Spinal Decompression

What is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc occurs when one of the spinal discs fails to act as a shock absorber for the spine due to damage, injury, wear and tear, or rupture. On its own, this condition doesn't cause any pain. The actual back pain that a person with a herniated disc is due to the shift in pressure from the ruptured disc to the actual spinal cord. This results in numbness or pain.

How is a herniated disc healed?

Fortunately, about 90% of people suffering from this condition heal within 6 months following non-surgical treatment. Doctors usually recommend non-surgical therapies first before considering surgery in order to reduce side effects and complications that surgery brings about. Bed rest, exercise, medication, and therapy for the pain are usually done in order to alleviate the symptoms of a herniated disc. An example of a common therapy is the spinal decompression therapy that is known to aid faster herniated disc healing.

What is spinal decompression therapy?

A very popular choice among those looking to usher in faster healing for their herniated disc is the spinal decompression therapy. This therapy is done by a chiropractor, and is a non-surgical aid to help the spinal column heal the ruptured disc faster than the normal recovery period.

How is spinal decompression therapy done?

Spinal decompression therapy involves the use of a computer-controlled mechanism that targets the affected area of the back and soothes the pain by the use of a series of computer-aided methods. First, the patient is positioned on the treatment table and adjusted so that the correct area of the back can be targeted. The process largely involves the simulation of anti-gravity and the pulling of surrounding discs so that fluid and other spinal nutrition can flow more smoothly into the affected area. This is a painless and gentle process where patients typically feel only a slight pulling sensation intermittently. This is usually followed by the application of an electronic muscle simulation to prevent pain of the surrounding muscles.

How often is this treatment supposed to be done?

Some patients report a drastic improvement after just one session; others feel a huge pain lifted away from their backs after a couple of sessions. In general, the advised number of sessions runs from 15 to 20, depending on the individual case of each patient. Should you choose to opt for spinal decompression as an alternative therapy for herniated disc healing, you can choose to discontinue at any time, depending on how well you feel. If you think you do not need any more sessions, you can stop your therapy anytime.

Many people looking for herniated disc healing therapies go to a chiropractor to undergo spinal decompression. It has also been found out through numerous clinical studies and researches that there is a high correlation between this therapy and faster herniated disc healing. Aside from its non-surgical nature, this therapy promotes back strength and natural healing through supplemental exercises and muscle strength enhancement to support back weight and pressure that may cause more pain.

Spondylosis, or degenerative disc disease causes confusion for both physicians and the layman. Even if this is a normal course of old age, there are younger people that suffer from it as well. Since it's not infectious, technically, it's not a disease but a condition. It can come from genetics or from an accident and there's not always pain involved.

The main "hinge" of the spine is called the lumbar disc. This is gives us the ability to move in different directions, strength to stand, and soak up everyday shocks from such mundane things as walking. When new, the discs are completely saturated with liquid, which unfortunately dries out naturally as we age and gives us more limited mobility. Pain in degenerative disc disease is actually caused more often in younger people because the disc has not dried out but has suffered tears to its tough skin and allowed the liquid inside to reach out and affect the nerves in the nearby lower back. The inflammation brings a constriction in the surrounding blood vessels, lowering the amount of nutrition and oxygen available to the disc that blocks its healing.

A doctor's visit should be foremost on the agenda in a physical and a MRI to determine the severity of the degenerative disc disease. In case of severe pain, the doctor will be able to tell you a few of the causes - pain worsens with prolonged sitting, unnatural positions (to lift heavy weights, twisting to get things, or bending with straight knees), or lying down, walking or even running will ease the pain. This is all because the movements rest and exercise take away pressure from the lumbar area.

If left alone, there may be tingling or numbness in the lower back or upper legs caused by the pain. On the bright side, if no weakness is felt in the muscles of the legs, there may no nerve damage involved.

Non-invasive treatments are preferable since the symptoms respond well to them. Similar to bulging disc treatments, surgery is the last choice. The treatments for degenerative disc disease are pro-active and run the approximately 90 days. The patient is required to rest on a support mattress and do non-strenuous exercises like walking or swimming for 30 minutes every day. By maintaining the correct posture and using hot and cold compresses to keep the pain at bay. In conjunction with physical therapy, ultrasound therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatments, or acupuncture, the condition can be managed. Medications like muscle relaxants and pain relievers are prescribed as needed.

Conservative measures are usually enough to manage degenerative disc disease. Surgery is now only used in extreme cases such as scoliosis or nerve damage. While this can be painful at times, degenerative disc disease is something we can learn to live with when we control the symptoms with a healthy lifestyle and regular mild exercise.

Spinal decompression therapy is an FDA approved, non-surgical treatment for chronic neck and low back pain. It has saved thousands of people from having to undergo surgery or taking strong pain medications. With up to an 86% success rate, many patients have experienced dramatic pain relief and healing with this therapy.

Many medical doctors simply do not know how to treat chronic neck and back pain. They may write you a prescription for a strong painkiller but this only masks the symptoms and does not fix the problem. These strong medications can be addictive and may cause problems in the future. Other doctors may try to steer you toward surgery in an effort to relive back pain. While surgery may be effective in some cases, it is not always necessary. Considering the difficult recovery, time off of work and potential complications, surgery should only be a last resort.

People suffering from chronic neck and back pain who are looking for non-surgical treatment options often turn to a chiropractor for assistance. Chiropractors are experts at relieving neck and back pain without the use of surgery or drugs. They use gentle techniques that reduce pain and promote healing. They also make recommendations for lifestyle changes and exercises that will help strengthen the muscles and expand range of motion.

Some common lower back complaints include: herniated or bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome, sciatica and acute or chronic back pain. Patients suffering from these conditions have found relief with spinal decompression therapy. The treatment is not only safe and painless, but also comfortable and relaxing. The course of therapy includes approximately 20 treatment sessions and is completed in about 35 days. Each procedure is performed with a unique, patent pending physio-therapeutic device and is administered by a certified clinician, specializing in back pain care. The treatment sessions are brief, lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Each treatment consists of a physician prescribed treatment on the Spinal Decompression and is designed to provide static, intermittent, and cycling distraction forces to relieve pressures on structures that may be causing back pain. During this procedure, by cycling through distraction and relaxation phases and by proper positioning, a spinal disc can be isolated and placed under negative pressure, causing a vacuum effect within it. This vacuum effect accomplishes two things. From a mechanical standpoint, disc material that has protruded or herniated outside the normal confines of the disc can be pulled back within the disc by the vacuum created within the disc. Also, the vacuum within the disc stimulates growth of blood supply, secondarily stimulating a healing response. This results in pain reduction and proper healing at the injured site.

Spinal decompression therapy relieves pain associated with herniated discs, protruding discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome, sciatica, and general neck and low back pain. Studies have concluded that at some time 80% of all Americans suffer from back pain, making spinal decompression therapy a much-needed component in the treatment of those conditions.

Spinal decompression traction therapy is an accepted medical procedure. It is covered by most health insurance. Keep in mind that your medical insurance may have constraints with regarding co-payments and prior authorization for therapy. These constraints would apply to spinal decompression as well. Ask your chiropractor's office staff to assist you in filing with your insurance company.

Spinal fusion is an invasive surgical procedure performed to provide stability to the spine in the case of degenerative disc disease, nerve impingement and/or vertebral movement (spondylolisthesis). The surgery entails the removal of a disc or portion of a disc and the placement of a bone graft in the disc space that will fuse the vertebrae together. Additional grafts and hardware may be used on the outside of the spinal column for extra stability.

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is one type of spinal fusion surgery often performed to treat degenerative disc disease in cases where a lot of disc height has been lost. Anterior fusion is performed through an incision in the stomach. There are other approaches that dictate approaching through the back or side, but the anterior approach is favored sometimes for its avoidance of back muscles and spinal nerves.

ALIF is generally not performed on people with spinal instability caused by spondylolisthesis (vertebral fracture and movement) or tall disc spaces. In these cases, a posterior approach may be combined with ALIF to provide additional fusion sites.

Risks

Every type of surgery comes with unique risks. Risks that all types of fusion surgeries share are failure of fusion, bleeding, infection and scar tissue.

Anterior fusion carries unique risks due to its approach from the front of the body. One potential complication after surgery is incisional hernia. A hernia is present when part of the lining of the abdominal cavity, called the peritoneum, pushes through a hole or weak part in the connective tissue surrounding abdominal muscles and forms a sac. Incision of the abdomen can cause such a weak spot or hole. A hernia may be visibly protrude and retract when coughing or lifting. If it is painful to the touch or does not retract when pushed inward, surgery will likely be needed to patch the weak spot in the abdomen. Parts of organs can become trapped in the hole as the sac grows and blood supply can become cut off, strangling that part of the organ.

For males seeking fusion of the L5-S1 disc space, retrograde ejaculation is a concern. The anterior approach to this spinal segment puts the surgeon's tools in close proximity with nerves supplying a valve that directs ejaculate from the body. If the nerve supply is damaged and the valve doesn't open, the ejaculate will be directed to the bladder. While this does not pose risks to the man's health or feeling of pleasure, it provides distinct complications with conception. An exact rate of incidence is unknown, but could be 5% or higher, according to Spine.org, for men seeking anterior fusion at the L5-S1 segment.

A minimally-invasive form of ALIF is available that requires a smaller incision and the use of a laparoscope, or camera, that guides the surgeon's tools. While this procedure generally promises shorter recovery time and less scarring, it also poses a unique risk to the great blood vessels, the vena cava and aorta, that lay over the spine and travel to the lower body. Normal ALIF may cause damage to these vessels at a 1-2% incidence rate; risk increases with laparoscopic anterior fusion as the surgeon has limited view and mobility inside the incision pathway. Interference with these blood vessels is a major concern as it causes excessive bleeding.

When considering surgery, it is always important to weigh the risks against the possible benefits. While most surgeons boast fusion rates of 95% and higher, studies exist that put the rate much lower. A small study with 85 participants found that overall fusion rate was 80%. The study also specified results by level of fusion; rate of failure was much higher (31%) at the L3-L4 level than at the L5-S1 level (16%). These are all factors to consider when deciding whether surgery and what type of surgery is worth the risk for your unique situation. More on the above study can be found at http://www.mendeley.com/research/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion/.

A Last Resort

Any type of surgery is a last resort, yet not all spine surgeons are hesitant to prescribe fusions. Fusions are mainly performed to relieve pain from degenerating spinal discs. Have you exhausted all other treatment options for your condition?

Unless you are showing signs of major nerve damage (such as impaired bowel and bladder function), surgery should be a long way off. First, months of physical therapy should be performed to strengthen the core muscles that support the spine. You should be tested for muscle imbalances and postural distortions that could have caused excess pressure on the affected disc. A chiropractor or osteopath should check your spine for misalignment and resolve any if found.

Inversion therapy can be pursued at home to increase disc space, or decompression treatments can be sought from a chiropractor with a decompression machine in his or her office. Decompression treatments may or may not be covered by insurance, but they usually cost around $2,000 total without insurance. This is less than the out-of-pocket cost of spinal surgery for most people with insurance.

When considering various options for back pain treatment, be sure you're informed of the risks and benefits. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion poses unique risks that should be understood before anything is signed off on.

There are a variety of ways to apply spinal traction. A description is given of how a massage chair performs spinal traction. Traction is a force used to stretch or elongate joint surfaces. Specifically, mechanical traction is defined as the application of a mechanical force to the body with a method that separates the joint surfaces and elongate the surrounding soft tissues. In the case of spinal traction, mechanical traction is used to flex joint surfaces and stretch soft tissues.

The most common form of spinal traction used is a pulling force. Typically, the patient is laid on their back and their hips are held and a force is exerted on the shoulders and head. A spinal decompression machine is typically used to exert a pulling force on the patient spine by stretching the patient when they are supine.

A spinal decompression machine works on a theory of extending the disc in unison from top to bottom. The machine is exerting a force on both ends of the spine which pulls apart the cervical discs and stretches the soft tissues. This is also the more common thought of mechanical traction.

Another method used to affect traction is inversion therapy. Inversion therapy usually utilizes boots that the wearer puts on. Either the patient is laid on flat table which then allows them to be raised with their feet up. Or the user must lock the boots onto a bar and then suspend themselves from there hanging upside down.

Inversion therapy uses gravity to affect the force. The patient's own weight is used to help stretch out the spine. Since the feet are held in place, the force is applied by both the angle of tilt and the patient's own weight.

Roller tables are used to effect mechanical traction. A roller table is a long flat table to accommodate the patient lying completely flat. Rollers are contained inside the table and are used to apply mechanical traction.

Roller tables apply mechanical traction by passing the rollers across the spine. This applies an axial traction. As the roller passes each cervical disc, it will deflect the disc which stretches the soft tissues attached to it.

Massaging recliners work on the same theory as roller tables. A roller is passed across the spine. The weight of the patient and the angle of the recline determine the force exerted on the disc. Unlike a roller table, however, massage chairs are able to adjust their angle.

Massaging recliners can apply this type of mechanical traction to the spine. They are using gravity as the pulling force over the top of the roller. The roller causes the cervical disc to deflect when the roller passes. The soft tissues are then stretched which is the definition of mechanical traction.

Massage chairs are also able to provide a number of other treatments in addition to spinal traction. Massaging recliners have a full array of massage treatments and programs. Additionally heating elements are placed throughout the chair soothing warmth can be applied as needed. Massage loungers also have stretching of the lower body. Massaging recliners also come with MP3 players which can provide a relaxing environment for the patient.

Massage chairs are multipurpose treatment centers. They can provide a variety of treatments to accommodate many users. Massage chairs apply massage treatments consistently and can be customized for individuals. Massaging recliners have a variety of massage programs both manual and automatic. These massage chairs can also be directed to specific muscle groups for targeted relief.

A spinal discectomy surgery in America is a very common procedure. The risks of the procedure are fairly low compared with the benefit. Granted, there is a risk of infection, bleeding, injury to the nerve being decompressed, etc. but overall with a discectomy spine surgery the risk profile is low and patients benefit dramatically.

Typically the surgery takes around 45 min. and patients go home either same day or next day. When would a surgeon consider doing a fusion of that level and not just a discectomy? Adding a fusion to the surgery increases the potential risks and complications and should not be taken lightly. But there are times when it is a good idea to add it to the procedure.

One of the most common indications for adding fusion is if the patient has had multiple discectomies at the same level. Here is the thought process on that. If the patient has a recurrence of a disc herniation at the same level as having had a previous surgery, the person should have nonoperative treatment pretty much the same as before to try and avoid surgery. This may include epidural injections from a pain management doctor, physical therapy or chiropractic treatment, and medication management. But if this fails, a lumbar disc removal surgery is indicated after 6 to 8 weeks for pain control, especially if the patient is beginning to have muscle weakness such as a foot drop.

When a person has a discectomy surgery, the part of the disk removed does not regenerate. So disc degeneration is the end result. After one discectomy surgery, this is often fairly tolerable by patients and may just lead to mild to moderate back pain on an inconsistent basis. After a 2nd discectomy surgery, often times the patient ends up with severe degenerative disease. If the patient is having a third discectomy surgery, it is a very good idea to include a spinal fusion surgery. This would remove the rest of the disc, and immobilize that segment so that the eventual severe back pain is hopefully avoided.

If a patient is having a first-time lumbar discectomy surgery and the patient has severe disc degeneration with a considerable amount of back pain, simply taking out the small piece of disk that is pushing on a nerve root is only going to help with leg pain. It is not a back pain operation. So the patient has just as much back pain as they do leg pain, along with a severe degenerative disc, it does make sense to consider having a spinal fusion at that level.

This will hopefully address both the person's back pain and leg pain at the same time.

As mentioned, adding a spinal fusion to a discectomy surgery increases the risks. There is hardware involved with screws and rods, and more dissection is necessary to complete the procedure. There are some minimally invasive ways of doing the surgery, however, anyway you look at it it involves more time in the operating room, more blood loss, and increased risks. For this reason it should not be a decision taken lightly.

In America at any one point in time about 1% of the population suffers from a lumbar herniated disc. This can cause disabling sciatica with leg pain and possibly muscle weakness and maybe pins and needles and numbness as well.

Surgery has been shown to work extremely well over 90% of time at getting rid of a patient's leg pain. But the best course of action is to avoid having the surgery necessary if possible. How can this be accomplished? There are multiple methods of treatment that have been shown in research studies to be effective and should be tried prior to undergoing the knife.

The 1st treatments that tend to work well for a herniated disc are medications. The initial medications should include over-the-counter ones such as Tylenol and anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen. These may not provide enough pain relief, so patients may need to see a pain management doctor to receive narcotics along with muscle relaxers and potentially higher doses of the anti-inflammatories. Additionally, there are medications called neuromodulating agents, which are known as Neurontin and Lyrica. These may act to decrease the sciatica pain, as narcotic medications often are not as effective as you may think.

Additional treatment options include those performed at a physical therapy clinic. These are great for helping patients stretch and strengthen the muscles of the back and lower committees. Also there are modalities that can be performed at a PT clinic including electrical stimulation, ultrasound, along with ice and heat. Treatment with a chiropractor may also provide significant benefit asthis may include spinal adjustments, along with rehab exercises similar to physical therapy clinic.

There is a new revolutionary treatment that has come about over last decade called spinal decompression therapy. This is a noninvasive intermittent traction type of treatment that is performed over multiple sessions and may bring significant pain relief. Studies have shown this to be effective over 80% of the time.

If patients are still not achieving significant relief, then interventional pain management comes in to play. This includes epidural injections performed at a pain clinic for achieving pain relief with steroid medication bathing the pinched nerve root. The steroid acts as a tremendous anti-inflammatory agent and knocks out the inflammation which is what is causing the sciatica pain. They have been shown to be effective approximate 75% of the time.

If neither the injections for the medications worthy exercise treatments are effective at relieving the pain within 6 to 8 weeks, then surgery should be considered. Especially if there is muscle weakness involved.

But studies have shown that one year time frame, surgery is no more effective than conservative treatment with the outcomes achieved. So if pain relief can be achieved and the body can be allowed to disintegrate the piece of disc that is pushing on the nerve root then that is optimal.

It is not a secret that bulging discs which occur in the lumbar or lower back is excruciatingly painful. It is also not a secret that quite a lot of people all over the world go through life enduring extreme amounts of pain due to this very debilitating condition.

What does seem to be a secret though is the fact that not all bulging disc treatments require that you under surgery. While a lot of these conditions can become untreatable via the use of surgical means, quite a number can be treated using lesser, more affordable and less intense methods.

In this article, we will be discussing five methods which you may explore as a bulging disc treatment, all of which do not require surgery to achieve; at the end of this article, you will be directed to a resource which will help you completely and permanently solve your slipped disc issues without fail. Let's continue shall we...

Let us expound on the whole slipped disc condition some more; many people make it seem as though bulging disc treatment is impossible. This is not true; while your disc may be bulging, you must realize that that condition can be improved.

In fact, quite a lot of time a simple pelvic traction (this is a method used to stretch the spinal column) or good old bed rest can result in the reduction of the displaced disc back into its normal habitat. Nevertheless, below are five more advanced and effective herniated disc treatments...

#1. Chiropractic Adjustments
This method involves the use of techniques like traction and spinal manipulation. While there are more chiropractic adjustment techniques, these are the two most beneficial which are widely used.

#2. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a method which has been used as a bulging disc treatment for a while. It is very effective and the origin of most of these kinds of therapy can be traced directly back to the chiropractic arena.

Since then though, many embellishments and enhancements have been effected. Examples of these physical therapies include, but are not limited to, the following; automated pelvic traction, free-weight pelvic traction, ultrasound, hot packs and therapeutic massage.

#3. The McKenzie Method
Most of the blame for herniated disc can be attributed to posture. The McKenzie bulging disc treatment method directly affects the spinal column in relation to posture, dysfunction and derangement.

This bulging disc treatment method involves the use of extension exercises targeted at the lower back encouraging the displaced disc to reduce into its normal location.

#4. The Williams Technique
To encourage the reduction of the disc and the decompression of the nerves, the Williams technique makes use of the flexion (or bending) position. This, as you may have noticed is the reverse of the McKenzie technique.

#5. Epidural Steroid Injections
This method can have numerous benefits when used as bulging disc treatment. It helps reduce the pain and inflammation which generally irritates spinal nerves.

This is achieved by injecting Cortisone into the spinal canal outside of the spinal sac. It is a simple procedure which may require a pain management professional and the use of anesthesia.

FACT: Most conventional treatments for slipped disc only work as a temporary band aid solution; they all fail to work in the long run!

Your spinal cord is an extremely important part of your body as the nervous system is housed here. Much of the pain you experience in your back, legs, arms or other areas of your body comes from your spine. Nervous can become pinched due to the movement of discs or become disrupted due to bulging, hernias or degenerative disc disease. It's crucial that your spine is kept in good health and is treated properly.

Since your spine is so important to your overall health, there are several treatments, therapies, and surgical procedures to correct any problems. For many, surgery is a big word because it means considerable amounts of money and recovery time, and no one has either. So the next best treatment is therapy. Therapies are non-invasive but do require more treatments for correction to occur. Also, there is little to no recovery, which most enjoy.

One of the best therapies for the your spine and correcting discs is spinal decompression therapy. It corrects disc placement which could be the source of your pain. The therapy slowly elongates your spinal cord, allowing discs to fall back into place and heal properly. Once discs move back into place, they will eliminate pain and you will feel tremendous relief.

With any therapy, you need several treatments over the course of a few weeks. It's not one procedure and you're done, as surgeries are, but they are not invasive and you don't have to recover. Treatments improve your spine over time until you feel relief and your body heals.

If you would rather eliminate pain over a period of time, then spinal decompression therapy is for you. Most choose therapy over therapy because it's much easier and doesn't require them to miss much of life due to a surgery. So, it is one of the most popular alternatives to surgery.

Before you start any type of therapy, always check with your insurance agent and see if you can get coverage for the costs. You probably won't get full coverage, of course, but maybe you can get some of the costs reduced. Don't be surprised if your insurance company does not cover the therapy because many do not. It's important to check because you do not want to be faced with a large bill at the end of treatment.

Therapy is not for everyone but it does benefit thousands of people every year. Consider the details and decide if it's for you or not.

Integrative neurology combines the knowledge of medical neurology (the study of the brain and nerves) with complimentary techniques like acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal therapies. There are many different reasons why a person develops lower back, hip and leg pain. The most common are spinal stenosis, sciatica, pinched nerves and neuropathy. Despite billions of dollars spent on research of these conditions, no one single method has emerged as the superior treatment for them. Thankfully, they do typically respond well to a combination of therapies. Stenosis, sciatica and most of leg pains involve the nerves in the back and lower extremities; Integrative Neurology is an ideal approach for treatment. The symptoms may be similar, but the cause of those symptoms varies greatly. Determining where and why the nerves are injured is the most important step to long lasting relief. Only then can effective treatment be instituted. For example stenosis and disc herniation require decompression therapy. Adding acupuncture can often help damaged nerves to repair while suppressing pain. Supplementing the diet with specific nutrients may also speed up the healing process. A specific follow-up exercise program based on a patient's MRI results offers the best chance for long lasting improvement. Integrative Neurology is about offering many different treatment approaches to neurological conditions, combined individually for each patient, all under one roof. It is the optimum approach for patients suffering from back, hip and leg problems from stenosis, sciatica and neuropathy.

There are a number of alternative medicine treatments that can be very helpful in the treatment of spinal stenosis and its symptoms. In this article we consider acupuncture and how acupuncture might be an effective therapy for people suffering from stenosis of the spine.

Acupuncture has been practiced for more than 3000 years. When acupuncture practice was originally developed, many centuries ago, it was based on the concept of energy. Historically the developers of acupuncture believed it worked by moving energy known as "Qi" (pronounced Chee) throughout the body. According to traditional acupuncture theory, if too much energy accumulated in the body (or not enough energy reached a body part) the tissues would be damaged and disease would result. Acupuncture needles were inserted into injured tissues for the purpose of moving energy into or away from stressed tissue. Once energy balance was restored the tissues could heal and repair. We now know that acupuncture works through the nervous system. Let's say for example that a person is suffering from back pain as a result of spinal stenosis. There is a specific circuit that deals with pain signaling in the body. The nerves that carry pain signals from the back to the brain will be overactive. There are also many competing circuits that when stimulated will block pain signals from reaching the brain. A skillful acupuncturist can selectively activate the pain blocking circuits effectively shutting off the pain signals going to the brain. This modern concept of acupuncture has been demonstrated in studies using sophisticated technology called fMRI and Magnetoencephalography. There are a number of other studies that compared cortisone injections with dry needling (acupuncture). In these studies patients obtained better pain relief from acupuncture treatment than from the injection. Acupuncture thus works, for conditions like spinal stenosis, through the body's built-in pain suppressing machinery.

One of the best ways to narrow down the possible causes of your back pain is to consider where the pain is located and what type of pain sensation you feel. Many people complain of lower back pain on either the right or left side. The following descriptions of causes may help you understand your pain better.

Muscular Lower Back Pain

Pain on one side of the body may indicate a simple muscle strain. This type of pain is located in a muscle and may be felt as stiffness, soreness or an ache. Muscle strain occurs when a muscle is overworked or overstretched and suffers tears. They can occur in any number of ways throughout the day, such as twisting to the side and lifting an object.

Most cases of muscle strain heal within days. You can alleviate pain by applying ice to the muscle during the first twenty-four hours for 20 minute at a time. Once the muscle is no longer inflamed, you can use heat to loosen it up.

If you have chronic muscle pain, it is possible that a lower back muscle on one side suffers from an overuse injury. This could occur if your job or other daily activities require you to use the muscle constantly. If you have a desk job and frequently turn to one side, for example, one side of your lower back may be strained. Overuse injuries require a change in behavior to heal. Changing the layout of your work station may be a solution to this.

If you have chronic muscle strain, it is possible that your muscle has developed trigger points. These are dense knots that form and make it difficult for the muscle to relax. Trigger point massage therapy or self-myofascial release (SMR) can work out trigger points.

SI Joint Pain

The sacroiliac (SI) joint is formed where the large hip bones meets the sacrum in the lower back on each side. SI joint dysfunction occurs when the joint is misaligned and has either too much or too little motion. It becomes inflamed and irritates the sciatic nerve that runs down the leg. There are a number of causes of SI joint dysfunction; pregnancy, impact, muscle imbalance and leg length discrepancy are common causes.

The SI joint is indicated as your source of pain if the pain is centered on the joint. The joint is usually inflamed if you have SI joint dysfunction, so it may be painful to the touch. The pain may be achy or sharp and often radiates into the lower back, buttocks, hips and thighs. You may also notice that one side of your pelvis is higher or sticks out more than the other. If you have these symptoms, it would be wise to ask your doctor to test for SI joint dysfunction. Physical therapy may assist in recovery.

Sciatica Pain

The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back to the foot on each side of the body. The nerve can become compressed or irritated by a herniated disc, tight piriformis muscle in the hip, vertebral misalignment or inflamed SI joint. These are the most common causes of sciatica pain.

"True" sciatica is marked by compression of the nerve root as it exits the spine. That said, vertebral misalignment and herniated disc are the most common causes of sciatica. SI joint inflammation and the piriformis muscle irritate the nerve further down its length and create similar pain, just with a different starting point. "True" sciatica is characterized by a sharp pain that radiates from the lower back into the buttocks and legs, sometimes as far down as the foot. Treating this kind of sciatica may require chiropractic care, physical therapy and spinal decompression treatments. SI joint dysfunction and piriformis syndrome create similar pain, but the pain may be worst at the joint or hip. These conditions benefit from physical therapy.

Pain in one side of your back could indicate muscle strain, SI joint dysfunction or sciatica. If the pain is sore or achy and for the most part localized, you likely have a muscle strain on one side of your back. If the pain is sharp and radiates, you can suspect either sciatica or the SI joint. With a little education, you may be able to resolve your back pain on our own. For more serious conditions, you can help your doctor arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

The mystique of technology as a fix for everything extends to back pain -- in particular, as spinal decompression therapy, an offering that has gained visibility as among the latest in spine care (along with laser treatment -- this article applies to that approach, too).

The method involves a mechanical device intended to separate vertebrae and thereby to relieve pain. This approach is a higher-technology variation on a simpler method, inversion therapy, which involves a kind of treatment table that, by anchoring the user's ankles and turning upside down, uses gravity to separate vertebrae.

Both methods are variations on traction, again, using mechanical force to separate vertebrae. The premise of all three methods, spinal decompression therapy, inversion therapy, and traction, is that vertebrae are too close together and need separation. That premise is good as far as it goes -- but let's look deeper. Why do vertebrae get too close together?

Understand that vertebrae are linked together not only by discs and ligaments, but by muscles that control spinal alignment. When those muscles tighten, vertebral alignment changes; twists, curvature changes, and compression of neighboring vertebrae result. Muscles pull vertebrae closer together; the discs push the vertebrae apart.

Muscle tightness of this sort is supposed to be intermittent and temporary, as required by the demands of movement and lifting; muscles are supposed to relax (decrease their resting tone) when these demands end. However, when, for reasons related to injury and stress, this tightness becomes habituated (i.e., quasi-permanent), problems (i.e., back pain) result: nerve root compression, bulging discs, facet joint irritation, and muscle fatigue (soreness) and spasm.

This habituation is a muscular behavior (postural reflex pattern) learned by and stored in the brain, the master control center for all muscles. Learning is a matter of memory; when either prolonged nervous tension, repetitive movements, or violent injury occur, the memory of these influences displaces the memory of free movement and habituation results; people forget what free movement feels like and forget how to move freely. They fall into the grip of the memory of tension.

Muscles obey the nervous system, with all but the most primitive reflexes stored in the brain as learned action patterns that control all movement. There is no muscle memory other than what is stored in the brain; muscle memory is brain memory.

Knowing that, consider approaches that mechanically stretch muscles or pull vertebrae apart. What do they do to habituated muscular behavior? to the memory of tension? The answer: they temporarily induce muscular relaxation but do not restore the memory of normal tension and movement, which is acquired "learn-by-doing." We are genetically designed to return to our familiar movement patterns once outside influences end; we return to our memory of how we have learned to move and hold ourselves. Shortly after the end of therapy, our familiar movement behavior and muscular tensions come back because you can't change learned reflex patterns stored in the brain by stretching muscles; you can only retrain those reflex patterns by new learning of movement. If you want a lasting change, that's what you have to do.

So, the typical experience of relief after manipulative therapies lasts hours or days.

You know for yourself whether this is true of your experience; now you know why.

Here's a question: How could you relearn free movement?

The answer has two steps:

(1) Unlearn the habituated pattern of muscular tension.
(2) Relearn free movement.

The process involves recovering the ability to feel in control of the involved musculature in movement; it's a learn-by-doing process, not a mental process, only, but a process that involves both mind and body.

Technically speaking, it involves following instructions for activating specific muscles through specific movements and then, in a gradual, controlled way, decreasing the muscular/movement action to recover control over the full range of effort and of motion. Clients are instructed in certain specifics of movement that magnify the effects beyond those ordinarily achievable through familiar techniques, such as progressive relaxation.

Much like the name implies, a frozen shoulder is a condition that inhibits movement of the shoulder and causes serious mobility restriction. Often referred to in the medical community as adhesive capsulitis, a shoulder that is "frozen" is typically caused by an injury that then leads to pain and a lack of use.

Generally people between the ages of 40 and 70 are more prone to developing a frozen shoulder. Also, those who have been in a car accident, suffer from diabetes, and have heart disease are more susceptible to developing this medical problem.

Adhesive Capsulitis Symptoms

Stiffness is the most common sign of a shoulder that is frozen. A patient may exhibit tightness and an inability to carry out even the simplest movements. Stiffness, pain and discomfort are more prominent at night after use and aggravation of the shoulder during the day. Another primary sign that the patient has a frozen shoulder is the inability to raise the arm, even slightly, without pain or stiffness.

Adhesive Capsulitis Diagnosis

While a doctor may suspect a frozen shoulder through physical examination it can be difficult to diagnose through the use of x-rays or scans. An x-ray won't reveal that the shoulder is frozen, but having the patient perform movements or exercises may reveal immediately that there is a problem.

Treatment Options for a Shoulder that is Frozen

The goal of treatment for adhesive capsulitis is to restore joint movement and mobility, while reducing shoulder pain. Treatment may begin conservatively and increase when little to no relief is provided. Treatment typically begins with the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, therapeutic heat application and gentle stretching exercises to increase lubrication in the shoulder.

If the symptoms do not subside, physical therapy may be prescribed, as well as at-home exercises. When these measures provide no relief, steroid injections directly into the glenohumeral joint may be ordered.

When the condition is severe and none of the conservative treatments seem to work, an orthopedic surgeon may require arthroscopy. This procedure consists of small incisions and the insertion of a tiny camera and tools to see and cut the remaining adhesions that may be causing pain and immobility. This type of procedure can be highly effective in those who have suffered from frozen shoulder for long periods of time and are in a lot of pain as a result.

Your orthopedic specialist can assist you in coming up with the best-suited treatment plan for your condition. The goal is mobility and an improved quality of life for you and your shoulder.

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS - AUXILIARY TREATMENT - YOGA

There is a strong tendency for the symptoms of cervical spondylosis to subside spontaneously, though they may persist for several months and the structural changes are clearly permanent.

Treatment is thus aimed at assisting natural resolution of temporarily inflamed or edematous soft tissues.

In mild cases physiotherapy may be recommended (radiant heal, short wave diathermy, massage, traction or exercises).

In the more severe cases judicious use of a close-fitting cervical collar for supporting the neck (it should be worn for 1-3 months depending on progress) and rest to the neck is advisable.

In the exceptional cases in which the spinal cord is constricted, decompression from front or by laminectomy may be required and thereafter it may be advisable to fuse the affected segments of the spinal column by a bone-grafting operation.

Physiotherapy

Once the neck problem is diagnosed, treatment can be decided.

In most neck conditions, pressure on the neck causes pain and pain causes muscle spasms, setting up a cycle. The best way to break the cycle and stop the pain is to relieve both pressure and spasms. There are various approaches to achieve each of these goals. Many of them require daily applications, so they must be done by the patient at home.

Relief of pressure:

Lying down is perhaps the simplest way to relieving the neck of its heavy load. Bed rest gives the muscles a chance to recover. The duration of bed rest should be advised by the physiotherapist.

Not only is spinal molding a relaxing way to start and end your body, it also reshapes your spine into its natural curves. Begin by lying on the floor or g on a firm mattress with rolled-up towels under your neck and low back. Your legs may be straight or bent. Lie in this position for 15-20 minutes.

Cervical collar helps the neck muscles support the head, it also reduces neck mobility. The therapist may prescribe wearing of a cervical collar for the acute phase of neck problems and the duration of wearing it. The collar should fit snugly around the neck and be long enough to support the chin. Men can minimize irritation from the collar by shaving frequently.

Extension and flexion is especially helpful when you feel your neck and back stiffen. While sitting, place your hands on your knees and push down. Slowly arch your back and bend your back backward. Then slowly slump forward. Repeat this exercise 10 times.

Side bends increase your side-to-side flexibility. Start by placing your fingers together and pointing your elbows outward. Bend at the waist, tilting your body to one side as far as you can. Then bend your head and neck in the same direction. Repeat on your other side. Repeat this exercise 10 times.

This exercise increases the flexibility of your entire spine. To begin, place your fingers together and point your elbows outward. Slowly and gently twist at your waist, rotating your head and neck to the same side. Repeat toward the other side. Repeat this exercise 10 times.

Spondylolysis is a term that refers to a fracture of one of the vertebral bodies in the spinal column. The first part of the word "spondylo" means spine, and the second part of the word "lysis" means fracture. The question of who gets spondylolysis is one of a repetitive trauma to the vertebral body that results in a stress fracture. The repetitive trauma to the vertebral body comes from activities that involve hyperextension. An example of this activity would be a football lineman who over and over again moves from a position where he's on all fours up to a hyperextended position with his back in order to defend the football line. Additional activities that often end up with a spondylolysis include cheerleading, gymnastics, and rowers. The typical age range for spondylolysis occurring includes the teenage years and moving into college age individuals.

The diagnosis is made from a combination of:

1. Physical examination and history


2. Imaging studies such as x-rays and MRIs or maybe a CAT scan.


3. Potentially a bone scan

It may be necessary to obtain a bone scan (dexa scan) as the exam and imaging studies may not definitively show the fracture. There is one particular view that is an oblique x-ray of the lumbar spine that is the best for seeing the fracture. The finding of where the fracture is seen is referred to as the "Scotty Dog" view and one can see a line across the "neck of the Scotty Dog" which is the anatomical area known as the pars interarticularis.

In order to see if the spondylolysis is actively trying to heal the bone scan may help there too. If it lights up on a bone scan the you know that the patient's bone is actively trying to heal itself. The area that is undergoing a stress fracture is called the pars interarticularis.

Treatment for spondylolysis involves activity restrictions and bracing. If the patient is a football player football should be restricted for a time period to allow the fracture the ability to heal. This can be very difficult for players who are attempting to become high level athletes that are restricted by the pain from the spondylolysis.

On top of that now you tell that patient not to compete in his or her chosen field of expertise. So compliance can be difficult in this population. In addition to activity restrictions and lumbar bracing, the patient may be given anti-inflammatory medication along with Tylenol in order to alleviate his or her pain.

One of the ways to see if the fracture has healed is first and foremost if the patient's pain is alleviated, but also the bone scan can be repeated see if it no longer "lights up". If the fracture has healed, there will be no uptake into the fracture area of the injected material as it attaches to bone that is healing only.

Unfortunately there's no guarantee that the spondylolysis fracture pain will not come back even if treatment is successful the first time. Therefore it is necessary to be aware that the pain may come back and not to go back too soon to the high level activities but to gradually work one's way back up into those levels.

Exactly what Is Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Spinal Decompression Therapy is an FDA approved spinal disc rehabilitation method to gently stretch the spine and decompress the discs. This mechanical decompression works by slowly and gently stretching the spine, which takes the pressure off compressed discs and vertebrae.

Cycles of decompression and partial relaxation are used in the therapy over a series of visits. Over time, this enhances the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids from the outside of the discs to the inside. This in turn enables torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal.

Traditional traction of the "static" type has been use for some time. That means that steady pressure is applied and then released. Though that can help, the difficulty is that there can be side effects such as muscular spasms.

Powered Intermittent Traction

The primary difference between static traction and this newer therapy is that the pressure applied is intermittent, in other words it is put on then subsequently released in cycles. This prevents the potential for muscle spasms and enables nutrients to be flushed into your discs.

This means that if you have a herniated disc, for instance, fluid can be drawn back into the disc, thereby reversing the cause of the pain to a certain extent.

Exactly how Much Does It Cost And What Are The Effects?

As with most back therapies it depends on the individual. You should expect to pay between $35 and $100 per session but you will require a number of treatments, normally anywhere from 20 to 50 sessions. Many people have reported quick benefits, while others have needed 20 sessions or more to experience a reduction in pain. Some of the patients have not gotten any benefit from the therapy at all.

There is Still Controversy

Although backbone decompression apparatuses are FDA authorized, presently there remains little clinical data that this remedy in fact succeeds. Studies have been few and far between and have displayed little to absolutely no actual measured advantage. A number of providers of spinal decompression therapy have even been pursued in the courts for making unsubstantiated claims.

As a result, few insurance companies are ready to pay for this therapy. In spite of that, these machines are starting to be extremely popular inside the workplaces of chiropractors and other back professionals. A number of individuals are actually purchasing their own at a cost of several thousand dollars.

The human backbone (spine) is a very complex biological structure. The spine is composed of 26 bone discs that are called "vertebrae". The complex mechanisms and structures of the spinal column allow us to bend forward, backwards, and side to side. Additionally, the spine carries an electrical system called "nerves" that transmit complex electrochemical messages to our organs, muscles, other skeleton bone structures (arms, hands, feet), and it is all wired back into the brain, our biological computer system.

There are a wide variety of injuries and ailments that can affect the proper functioning of the spine. Infections, injuries, and tumors can lead to different spinal problems, such as spinal stenosis, a herniated disc, arthritis, scoliosis, compression fractures, and many others. In this article, we will focus on a single spinal injury, spinal stenosis, and how the pain from this condition may be improved by chiropractic care.

What is spinal stenosis?

In its simplest definition, spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column which puts pressure on the spinal nerves. Spinal stenosis mainly affects those over the age of 50 and the elderly population in general.

As some people age, the spinal joints become arthritic and form bone spurs. The ligaments thicken, and the discs may collapse and protrude into the spinal canal. Since there is a limited amount of room within the spinal canal, these intrusions put pressure on the nerves. As a consequence, there is often back and leg pain, which can be made worse by standing or walking.

Symptoms of spinal stenosis are varied and may include pain in the neck or back, pain in the legs and arms, numbness, weakness, or foot problems. Traditional allopathic medical treatment involves surgery, medications, braces, and physical therapy.

In some of the most severe cases, medication is not sufficient to relieve pain, and epidural steroid injections are used to suppress the nerve-pain impulses. When even steroid injections don't work, surgical decompression may be recommended. Both of these treatments are invasive and potentially dangerous. This is why chiropractic treatment of spinal stenosis may be a better option.

Since the main cause of pain in spinal stenosis is the compression and narrowing of the spinal canal pressing in on the nerves, effective chiropractic treatment would involve manipulating the spine to open up the canals to allow for a natural increased blood flow and less pressure on the nerves. Special spinal decompression manipulation techniques are employed by the skilled chiropractor to relieve pressure on nerves and blood vessels.

Additionally an advanced technique called non-surgical spinal decompression therapy may also be may helpful. This computerized treatment produces negative pressure within the disc, which gives the patient's body an opportunity to heal naturally.

An added advantage to chiropractic treatment is its cost effectiveness and safety. The risk of injury associated with chiropractic care is exceedingly low. Many thousands of people have obtained relief from overwhelming spinal and back pain, using chiropractic treatment.

In fact, there are many reported instances of people with spinal stenosis, who after repeated failures with traditional therapies, finally found pain relief when they discovered chiropractic treatment for spinal stenosis!

For many individuals, the back may be their so-called "Achilles Heel". For them, pain in the area of the back may be related to an increase in emotional stress. Other causes are poor posture, improper footwear and walking habits, improper lifting, slouching when sitting, and sleeping on a mattress that is too soft.

Most back problems are associated with long-term habits that eventually result in an acute attack. Other causes of backache are arthritis, rheumatism, bone disease, a herniated disc, or an abnormal curvature of the spine. Kidney and bladder problems or female pelvic disorders may also produce backache. Fractures are rarely the cause of back ailments. Below are some recommendations for treatment.

VAX-D Spinal Decompression

Neck and Back Pain injuries can be treated using a sophisticated vertebral decompression system known as the Vertebral Axial Decompression or "VAX-D", a method that has been shown to be successful in over 86% of patients. VAX-D is a patented, non-surgical therapy clinically proven to be a successful conservative treatment for such conditions as chronic low back pain and sciatica, caused by bulging, herniated or degenerative discs, and facet syndrome. Even post-surgical patients and those suffering from stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal) have reported a significant pain relief from VAX-D treatments. These treatments are fully automated and specifically designed for each individual patient. This computerized system achieves decompression by minutely adjusting the pull, hold and release series that are repeated up to fifteen times over a 15 to 45-minute time period. Each series goes through a decompression phase, retraction phase, and a rest phase, allowing the tension to be directed to the injured disc, and achieves a negative pressure within the disc that creates a vacuum effect that draws nutrients and fluids into the injured area, thus promoting repair. This motion-controlled biofeedback system automatically administers the tension without injury and allows the area of injury to relax completely. In this way VAX-D intervention facilitates the body to repair damage, regenerate new tissue, attain relief from pain, and thus, return patients to their normal activities.

Hako-Med Electromedical Pain Relief

New Hope Medical Center (NHMC) uses an internationally patented technology, known as Hako-Med, for pain relief. Hako-Med is the most advance tool in the field of bioelectric medicine. For example, it has been proven to eliminate over 80% of pain in osteoarthritis. Hako-med essentially works by using a combination of AM and FM radio wave frequencies, which neutralize pain and stimulate repair by resonating with the area of injury. This non-invasive modality is safe, effective, and easy to use and has no negative side effects. Whereas a typical TENS unit creates a distraction from pain, Hako-Med actually increases energy in the body to promote healing and recovery from injury. This sophisticated technology, developed with German engineering, allows the physician the choice of 200 pre-programmed protocols or the ability to develop customized protocols based on specific NHMC patient parameters. The good news for NHMC patients is that almost all insurance carriers cover this excellent pain treatment. Clinical indications and usages of Hako-Med include chronic pain, muscular dysfunction (e.g., atrophy, range of motion limitations, spasms, weakness, etc.), peripheral nerve pain, poor circulation, post-traumatic injuries, and post-surgical pain and prevention of thrombophlebitis. Hako-Med can be used in conjunction with, in alternation to, or independently from any other therapy. A typical treatment session can last anywhere from 10 to 50 minutes. When used alone, the recommended protocol for Hako-Med is three times weekly for 4 to 8 weeks. However, when used in combination with other therapies, Hako-Med works synergistically to accelerate the healing response and reduce recovery time.

Additional Recommendations for treatment and prevention

1. For acute pain, alternate ice and moist heat applications every 15-30 minutes to keep the swelling down and minimize the injury. Once the initial pain has subsided, Chiropractic or Osteopathic treatment may help to insure proper alignment of the vertebral spine.

2. For chronic back pain, strengthen the back with exercises.Strengthening exercises for your back, known as "Back Exercises", are available for home use. Prior to exercising, warm up your muscles by walking, cycling, or swimming. Exercises should then be performed in both directions (such as flexion and extension) and in one continuous motion. Make them a part of your daily routine. At the conclusion of your exercises, take a hot bath or shower for 10 minutes. A list of specific exercises can be ordered at the end of this recording.

3. As a rule, never lift heavy objects! Lift light objects by bending your legs, keeping your back straight, and then straighten your legs. Do not make quick, jerky movements from the waist or hip. Move only in one direction at a time by turning your whole body in a smooth movement.

4. Do not slouch! When walking, imagine yourself being pulled up and forward by a string attached to your breastbone (e.g. like a puppet on a string).

5. Sleep on a hard, preferably orthopedic, mattress or place a board under your own mattress. When sleeping, sleep on your back or on your side with your legs pulled up in the fetal position to reduce the pressure on your back. Upon arising in the morning, roll over on your side, let your legs come off the bed first, and then push yourself up--avoid doing a "sit-up."

6. When watching long hours of television, lie comfortably on a hard surface supported by pillows under your neck and in the small of your back or sit up straight in a good firm chair with your knees above your hips and your feet flat on the ground.

7. For back pain, use moist heat, such as a wet cloth around a hot water bottle. This increases circulation to the painful area and relaxes the spasm that caused the pain.

8. Supplements to consider include: Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, and Bioflavonoids and B-complex for stress relief; minerals such as magnesium aspartate as a natural muscle relaxant, zinc and manganese for tissue repair. DL-Phenylalanine, an amino acid, helps with alleviation of pain. The herb horsetail (e.g., Silica) aids in calcium absorption and white willow bark is a natural anti-inflammatory.

9. Homeopathics for back pain are: Arnica (especially if the pain results from acute trauma), Bryonia (if the pain is worse with movement), Rhus Tox. (if pain is worse after exposure to cold and after having been immobile), Ruta Graveolens (for lower lumbar pain made worse by sitting and lying down), and Calcarea Fluorica (when pain is burning, better with movement and worse after rest). Combination remedies such as Traumeel by BHI and Body Healing by Bioenergetics are excellent. Homeopathics are available in creams and oils for topical application as well.

10. Get prolotherapy. This involves the injection of a natural solution (e.g., dextrose or saline) with anesthetic into the areas of the ligaments that hold the bones together and the tendons that attach the muscles to the bones. This, in turn, sets in motion a healing response to stimulate the body to develop new tissues in weakened areas and hold the joints together more firmly. It also helps bulging discs to return by strengthening the posterior vertebral attachments, which weakness makes a disc more prone to protrude. This approach is usually given weekly and can help to avoid surgery by stimulating the body to do its own repair.

11. Gentle relaxation and rejuvenation therapy through use of a medical spa with steam sauna, infrared sauna, and/or contrast shower.

Reasons to seek medical advice for back pain include: pain that comes on suddenly for no apparent reason, pain that is accompanied by chest pain, pain that lasts more than three days in an acute attack or more than two weeks without relief in chronic cases, or pain that radiates down your leg. To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to NHMC or call (866) HEAL-NOW!

Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain complexities
Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain are the 2 most common forms of pain in the human anatomy, yet the cause of either can be complex at times due to so many different causes. One of those is often very difficult to diagnose, frequently overlooked, and is therefore labeled as a secret or hidden cause. That hidden cause or secret source of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain is known as Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome. Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome, is a chronic pain syndrome or condition directly related to pain in the facet joints.

What is a Facet Joint and what is Articulation?
A Facet Joint is a posterior spinal joint that interfaces two adjacent upper and lower vertebrae together. Also known as a Zygapophyseal Joint, the Facet Joint provides for motion known as "Articulation" within defined ranges of motion. The articulation of a Facet Joint includes bending forward: flexion, bending backward: extension, and twisting: Cervical or Thoracolumbar rotation. The joint is stretched and unloaded during flexion and compressed or loaded upon extension. Facet Joints are also joint range limiters to prevent damage to spinal discs from excessive range of motion movements.

What is a Synovial Joint?
Zygapophyseal joints are Synovial Joints- the most common joint in the human body. A Synovial Joint is characterized by having a joint capsule, joint capsule fluid-synovial fluid to lubricate the inside of the joint, and cartilage on the outside of the joint between the upper and lower adjacent surfaces of each vertebra to allow a smooth gliding movement.

What is Facet Arthritis?
Facet Arthritis or Facet Arthropathy is a degenerative arthritis-facet joint inflammation that can be one of the syndromes of Zygapophyseal Joint Pain. Both chronic pain conditions can be caused by wear and tear, degeneration of the cartilage surfaces, joint capsule or associated vertebral discs, injury or trauma, incorrect posture-excessive forward head posture, or abnormal spinal curvature such as Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back.

Factors affecting Joint Movement
The Zygapophyseal Joint must be able to move smoothly without restriction. Zygapophyseal Joint Pain is often experienced when the joint becomes "stuck" or "fixated" in the open or closed position or in the partially open or partially closed position. The Zygapophyseal Joint Pain dysfunction can cause the muscles surrounding the problem to become hypertonic-extremely tight in order to "splint" or support the problem. Conversely, the musculature that surrounds the joint could have a problem that is causing the joint to become stuck open or closed, resulting in Facet Joint Pain.

What are some Facet Joint Pain causes?
Some causes of Zygapophyseal joint pain are: Wear and tear, Degeneration of Cartilage surfaces, Joint Capsule or associated Vertebral Discs, Injury or Trauma, Incorrect posture, Excessive forward head posture, Forward Pelvic Rotation, Abnormal spinal curvature, Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back, Scoliosis-Lateral Lumbar spinal curvature.

What are the Lower Back Facet Syndrome Symptoms?
Lower back facet joint pain symptoms include lower back pain or tenderness, increased pain upon side bending or twisting or arching the lower back or torso, deep dull aching pain that moves to the buttocks or the back of the thighs, and/or stiffness or difficulty with certain movements, such as standing up straight or getting up out of a chair. The initial onset of pain might be related to a rotational spinal injury or a spinal injury involving hyperextension of the spine.

What are the Neck-Cervical Facet Syndrome Symptoms?
Zygapophyseal Joint pain neck symptoms include Neck Pain, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, and/or difficulty side bending or rotating the head. Ensure that the Facet Joint Pain Assessment clearly indicates the pain scale for the associated problems. Find out if there is a history of whiplash or any other kind of neck injury.

Is the Facet Joint moving freely, or is movement restricted and if so, how?
That is one of the most important questions that needs to be answered. There is a special test known as the spring test which can test for basic joint movement.

What Exercises will help to relieve my Facet Joint Pain?
If excessive lower back curvature - Lumbar Lordosis, and hypertonic hip flexors and hypertonic lower back musculature is causing compression of the lumbar facet joints, stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce joint compression and help prevent joint fixation will be required to reverse the postural distortion that has occurred. If the cervical (neck) spine is affected by excessive forward head posture and hypertonic neck musculature, there are strengthening and stretching

As a Chiropractor in Plano, Texas, I hear a lot of misinformation from my patients in regards to herniated discs and disc degeneration. This led me to write this article about some of the myths and truths in regards to herniated discs. I truly believe that there are a lot of assumed myths about disc injuries which add considerably to the diagnostic nocebo effect of a suspected bulging disc. As a Doctor of Chiropractic I feel it's our duty to provide accurate diagnosis and treatment for patients that have these issues. Patients need the facts and solutions so that they can seek optimal health instead of waiting until it becomes a crisis and they have a worse problem on their hands. I'm amazed at how many times people wait until they've exhausted all the "do it yourself" treatments and remedies before they finally come to realization that they need professional help. So let's look at some of the myths and facts that you might have heard.

Myths:

* All herniations are painful.

* Only older people suffer from disc degeneration.

* Most herniated discs require surgery.

* All herniated discs cause pinched nerves.

* All herniations are the result of injury.

* If you have a herniated disc, then that's where your back pain is coming from.

Facts you should know about herniated discs and disc degeneration:

* Herniated discs can induce pain in some cases, but with proper treatment, will typically resolve themselves over 2-3 months of time.

* Degenerated discs have abnormal blood supply.

* Degenerated discs have more nerve supply than normal discs.

* Range of motion is reduced in degenerated discs.

* Opting for major back surgery for a herniated disc can possibly lead to some of the worst medicinal results you can experience. Surgery might also lead to irreversible functional loss of the disc and physical restrictions.

* The vast majority of herniated discs go entirely undetected, since they produce little or no pain and/or related symptoms. Truthfully, most herniations are found by accident during routine testing for an unrelated condition.

* As we age, the spine degenerates and this is a leading contributor to disc problems. Therefore, this is merely a fact of life and should be expected for most people.

What is the chiropractic approach to conservative care of the disc?

First I want to address a big misconception. As a Chiropractor I don't attempt to "pop a disc back in place" with sharp adjusting or manipulative techniques. It is rare, that I use traditional chiropractic adjustments for bulging discs or discs that have compressed. Most disc problems are treated with a gentle program of low-force techniques using spinal decompression. I use the Pro-Adjuster system and it does a marvelous job on disc injuries.

Another misconception people have about chiropractic care, is that the treatment process is a quick process. Rather, chiropractors who treat disc conditions incorporate low force adjustments in a methodical process based on evaluation and treatments over a period of time.

When I prepare a program of chiropractic care for patients with disc problems, I will continue to monitor their progress with probing questions and verifying what is and isn't working for them. There must be consistent evaluations using neurological and chiropractic tests to compare with my initial findings in order to successfully resolve my clients back issues.