Tag Archive for: Herniated disc

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Treat Chronic Back Pain with Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression provides relief to back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs; this involves stretching the spine, using a traction table or similar motorized device, with the goal of relieving back pain and/or leg pain.

During a nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment, the spinal vertebrae are slowly and methodically separated using a computer-controlled Spinal Decompression table. (Kennedy Decompression Table)

As the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum allows the gelatinous center of the disc to move back inside, thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation.  Joint bio-mechanics are improved and spasms or tightness in back muscles are decreased.

Significant disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduces pain and disability. This momentary lower pressure in the disc, also pulls much-needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

Is Spinal Decompression Right For Me? | chiropractor victoria bc

Spinal Decompression Table

On your first visit to Diversified Health Clinic your health care practitioner will take a detailed medical history and complete a physical exam.

Therapy sessions typically last 20 minutes with most people feeling pain relief with as few as 3-5 treatments. It is important to remember however, that pain subsiding does not infer that your discs and spine are healed, so it’s critical that patients follow the treatment protocol prescribed in order to achieve the full value of the decompression therapy.

Spinal Decompression can help alleviate pain caused by the following conditions:

  • Severe or chronic low back and neck pain
  • Arthritis pain in neck and back
  • Pinched nerves
  • Sciatica
  • Degenerative disc / joint disease /collapsed discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Herniated or bulging disc
  • Numbness, tingling or burning pain

For patients suffering from chronic pain, spinal decompression therapy can help to alleviate pain, and get you back to your daily activities.

Please contact our clinic if you have any questions regarding nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy.

 

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What causes sciatica?

sciatic-nerveSciatica and associated nerve pain is caused by different types of pressure on or damage to the sciatic nerve in the lower back or buttocks – the sciatic nerve connects nearly the whole of the skin of the leg, the muscles of the back of the thigh, and those of the leg and foot to provide feeling and movement, so any pressure on this nerve can cause considerable, debilitating pain.

Pain from sciatica can change: it can be shooting/burning/sharp, non-stop, or intermittent. Pain is usually only felt on one side of the body. Some people complain of intense and acute pain. Others experience a numb and weak feeling in their leg. Sneezing, coughing, straining, bending, or lifting can make it worse.

What can causes sciatica?

Something as simple as bad posture, muscle strain or spasm, being overweight, or sleeping on a mattress that is too soft can put pressure on or damage the sciatic nerve.

A herniated disc, know by most of us as a “slipped disc”, is an even more serious, chronic condition where tremendous pressure on the sciatic nerve by one of the spinal discs that serves as cushioning between the vertebrae. The disc doesn’t slip – instead it ruptures, and the gel that makes up the disc intrudes on the spinal nerve or sciatic nerve. The result is severe pain and even loss of mobility.

Often hereditary, this condition can result in months of lost productivity while the disc heals and inflammation subsides. Unfortunately, ruptured discs are prone to do the same thing again, but with a careful rehabilitation plan including exercise, weight loss and other treatments and practices, it is possible to help prevent this condition from becoming chronic and debilitating.

How to treat sciatica and nerve pain

Often, lifestyle changes such as losing weight are the most common method for dealing with sciatica and nerve pain.

Sciatica and nerve pain can be treated with a combination of treatments, including:

  • Decompression Table
  • eToims
  • massage
  • physiotherapy
  • Class IV K-Laser Therapy

Topical ointments such as Traumeel and nutritional supplements can also help with inflammation.

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Find Relief from a Herniated Disc with A Natural Health Practitioner

Your spine is made up of vertebrae and discs, so finding relief from a herniated disc with a natural health practitioner like a doctor of chiropractic makes sense.

Discs are like soft cushions between the bones of the spine. The discs in the spine let you move your backbone. When a disc between two bones in the spine presses on the nerves around the backbone, it’s called a herniated disc. The word “herniate” means to bulge or to stick out. Sometimes this is called a ruptured or slipped disc.

Find Relief from a Herniated Disc with A Natural Health Practitioner

Find Relief from a Herniated Disc

Herniated discs are most common in the lower part of your spine referred to as the lumbar spine. This area is constantly absorbing the impact of bearing the weight of the upper body.  The lower back is also critically involved in our body’s movements throughout the day, as we twist the torso in rotating side to side and as we hinge the back in flexion and extension while bending or lifting.

When part of a disc presses on a nerve, it can cause pain in the back and the legs. How bad the pain is depends on how much of the disc is pressing on the nerve. In most people with herniated discs, the pain spreads over the buttocks and radiates down the back of one thigh and into the calf. This is known as sciatica because the pain travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. Some people have pain in both legs, and will feel numb or a tingly sensation in their the legs or feet.

Here are some signs  If you have a herniated disc, the painful symptoms will worsen:

  • After you have been sitting down or standing for a long period.
  • During the night.
  • When you laugh, cough or sneeze
  • When you walk, even a short distance.
  • When you bend over backward

Becoming active as soon as possible is very important. Exercises can be helpful. The goal of exercise is to make your back and stomach muscles stronger. This will ease the pressure on your disc and make you hurt less. Ask your practitioner about safe exercises for your back, and start these exercises after your back is a little stronger and doesn’t hurt as much.

Spinal Decompression is painless, drug-free, non-surgical  treatment that has numerous published scientific studies reporting its’ effectiveness at 86% to 94%, and most people who have a herniated disc are better in about 4 – 6 weeks.

Spinal Decompression provides relief to severe back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs. The bones of the spine are slowly and methodically separated and as the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum “sucks” the gelatinous center of the disc back inside thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation. Significant disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduces pain and disability. This “sucking” vacuum also pulls much-needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

What can you do to help prevent a herniated disc?

Good posture (standing up straight, sitting straight, lifting with your back straight) can help your back by reducing the pressure on your discs.

  1. Bend your knees and hips when you lift something, and keep your back straight.
  2. Hold an object close to your body when you carry it.
  3. If you stand for a long time, put one foot on a small stool or box for a while.
  4. If you sit for a long time, put your feet on a small stool so your knees are higher than your hips.
  5. Don’t wear high-heeled shoes.
  6. Don’t sleep on your stomach.

If you or someone you know needs to find relief from a herniated disc with a natural health practitioner, please call Diversified Health Clinic for a free consultation.

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Treating Lower Back Pain at a Victoria clinic

Diversified Health Clinic , a Victoria Clinic has been treating lower back pain for over 2 decades.  Most cases of  low back pain are cause by a muscle strain or sprain, or a specific condition, such as a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease.

Low back pain from a muscle strain is the most common and is usually caused by lifting a heavy object, lifting while twisting, or a sudden movement or fall.  While pain or discomfort can happen anywhere in your back, the most common area affected is your low back. This is because the low back supports most of your body’s weight.

Treating Lower Back Pain | Victoria clinic

Treating Lower Back Pain - Photo Credit: motorvehicleaccidentnews.com

There are many causes of low back pain.

  • Arthritis conditions such as osteoarthritis
  • Muscle spasm
  • Ruptured or herniated disk
  • Sciatica
  • Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back

When the muscles in the low back are strained or torn, the area around the muscles becomes inflamed.  This inflammation causes the muscles in the back to spasm and cause low back pain.

At Diversified Health treating low back pain consists of a combination of treatments, such as Chiropractic, Massage, Physiotherapy, Cryo therapy, Cold Laser Therapy, TENS therapy, Ultrasound, Back Project, Decompression Table, Neuromechanical Adjusting Tool as well as topical ointments such as Traumeel and nutritional supplements for help with inflammation.

With the first syptoms of low back pain, stop the activity for the first few days; this will help calm your symptoms and reduce any swelling in the area of the pain. You can also apply heat/ice to the painful area. Always use ice for the first 48-72 hours, then use heat.  You can also take something to help with the inflammation such as ibuprofen or nutritional supplements, and call your health care practitioner.

For more information on treating lower back pain,at a Victoria cliniccall 250-382-0018 and speak with Dr. Krisjan Gustavson.

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