Back Clinic Chiropractic Spine Care Team. The spine is designed with three natural curves; the neck curvature or cervical spine, the upper back curvature or thoracic spine, and the lower back curvature or lumbar spine, all of which come together to form a slight shape when viewed from the side. The spine is an essential structure as it helps support the upright posture of humans, it provides the body with the flexibility to move and it plays the crucial role of protecting the spinal cord. Spinal health is important in order to ensure the body is functioning to its fullest capacity. Dr. Alex Jimenez strongly indicates across his collection of articles on spine care, how to properly support a healthy spine. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritis that causes changes in posture that occur over time. Can exercise and maintaining spinal alignment help improve posture problems?
Ankylosing Spondylitis Posture Improvement
Ankylosing spondylitis/AS is an autoimmune arthritis that primarily affects the spine. It can also spread to other joints of the body and affect the internal organs. Back pain problems are a common side effect of the condition and depending on the severity of damage to the spine, it can have a serious impact on posture.
Affects Posture
The condition usually first affects the sacroiliac joints at the bottom of the spine where they attach to the pelvis. As the condition progresses it works its way to the upper spine. The spine consists of 26 vertebrae/bones stacked on top of each other.
Line up the ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles in a straight line.
Squeeze the shoulder blades together and down toward the back pockets.
Relax the arms at the sides.
Look straight ahead.
Tuck the chin back slightly.
Sitting
The natural curves of the spine need support for proper posture when sitting. Try these tips when at a desk or at a table:
Position the height of the chair so the hips and knees are bent at 90-degree angles.
Place the feet flat on the floor or use a footstool based on chair height.
Place a lumbar support pillow or rolled-up towel behind the lower back.
Position the screen monitor at eye level to keep the upper back straight.
Keep the keyboard and mouse close to the body to prevent overreaching which can increase the rounding of the shoulders and upper back.
Lying Down
Ankylosing spondylitis can make lying down uncomfortable. To support the spine while lying down try to:
Sleep on a semi-firm mattress or type like memory foam to conform to the body.
Place a pillow between the knees to maintain a straight spine when lying on the side.
Use a specialized pillow to prevent placing the upper back in a rounded position.
Posture Exercises
For individuals with ankylosing spondylitis stretching and strengthening exercises can help improve body posture. Individuals are recommended to talk to their healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program.
Chin Tucks
Sit up straight.
Squeeze the shoulder blades together.
Rest the arms at your sides.
Look straight ahead, pull the chin back and in until the stretch is felt along the muscles of the neck.
Hold for three to five seconds and relax.
Repeat 10 times.
Corner Stretch
Stand facing a corner.
Raise the arms to shoulder height.
Place one forearm flat against each wall.
Stagger the feet.
Slowly shift weight over the front leg and lean in toward the corner.
Stop once the stretch is felt across the chest.
Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and relax.
Repeat three times.
Scapular Squeezes
Sit up straight with arms resting at the sides.
Squeeze the shoulder blades together like they are holding an object between them.
Hold for three seconds and relax.
Repeat 10 times.
Maintaining spinal alignment will help decrease back pain that occurs with AS.
Targeted exercises can help stretch tight muscles and strengthen the muscles responsible for maintaining spinal alignment.
Maintaining healthy posture when sitting, standing, and sleeping can help prevent deformities in the spine.
Regular physical activity can help combat stiffness and help maintain overall strength.
For an individualized exercise program, see a physical therapist or chiropractor on incorporating posture exercises to help prevent complications from developing.
Arthritis
References
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Ankylosing spondylitis.
De Nunzio, A. M., Iervolino, S., Zincarelli, C., Di Gioia, L., Rengo, G., Multari, V., Peluso, R., Di Minno, M. N., & Pappone, N. (2015). Ankylosing spondylitis and posture control: the role of visual input. BioMed research international, 2015, 948674. doi.org/10.1155/2015/948674
How can spinal decompression reduce pain while restoring spinal flexibility in many individuals with lumbar degenerative disorders?
Introduction
As we naturally age, so do our spines and spinal discs, as the natural fluids and nutrients stop hydrating the discs and cause them to degenerate. When disc degeneration starts to affect the spine, it can cause pain-like symptoms in the lumbar regions, which then develop into lower back pain or other musculoskeletal disorders that affect the lower extremities. When disc degeneration starts to affect the lumbar region, many individuals will notice that they are not as flexible as when they were younger. The physical signs of straining their muscles from improper lifting, falling, or carrying heavy objects can cause muscle strain and pain. When this happens, many individuals will treat the pain with home remedies, which can provide temporary relief but can aggravate it more when people make repetitive motions to their lumbar spine, which can result in injuries. Fortunately, non-surgical treatments that can help slow down the process of disc degeneration while rehydrating the spinal disc. Today’s article looks at why disc degeneration affects lumbar flexibility and how treatments like spinal decompression reduce disc degeneration while restoring lumbar flexibility. Coincidentally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatment plans to reduce the disc degeneration process and provide pain relief. We also inform them that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with disc degeneration and help restore lumbar flexibility. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions to our associated medical providers about their symptoms correlating with body pain in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
How Does DDD Affect Lumbar Flexibility?
Have you been experiencing stiffness in your back when you wake up in the morning? Do you feel muscle aches and pains when bending down and picking up heavy objects? Or do you feel radiating pain in your legs and back? When many individuals are in excruciating pain, many don’t often realize that their lower back pain could also be associated with their spinal disc degenerating. Since the spinal disc and the body can degenerate naturally, it can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. DDD, or degenerative disc disease, is a common disabling condition that can greatly impact the musculoskeletal system and is the main cause of individuals missing out on their daily activities. (Cao et al., 2022) When normal or traumatic factors begin to cause repetitive motions to the spine, it can cause the spinal disc to be compressed and, over time, degenerate. This, in turn, causes the spine to be less flexible and becomes a socio-economic challenge.
When disc degeneration starts to cause spinal inflexibility, it can lead to the development of low back pain. Since low back pain is a common health concern, it can affect many individuals worldwide, as disc degeneration is a common factor. (Samanta et al., 2023) Since disc degeneration is a multi-factorial disorder, the musculoskeletal and organ systems are also affected as it can cause referred pain to different body locations. Luckily, many individuals can find the treatment they are looking for, as many seek relief from the many pain issues that disc degeneration has caused.
Lumbar Spine Injuries In Athletes- Video
Since disc degeneration is a multi-factorial cause of disability, it can become a primary source of back pain. When normal factors contribute to back pain, it likely correlates with disc degeneration and can cause cellular, structural, compositional, and mechanical changes throughout the spine. (Ashinsky et al., 2021) However, many individuals seeking treatment can look into non-surgical therapies as they are cost-effective and safe on the spine. Non-surgical treatments are safe and gentle on the spine as they can be customizable to the person’s pain and combined with other treatment forms. One of the non-surgical treatments is spinal decompression, which uses gentle traction on the spine to rehydrate the spinal disc from degeneration and help kick-start the body’s natural healing process. The video above shows how disc degeneration is correlated with disc herniation and how these treatments can reduce its pain-like effects on the spine.
Spinal Decompression Reducing DDD
When many individuals are going in for treatment for disc degeneration, many will often try spinal decompression as it is affordable. Many healthcare professionals will assess the individual by creating a personalized plan before entering the traction machine. Many individuals will get a CT scan to assess the changes caused by DDD. (Dullerud & Nakstad, 1994) This determines how severe the disc space is. The traction machine for spinal decompression determines the optimal treatment duration, frequency, and mode of administrating traction to the spine to reduce DDD. (Pellecchia, 1994) Additionally, the efficiency of traction from spinal decompression can help many people with low back and provide relief. (Beurskens et al., 1995)
References
Ashinsky, B., Smith, H. E., Mauck, R. L., & Gullbrand, S. E. (2021). Intervertebral disc degeneration and regeneration: a motion segment perspective. Eur Cell Mater, 41, 370-380. doi.org/10.22203/eCM.v041a24
Beurskens, A. J., de Vet, H. C., Koke, A. J., Lindeman, E., Regtop, W., van der Heijden, G. J., & Knipschild, P. G. (1995). Efficacy of traction for non-specific low back pain: a randomised clinical trial. Lancet, 346(8990), 1596-1600. doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91930-9
Cao, G., Yang, S., Cao, J., Tan, Z., Wu, L., Dong, F., Ding, W., & Zhang, F. (2022). The Role of Oxidative Stress in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2022, 2166817. doi.org/10.1155/2022/2166817
Dullerud, R., & Nakstad, P. H. (1994). CT changes after conservative treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Acta Radiol, 35(5), 415-419. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8086244
Pellecchia, G. L. (1994). Lumbar traction: a review of the literature. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 20(5), 262-267. doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1994.20.5.262
Samanta, A., Lufkin, T., & Kraus, P. (2023). Intervertebral disc degeneration-Current therapeutic options and challenges. Front Public Health, 11, 1156749. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1156749
Can healthcare professionals help individuals with spinal pain by incorporating non-surgical spinal decompression to restore mobility?
Introduction
Many individuals don’t realize that putting unwanted pressure on their spines can lead to chronic pain within their spinal discs that is affecting their spinal mobility. This usually happens with demanding jobs requiring individuals to carry heavy objects, step wrong, or be physically inactive, which causes the surrounding back muscles to be overstretched and leads to referred pain that affects the upper and lower body portions. This can cause individuals to go to their primary doctors to get treated for back pain. This leads to them missing out on their busy work schedules and paying a high price to get treated. Back pain correlating with spinal issues can be a huge problem and make them feel miserable. Fortunately, numerous clinical options are cost-effective and personalized to many individuals dealing with spinal pain that is causing them to find the relief they deserve. Today’s article focuses on why spinal pain affects many people and how spinal decompression can help reduce spinal pain and restore spinal mobility. Coincidentally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatment plans to reduce spinal pain affecting their backs. We also inform them that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with spinal issues in the body. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions to our associated medical providers about their symptoms correlating with body pain in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
Why Spinal Pain Is Affecting Many People?
Have you often experienced pain from your back muscles that seem to ache after bending down constantly to pick up objects? Do you or your loved ones feel muscle stiffness in the back and experience numbness in your upper or lower body portions? Or are you experiencing temporary relief after stretching your back muscles, only for the pain to return? Many individuals with back pain never realize that their pain is within their spinal column. Since the spine is an S-curve shape with three different regions in the body, the spinal discs within each spinal segment can become compressed and become misaligned over time. This causes degenerative changes within the spine and can cause the three different spinal regions to develop pain-like issues in the body. When several environmental factors start to be the causes of degeneration of the spinal discs, it can affect the spinal structure. It can become a strong influence affecting their function, predisposing the disc to injuries. (Choi, 2009) At the same time, this can cause a significant impact when getting treated due to its high cost and can start normal age-related changes that cause pathophysiological issues to the vertebral body. (Gallucci et al., 2005)
When many individuals are dealing with spinal pain associated with herniated discs, it can not only cause discomfort but also mimic other musculoskeletal disorders that can cause radiating pain to different locations in the body. (Deyo et al., 1990) This, in turn, causes individuals to suffer constantly and research various treatments to reduce the pain they are experiencing. When spinal pain affects most individuals, many will seek cost-effective therapies to ease the pain they are experiencing and to be mindful of the daily habits they adopt over time and correct them.
Spinal Decompression In-Depth- Video
Do you often feel constant muscle aches and pains in your body that are your general areas of complaint? Do you feel your muscles pull uncomfortably after lifting or carrying a heavy object? Or do you feel constant stress in your neck, shoulders, or back? When many individuals are dealing with general pain, they often assume that it is just back pain when it could be a spinal issue that can be the root cause of the pain they are experiencing. When this happens, many individuals opt for non-surgical treatments due to its cost-effectiveness and how it can be personalized depending on the severity of the pain. One of the non-surgical treatments is spinal decompression/traction therapy. The video above gives an in-depth look at how spinal decompression can help reduce spinal pain associated with low back pain. Spinal pain can increase with age and be provoked by extreme lumbar extension, so incorporating spinal decompression can help reduce pain in the upper and lower extremities. (Katz et al., 2022)
How Spinal Decompression Can Reduce Spinal Pain
When individuals develop spinal issues, spinal decompression can help restore the spine to its original position and help the body naturally heal itself. When something is out of place within the spine, it is important to naturally restore it to its proper place to allow the affected muscles to heal. (Cyriax, 1950) Spinal decompression uses gentle traction to pull the spinal joints to let the spinal disc back in its original position and help increase fluid intake back in the spine. When people start incorporating spinal decompression into their health and wellness routine, they can reduce their spinal pain after a few consecutive treatments.
Spinal Decompression Restoring Spinal Mobility
Spinal decompression can also be incorporated with other non-surgical treatments to restore spinal mobility. When pain specialists utilize spinal decompression within their practices, they can help treat various musculoskeletal conditions, including spinal disorders, to allow the individual to regain spinal mobility. (Pettman, 2007) At the same time, pain specialists can use mechanical and manual manipulation to reduce the pain the individual feels. When spinal decompression starts to use gentle traction on the spine, it can help minimize radical pain correlated with nerve entrapment, create negative pressure within the spinal sections, and relieve musculoskeletal disorders causing pain. (Daniel, 2007) When people start thinking more about their health and wellness to reduce their pain, spinal decompression can be the answer through a personalized plan and can help many individuals find the relief they deserve.
References
Choi, Y. S. (2009). Pathophysiology of degenerative disc disease. Asian Spine Journal, 3(1), 39-44. doi.org/10.4184/asj.2009.3.1.39
Daniel, D. M. (2007). Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media? Chiropr Osteopat, 15, 7. doi.org/10.1186/1746-1340-15-7
Deyo, R. A., Loeser, J. D., & Bigos, S. J. (1990). Herniated lumbar intervertebral disk. Ann Intern Med, 112(8), 598-603. doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-112-8-598
Gallucci, M., Puglielli, E., Splendiani, A., Pistoia, F., & Spacca, G. (2005). Degenerative disorders of the spine. Eur Radiol, 15(3), 591-598. doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2618-4
Katz, J. N., Zimmerman, Z. E., Mass, H., & Makhni, M. C. (2022). Diagnosis and Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Review. JAMA, 327(17), 1688-1699. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.5921
Back problems and discomfort symptoms are a common ailment that many types of healthcare providers diagnose and treat it. Can knowing a little about what each back pain specialist does and what they have to offer help in choosing a provider?
Back Pain Specialists
Nowadays individuals have options for treating back pain. Primary healthcare providers, general practitioners, pediatricians, and emergency room workers are usually the first to examine the injury or problem. If they are unable to properly diagnose or treat the injury, they will refer the individual to a specialist. Specialists include:
Osteopaths
Chiropractors
Orthopedists
Rheumatologists
Neurologists
Neurosurgeons.
They specialize in chronic conditions and diseases like arthritis or problems like herniated discs. Complementary and alternative providers treat individuals solely or with help from a care team. They look at the whole body and focus on improving overall function.
Family and General Practitioners
When neck or back pain begins a regular doctor that’s usually a family or general practitioner/GP or primary care provider PCP is a recommended place to start. They will:
Order diagnostic tests.
Recommend exercises and stretches.
Prescribe medication.
Refer the patient to a physical therapist or other back pain specialist.
However, studies suggest general providers can be uninformed and slow to adopt new back treatments. (Paul B. Bishop, Peter C. Wing. 2006) It is recommended to research possible treatment options, ask a lot of questions during an appointment, and ask or request a referral to a specialist.
Pediatricians
Pediatricians diagnose and treat children. They cover a wide range of issues including back problems and injuries. As with a general practitioner or primary care provider, a child’s pediatrician is the place to start. Depending on the child’s needs, they’ll refer them to the proper specialist.
Emergency Healthcare Providers
When there is serious neck or back trauma, individuals need to go to the emergency room. Trauma can include automobile collisions, sports accidents, work accidents, and/or personal home accidents. Someone with a possible spinal injury should not be moved. (W Yisheng, et al., 2007) Go to the ER if there is back pain with loss of bowel or bladder control, or the legs become progressively weaker. These are symptoms of an emergency condition known as cauda equina syndrome. (American Association of Neurological Surgeons. 2023)
Orthopedists
Orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons treat the musculoskeletal system, which includes:
Muscles
Bones
Joints
Connective tissues
Cartilage
Common orthopedic issues include:
Repetitive stress injuries
Sports injuries
Bursitis
Tendonitis
Ruptured discs
Nerve impingement
Scoliosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoarthritis
Orthopedics can overlap with other specialties. As orthopedists and rheumatologists both treat arthritis and orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons do some of the same procedures that include spinal fusions and discectomies.
Rheumatologists
A rheumatologist treats autoimmune, inflammatory, and musculoskeletal conditions that can include different types of arthritis, lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome. A primary care provider may refer a patient to a rheumatologist if they have symptoms that include:
Sacroiliitis – inflammation of the sacroiliac joint at the base of the spine.
Axial spondylosis – a form of spinal arthritis.
Axial spondylosis – spinal arthritis that causes the bones to fuse together.
Rheumatologists can also treat spinal stenosis or advanced osteoarthritis as they overlap with orthopedists.
Neurologists
A neurologist specializes in the function of the nervous system. They treat disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that include:
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Alzheimer’s disease
Chronic back or neck pain
They are experts in the origins of pain. (David Borsook. 2012) However, a neurologist does not perform spine surgery.
Neurosurgeons
A neurosurgeon specializes in nervous system surgical procedures that include the brain, spine, and spinal cord. However, neurosurgeons do not provide overall treatment for back pain because they are usually the last to be seen after exhausting all other treatment options.
Osteopaths
An osteopath is a licensed physician who practices medicine using conventional treatments and osteopathic manipulative medicine. They have the same education as an MD plus 500 hours of musculoskeletal system studies. (National Library of Medicine. 2022) They take the same exams and are licensed as an MD. Many osteopaths are primary care providers. For back pain, they will focus on:
Posture rehabilitation and training.
Stretching
Therapeutic massage
Spinal manipulation
The goal is to relieve pain and muscle tension, increase mobility, and improve musculoskeletal function.
Physiatrists
Physiatrists are holistic providers that focus on physical function. They can be thought of as a primary care provider plus a physical therapist. These back pain specialists provide rehabilitation for various types of conditions and injuries including:
Back pain
Sports injuries
Stroke
Often they will coordinate a team of specialists to develop a targeted treatment plan.
Chiropractor
Chiropractic is a hands-on alternative medicine. The goal is to restore neuromusculoskeletal function by realigning the spine to its proper form. They do this with spinal manipulations, non-surgical mechanical decompression, traction, and massage techniques. (Michael Schneider, et al., 2016)
The purpose of most chiropractic adjustments is to relax and retrain tight muscles and increase flexibility.
Chiropractic helps to relieve stiff muscles and restore range of motion.
Individuals may not be referred to a chiropractor if they:
Have loose-joints
Have connective tissue problems or conditions.
Have osteoporosis/thinning bones
All types of back pain specialists provide various forms of therapy that may be able to help.
Spinal Decompression in Depth
References
Bishop, P. B., & Wing, P. C. (2006). Knowledge transfer in family physicians managing patients with acute low back pain: a prospective randomized control trial. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 6(3), 282–288. doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2005.10.008
Yisheng, W., Fuying, Z., Limin, W., Junwei, L., Guofu, P., & Weidong, W. (2007). First aid and treatment for cervical spinal cord injury with fracture and dislocation. Indian journal of orthopaedics, 41(4), 300–304. doi.org/10.4103/0019-5413.36991
Schneider, M., Murphy, D., & Hartvigsen, J. (2016). Spine Care as a Framework for the Chiropractic Identity. Journal of chiropractic humanities, 23(1), 14–21. doi.org/10.1016/j.echu.2016.09.004
Individuals with fixed sagittal imbalance, a condition where the normal curve of the lower spine is greatly reduced or absent altogether that can cause pain and difficulty balancing. Can chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and exercise help improve the condition?
Fixed Sagittal Imbalance
The condition is commonly known as flat back syndrome and can be present at birth or can happen as a result of surgery or a medical condition.
Individuals with flat back syndrome position their head and neck too far forward.
A major symptom is difficulty standing for long periods of time.
Symptoms
The spine has two curves. The lumbar spine in the lower back and cervical spine in the neck curve inward. The thoracic spine in the upper back curves outward. The curves are part of the spine’s natural alignment. They help the body balance and maintain the center of gravity.
If these curves begin to disappear the body can have trouble and difficulty standing up straight.
The loss of curvature causes the head and neck to pitch forward, making it hard to walk and do regular normal activities.
A chiropractor and/or physical therapist can recommend exercises and other forms of treatment. (Won-Moon Kim, et al., 2021)
Life-Changing Chiropractic Relief
References
Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Flatback syndrome.
National Health Service. Common posture mistakes and fixes.
Lee, B. H., Hyun, S. J., Kim, K. J., Jahng, T. A., Kim, Y. J., & Kim, H. J. (2018). Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Severe Spinal Deformities. Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society, 61(2), 251–257. doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2017.0181
Kim, W. M., Seo, Y. G., Park, Y. J., Cho, H. S., & Lee, C. H. (2021). Effect of Different Exercise Types on the Cross-Sectional Area and Lumbar Lordosis Angle in Patients with Flat Back Syndrome. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(20), 10923. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010923
In individuals with herniated discs, how does non-surgical decompression compare to traditional surgery repair the spine?
Introduction
When many individuals begin to add unnecessary pressure on their backs, it can lead to damaging results to their spine. The spine is the backbone of the body, allowing the upper and lower sections to be mobile and stabilizing the axial weight overload without the person feeling pain or discomfort. The spinal structure is surrounded by muscles, soft tissues, ligaments, nerve roots, and joints that support the spine. In between the spinal facet joints and structure are flat discs that absorb the shock and pressure from the axial overload. However, when unwanted stress starts to compress the disc, it can lead to the development of herniation. Depending on the location, it can cause pain-like symptoms like lower back and neck pain or sciatica. Other times, herniated discs can be due to natural degeneration, where the spinal disc height decreases, and it can crack under pressure, leading to disc dehydration, which, to this point, causes spinal issues to many individuals, thinking they are experiencing referred pain in different body locations. Coincidentally, many people can find the relief they seek through non-surgical treatments to restore the disc height and repair herniated discs. Today’s article focuses on the casing effects of herniated discs and how spinal decompression, a form of non-surgical treatment, can help reduce pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs. Additionally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to reduce herniated disc pain, causing many musculoskeletal issues. We also inform them that non-surgical treatments can help mitigate the referred pain-like symptoms related to herniated discs and restore disc height in their spines. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions for our associated medical providers about their referred pain correlating with herniated discs. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
The Changing Effects Of Herniated Discs
Have you experienced unwanted pain in your upper and lower extremities after a long work day? What about experiencing pain within your spines that are causing symptoms of numbness or tingling sensations in your hands, feet, or legs? Or are you dealing with excruciating lower back pain that is affecting your ability to work? Many individuals don’t realize that the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing are not low back, neck, or shoulder pain, but they correlate to herniated discs in their spines. Herniated discs are when the nucleus pulposus (inner disc portion) starts to protrude out of its original position from the intervertebral space. (Dydyk, Ngnitewe Massa, & Mesfin, 2023) Herniated discs are one of the common causes of lower back pain, and often, many individuals will remember what caused the herniation in their spine.
Some of the effects that lead to disc herniation are that many people will carry heavy objects constantly from one location to another, and the shifting weight can cause the disc to be continuously compressed and thus lead to herniation. Additionally, when the intervertebral disc starts showing signs of stiffness, it can result in abnormal spinal motion. (Haughton, Lim, & An, 1999) This causes morphologic changes within the intervertebral disc and causes it to be dehydrated. The chondroitin sulfation of the proteoglycan in the disc goes through changes in the disc itself, and when degeneration is associated with herniated discs, it can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. (Hutton et al., 1997)
The Root Cause Of Pain- Video
When degenerative changes start to affect the intervertebral discs, it can lead to intervertebral height loss, abnormal pain signaling, and nerve root entrapment associated with disc disruption. (Milette et al., 1999) This causes a cascading effect as the outer annulus of the spinal disc is cracked or ruptured, causing pain to the spine. When the outer annulus of the spinal disc starts to have nerve ingrowth in the affected discs, which then leads to individuals dealing with musculoskeletal disorders associated with pain. (Freemont et al., 1997) Many people will seek non-surgical therapies when finding treatment to alleviate the pain caused by herniated discs due to their cost-effectiveness and how it’s safe for their spine. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, spinal decompression, and traction therapy are available treatments that can be used in a personalized, inclusive treatment care plan to mitigate any pain the person is dealing with. The video explains how these treatments can use functional wellness principles to identify where the pain is located and treat any health issues with any potential underlying causes.
Spinal Decompression Reducing Herniated Disc
Regarding non-surgical treatments reducing herniated discs, spinal decompression can help mitigate the pain affecting the spine’s mobility. Spinal decompression utilizes mechanical traction to gently stretch the spine and allow the herniated disc to return to its original position. Spinal decompression incorporates negative pressure, which helps the nutrients increase the disc’s regenerative factors. (Choi et al., 2022) This allows the facet joints and aggravated nerves to have reduced pressure and increased disc space height. At the same time, spinal decompression can be combined with physical therapy to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and provide beneficial results. (Amjad et al., 2022) Some of the beneficial factors related to spinal decompression include:
Pain improvement in the upper and lower extremities
Spinal range of motion
Muscle endurance restored
Joint ROM restored
When many individuals become more mindful of how different factors are causing spinal issues, they can make small routine changes in their daily lives, and that can reduce the chances of pain from returning. This allows them to enjoy life fully and continue their health and wellness journey.
References
Amjad, F., Mohseni-Bandpei, M. A., Gilani, S. A., Ahmad, A., & Hanif, A. (2022). Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 255. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05196-x
Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P.-B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2022, 6343837. doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837
Freemont, A. J., Peacock, T. E., Goupille, P., Hoyland, J. A., O’Brien, J., & Jayson, M. I. (1997). Nerve ingrowth into diseased intervertebral disc in chronic back pain. Lancet, 350(9072), 178-181. doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(97)02135-1
Haughton, V. M., Lim, T. H., & An, H. (1999). Intervertebral disk appearance correlated with stiffness of lumbar spinal motion segments. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 20(6), 1161-1165. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10445464
Hutton, W. C., Elmer, W. A., Boden, S. D., Horton, W. C., & Carr, K. (1997). Analysis of chondroitin sulfate in lumbar intervertebral discs at two different stages of degeneration as assessed by discogram. Journal of Spinal Disorders, 10(1), 47-54. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9041496
Milette, P. C., Fontaine, S., Lepanto, L., Cardinal, E., & Breton, G. (1999). Differentiating lumbar disc protrusions, disc bulges, and discs with normal contour but abnormal signal intensity. Magnetic resonance imaging with discographic correlations. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 24(1), 44-53. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199901010-00011
Can the effects of vertebral decompression relieve individuals with herniated discs and reduce intradiscal pressure on the spine?
Introduction
The spine’s main job is to maintain the vertical pressure of the body without feeling pain or discomfort, especially when a person is in motion. The spinal discs are between the spinal joints, which are shock absorbers when pressure is implemented when a person is carrying a heavy object. The spinal column also has the spinal cord and nerve roots that are spread out from each section and have nerve root signals to be transmitted back and forth from the muscles to the brain to carry out its function. However, as the body ages, so does the spine, as many individuals are constantly adding unwanted pressure on their spines by doing normal factors and developing musculoskeletal disorders. At the same time, the spinal discs are also being affected as the unwanted pressure compresses them constantly, causing them to crack and herniate out of their position. To that point, the herniated disc aggravates the spinal nerve roots, leading to pain-like symptoms affecting the upper and lower body extremities. When this happens, many people will begin to experience musculoskeletal pain and cause overlapping risk profiles that cause their bodies to be misaligned. However, non-surgical treatments can be implemented as part of a daily routine for individuals dealing with herniated discs to reduce intradiscal pressure off the affected muscles in the upper and lower body extremities and restore functionality to the body. Today’s article focuses on why herniated disc affects many people and how vertebral traction can reduce intradiscal pressure off the spine while relieving the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who incorporate our patient’s information to reduce intradiscal stress correlating with herniated discs. We also inform them that vertebral traction therapy (spinal decompression) can help mitigate the pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and provide relief to the body. We encourage our patients to ask profound questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain-like issues. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Why Does Herniated Disc Affect People?
Have you or your loved ones been dealing with muscle aches or strains in their back, neck, or shoulders after carrying/lifting a heavy object? Do you feel a numbing or tingling sensation in your hands, legs, or feet after a long day after work? Or have you been constantly dealing with muscle and joint stiffness after a long workday? At some point in their lives, everyone has dealt with pain affecting their upper and lower extremities, leading to herniated discs in the spine’s upper, middle, or lower portions. As stated earlier, the body and the spine age naturally, leading to the development of herniated discs in the spine. Disc herniation occurs when the nucleus pulposus (inner disc layer) starts to break through the weaker annulus fibrosus (outer disc layer) and compress the surrounding nerve root, leading to an overlapping risk profile to the upper and lower body portions. (Ge et al., 2019) Disc herniation is developed when the spine goes through a natural degeneration, which causes them to be more susceptible to microtears. When individuals start to do normal activities like lifting or carrying heavy objects, it can enhance the progression further, leading to musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, the spinal degeneration associated with disc herniation can cause inflammatory responses when the protruding disc is compressing the nerve roots, which then causes symptoms of pain and numbness to the upper and lower extremities. (Cunha et al., 2018)
Why do herniated discs cause inflammatory responses to the compressed nerve roots that cause pain-like symptoms to the upper and lower body extremities? Well, when many individuals are experiencing pain associated with herniated discs, they believe they are dealing with upper or lower pain, depending on where the herniated disc is located. This causes referred pain symptoms where the pain is being perceived in one location than the site where the pain is originating. Coincidentally, when individuals are doing repetitive motions associated with herniated discs can cause the adjacent nerve root to be compressed, which then causes the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues to be in pain. (Blamoutier, 2019) Pain developing from herniated discs can reduce a person’s quality of life and make them miss out on important life events.
Disc Herniation Overview-Video
Many factors associated with a herniated disc can lead to its development and range from mild to severe depending on where the disc is herniated. Since the spine and spinal disc do degenerate over time naturally, it can cause the disc to crack and dehydrate. This leads to restricted movement, the development of neck, back, and shoulder pain, a decrease in muscle strength in the extremities, and numbness. (Jin et al., 2023) These are some results when herniated discs are not being treated right away. Luckily there are non-surgical treatments to alleviate the pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and help reduce intradiscal pressure in the spine while restoring spinal mobility and muscle strength. Spinal decompression, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physical therapy are some non-surgical treatments that can help alleviate herniated discs and its associated symptoms. Non-surgical treatments can help pull the herniated disc off the compressed nerve root through manual and mechanical manipulation and return it to its original position. Additionally, non-surgical treatments can be part of a daily health and wellness routine combined with other therapies to reduce pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and help restore the spine’s mobility. The video above explains the causes, factors, and symptoms associated with herniated discs and how these treatments can alleviate the pain.
The Effects Of Vertebral Traction On Disc Herniation
Non-surgical treatments like vertebral decompression can provide a positive outlook when reducing the effects of herniated discs. Vertical or spinal decompression can help reduce the underlying problem associated with herniated discs by relieving the pain and intradiscal pressure off the vital structures of the spine. (Ramos & Martin, 1994) Additionally, vertebral decompression uses gentle traction to relieve nerve pain associated with herniated discs. It helps reduce the compression force on the affected spinal discs, reducing nerve compression by expanding the disc height in the spine. (Wang et al., 2022)
With spinal decompression being incorporated to reduce the effects of herniated discs, individuals are strapped into a traction machine in a supine position. They will feel a mechanical pull to their spines as the herniated disc returns to its original position and the height of the spinal disc increases. (Oh et al., 2019) This allows the negative pressure from the traction to increase the body’s blood flow for the nutrients and fluids to rehydrate the discs while allowing the body’s natural healing process to kick into full gear. (Choi et al., 2022) After a few consecutive sessions with spinal decompression, many individuals will notice that the pain in their neck, back, and shoulders has decreased and that they can return to their daily activities. Spinal decompression allows the individual to regain their health and well-being while also reminding them to be more mindful of what certain factors can cause the pain to return to the spine. By being more aware of what is affecting a person’s body, they have the tools to continue their health and wellness journey.
References
Blamoutier, A. (2019). Nerve root compression by lumbar disc herniation: A french discovery? Orthop Traumatol Surg Res, 105(2), 335-338. doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2018.10.025
Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P. B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2022, 6343837. doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837
Cunha, C., Silva, A. J., Pereira, P., Vaz, R., Goncalves, R. M., & Barbosa, M. A. (2018). The inflammatory response in the regression of lumbar disc herniation. Arthritis Res Ther, 20(1), 251. doi.org/10.1186/s13075-018-1743-4
Ge, C. Y., Hao, D. J., Yan, L., Shan, L. Q., Zhao, Q. P., He, B. R., & Hui, H. (2019). Intradural Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case Report and Literature Review. Clin Interv Aging, 14, 2295-2299. doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S228717
Jin, Y. Z., Zhao, B., Zhao, X. F., Lu, X. D., Fan, Z. F., Wang, C. J., Qi, D. T., Wang, X. N., Zhou, R. T., & Zhao, Y. B. (2023). Lumbar Intradural Disc Herniation Caused by Injury: A Case Report and Literature Review. Orthopaedic Surgery, 15(6), 1694-1701. doi.org/10.1111/os.13723
Oh, H., Choi, S., Lee, S., Choi, J., & Lee, K. (2019). Effects of the flexion-distraction technique and drop technique on straight leg raising angle and intervertebral disc height of patients with an intervertebral disc herniation. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 31(8), 666-669. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.31.666
Ramos, G., & Martin, W. (1994). Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. J Neurosurg, 81(3), 350-353. doi.org/10.3171/jns.1994.81.3.0350
Wang, W., Long, F., Wu, X., Li, S., & Lin, J. (2022). Clinical Efficacy of Mechanical Traction as Physical Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Meta-Analysis. Comput Math Methods Med, 2022, 5670303. doi.org/10.1155/2022/5670303
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