing the leg length to determine if it is the cause of imbalance. After the legs are checked, the chiropractor understands where the misalignment exists, which can be in the pelvic or cervical areas among others. Chiropractic adjustment is accomplished with the use of multiple thrusts applied to certain joints.

Addressing Pinched Nerves

One of the more painful problems of spine misalignment is a pinched nerve. In 1923, Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead developed a method that addresses this situation as well as problems caused by other maladies. The Gonstead chiropractic adjustment increases joint and muscle mobility based on the areas of misalignment by way of pressure at different levels.

Many of the chiropractic adjustments are performed so patients do not have to undergo corrective surgery. While there is no 100% success rate with chiropractic solutions, they often are a wonderful alternative to operations. Techniques such as the Cox Flexion/Distraction often restore a range of motion so that surgery may be delayed or deemed unnecessary.

Anyone who has chronic pain from spinal conditions should ask for a chiropractic opinion before submitting to any back operation. It costs less money than surgery and it is often less painful and more fulfilling.

Is Surgery for Sciatica the Answer to Your Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief?

It is a question that anyone with sciatic nerve pain has asked themselves at some point. Is surgery the only way I can finally get rid of this horrible sciatica back pain?

When it comes to sciatica and lower back pain, there really is no easy answer. The ultimate choice is, of course, yours alone. But there are some areas of sciatic nerve pain relief that you should be looking at before you do anything drastic. The last thing you want to do is make your sciatica back pain worse.

How can you Know if you are Ready for Surgery?

People don't come to the surgery conclusion lightly. It is usually after months of desperately searching for relief from that awful sciatic nerve and low back pain. Usually, people considering surgery are frustrated, tired, and would do almost anything for relief. They are starting to feel like they will never have that sciatic nerve pain relief without surgery.

Still though, surgery is a risky business in itself, it is after all, surgery. Before you decide to go ahead with it, you need to be sure that it will give you real nerve pain relief.

Do not be sure that surgery is your answer because your doctor has promised you that it will work. Be sure that you need surgery because you know that you have done everything else to find sciatica pain relief on your own.

What Should You be Asking Yourself?

1 - Why do You Have Sciatica? - you can actually have sciatica for many reasons. But usually, you have sciatic nerve pain for one of two reasons. Pinched Sciatica and Sciatica Piriformis Syndrome.

When dealing with a pinched sciatic nerve, usually there is a bad disc involved. While there are treatments that will give you sciatic nerve pain relief, (such as spinal decompression and seated massage), usually a bad disc is the most common reason people have surgery for sciatica. That is not saying that it is 'your time', or that you even need it. But it is more common for people in your situation.

If your sciatic nerve pain and low back pain is because of piriformis syndrome, there are many other treatment options available to you. You can usually skip the surgery route and take care of your sciatica back pain in other ways.

2 - Have You Tried All the Non Invasive Procedures Available to You? - surgery for sciatica is considered 'minimally invasive'. To most people, 'minimally invasive' means that is is no big deal. But the reality of this 'minimally invasive' procedure is that your pain is likely to return at some point. And once you have had surgery for sciatica, your odds of needing another surgery down the road are pretty great.

Be sure that you have tried all of the supplements, food changes, chiropractic and massage therapies, everything ut there that is non invasive before you consider anything else. If you try something non invasive and it does not work, no big deal. You look for something else and move on.

But what if you try something 'minimally invasive' and it does not work?

That stays with your body much longer and you will have to wait before you try another treatment. Even spinal injections, which are also considered minimally invasive, have chemicals in them that can take weeks to leave your body. In other words, if the injections don't work, not only can you be in pain for weeks, but you will also have to wait until the chemicals are totally out of your system before you can really know if another treatment will work for you.

3 - Do you Really Know What Surgery is Like? - if you have thought about these questions, and you think that you really need surgery for sciatica in order to get any real sciatica nerve pain relief, then you should know what to expect.

There are many types of sciatica surgeries out there. They range from minimally invasive to very invasive. When it comes to this type of back surgery, there can be a lot of ground to cover.

So we will stick with the minimally invasive stuff that involves sciatica due to disc problems, after all, this is the most common reason for surgery.

What to expect after surgery:

* You will be given pain killers to control your post surgery pain. However, your actual sciatic nerve pain relief will probably be felt as soon as you wake.

* The first week you will be tired, but this will most likely be due to your post surgery medication.

* This is usually considered an in and out procedure. But the actual recover time can be 3-4 weeks.

* It is a good idea to take digestive enzymes after surgery. They will help with healing and inflammation.

* You will most likely be encouraged to start doing some light activity after the first couple of days.

Surgery for sciatica is not an easy choice. It is very hard to live with sciatica pain. Finding sciatic nerve pain relief can seem just as hard.