Managing Pain from Disk Degeneration

3 suggestions to control pain from disc degeneration:  1-stay active 2-modify any activity that puts stress on your back 3-improve your nutrition 

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/controlling-degenerative-disc-disease-pain-three-things-you-can

DGG

Degenerative disc disease refers to any condition where the spinal discs are degenerating or degrading, often causing back pain. This interactive video provides information on spinal anatomy and how degenerative disc disease affects the vertebrae and spinal discs. It also gives an in-depth overview of symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/degenerative-disc-disease-interactive-video

Degenerative Disk Disease

Degenerative disc disease refers to any condition where the spinal discs are degenerating or degrading, often causing back pain. This interactive video provides information on spinal anatomy and how degenerative disc disease affects the vertebrae and spinal discs. It also gives an in-depth overview of symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/degenerative-disc-disease-interactive-video

Degenerative Disk Disease

Degenerative disc disease refers to any condition where the spinal discs are degenerating or degrading, often causing back pain. This interactive video provides information on spinal anatomy and how degenerative disc disease affects the vertebrae and spinal discs. It also gives an in-depth overview of symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/degenerative-disc-disease-interactive-video

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back pain, and also one of the most misunderstood. Many patients diagnosed with low back pain caused by degenerative disc disease are left wondering exactly what this diagnosis means for them. Learn what you can expect to experience moving forward after your initial diagnosis.

Featured Article:
What is Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment for Low Back Pain
Although degenerative disc disease can cause lower back pain symptoms over a long period of time, the good news is that the pain is usually manageable with various nonsurgical treatment options, including exercise, massage, and chiropractic. Learn More…

Living with Degenerative Disc Disease
Learn the key components of a self-care program you can undertake to manage the pain of degenerative disc disease, including components such as pain reduction, exercise and rehabilitation, behavior modifications, and nutrition. Learn More…

Deciding on Surgery for Degenerative Disc Disease
If ongoing severe, disabling pain from degenerative disc disease and associated symptoms (e.g., numbness, tingling, difficulty sitting), it is sometimes not possible to wait for non-surgical therapy to work, and surgery may be your next course of action. Learn More…

3 Things to do For Controlling Degenerative Disc Disease

3 suggestions to control pain from disc degeneration:  1-stay active 2-modify any activity that puts stress on your back 3-improve your nutrition

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/controlling-degenerative-disc-disease-pain-three-things-you-can

Back Pain: Chiropractic vs. Medical Doctors

Back Pain:

Chiropractic vs. Medical Doctors

Who Get Better Results and Who is More Cost Effective?

Chiropractic Proves 300% more effective

Chiropractic Proves 50% More Cost Effective

BY: Donald Capoferri DC, DAAMLP

William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

Mark Studin DC, FASBE(C), DAAMLP, DAAPM

In 2010 a study of back pain patients insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee revealed patients receive nearly 3x better results at almost half the cost when consulting a chiropractor instead of a traditional medical doctor.

Statistics show that back pain, and more specifically lower back pain will affect 70-80% of all Americans.  Back pain is one of the top 10 most costly conditions treated in the United States.  Costs directly associated with examination and treatment are in excess $50 billion dollars per year.  Indirect cost of back pain include lost work day, reduced employee productivity and disability are $47 billion dollars.  That makes the total economic impact of lower back pain in excess of $97 billion dollars per year.

The study was conducted on 85,402 patients, all insured with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.  This insurer was chosen because it provided equal access to both traditional medical and chiropractic care. The population of patients were diagnosed with the following conditions: Spinal disc disorders, Lower back pain, muscle spasms, joint mobility restrictions, Sacroiliac joint sprain/strain and lumbar spine sprain/strain.  The results of the study revealed those patients who initiated care with a chiropractor had a 61% “very satisfied response” when surveyed.  Those patient who initiated care with a medical doctor had a 27% “very satisfied response.” The patients who initiated care with a chiropractor incurred 40% less cost than those choosing traditional medical care.

There is a growing body of evidence indicating that chiropractic care is more effective and less costly than medical care for back pain.  In contrast to this and many other studies indicating the efficacy of chiropractic care for back pain, only 7% of U.S. back pain sufferers consult a chiropractor.  Using the data from this study insurers nationally would realize billions of dollar of savings if the population of back pain patients initiated care with a chiropractor first. 

Insurance companies that restrict access to chiropractic care at this juncture with statistical evidence, are paying more for care and delaying necessary, effective care for no apparent reason other than politics or prejudice. If all restrictions for chiropractic access were removed carriers would save money and offer a significant public health benefit. The statistics speak for themselves.

Reference:

Liliedahl R., Finch M., Axene D., Geertz C., (2010) Cost of Care for Common Back Pain Conditions Initiated with Chiropractic Doctor vs. Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy as First Physician:  Experience of One Tennessee-Based General Health Insure, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 33 (9) pgs. 640-643

Herniated Disk - VIDEO

A herniated disc occurs when the disc degenerates and the inner core leaks out. It can be treated through chiropractic manipulation. This video explains what is a lumbar herniated disc, and gives visuals on what happens inside the spine.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/lumbar-herniated-disc-video

M6-C Artificial Disk Trial

Featured Clincial Trial Neck or arm pain? Do you suffer from arm numbness, tingling and/or weakness? Are you considering an artificial cervical disc? Right now spine specialists around the United States are accepting patient's diagnosed with or who may have spinal stenosis for the M6-C Artificial Disc Trial. You may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Spinal Kinetics M6-C artificial cervical disc* compared to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). This study is for patients diagnosed with symptomatic degenerative cervical radiculopathy, with or without spinal cord compression, at one vertebral level. The sponsor of this new clinical study is Spinal Kinetics, Inc. Learn more about the M6-C Artificial Cervical Disc, the Clinical Study and find Study locations. * Note: the M6-C is limited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigational use at selected clinical trial sites only.

What Causes A Pinched Nerve?

So, what causes a pinched nerve?

Nerves exit the spinal cord from between every 2 vertebrae in an area called the intervertebral foramen (IVF). Anything that protrudes into that space or decreases that space, can pinch the nerve. The most common causes of this are herniated or bulged discs, degenerated discs, bone spurs and misaligned vertebrae.

How do you know whether you have a pinched nerve?

Pain, numbness and tingling or weakness into your arms or legs as well as neck and back pain are the most common symptoms.

The more severe the "pinch" the greater the likelihood that the symptoms travel to your arms and/or legs.

Besides just the type of symptoms, it is often made worse by certain movements that close the IVF further. For example, combine tilting your head to the side, turning it to the same side and then extend it back like you're trying to look at the ceiling. Do you feel those symptoms or does it make it worse?

So, what do you do if you have a pinched nerve?

The first thing is to get examined and xrayed to see what's causing it. Sometimes an MRI is needed as well. Once that is known, proper treatment can be implemented. If caught early, your chances are pretty good that treatment will resolve the episode.

READ! Article: Chiropractic More Effective than Standard Medical Care Alone

Patient Outcomes Proves More Effective with Chiropractic Combined with Standard Medical Care Than Standard Medical Care Alone in the Military

 

BY: D. Scott Ferguson

DC, William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

 Mark Studin DC, FASBE(c), DAAMLP, DAAPM

Many people suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives.  Most will seek the advice of a healthcare professional. However, many times this care is fragmented and not based on current evidence and can result in poorer outcomes. When considering outcomes, all doctors must consider creating a diagnosis, prognosis and then conclude a treatment plan. It is that treatment plan, which then determines the outcome after an accurate diagnosis. Many times, low back pain patients seek solely standard medical care and bypass a more effective chiropractic solution. This type of self-referral and physician triage has also been prevalent in the military and asks the question based upon outcome studies, is that in the best interest of both the military and the general public?  

In a recent paper by Goertz et al. (2013), the objective was, “To assess changes in pain levels and physical functioning in response to standard medical care (SMC) versus SMC plus chiropractic manipulative therapy (chiropractic adjustments) for the treatment of low back pain  among 18 to 35-year-old active-duty military personnel” (p. 627).  The authors stated, “Lifetime prevalence of low back pain has been estimated to be as high as 84%, with a median cost per quality-adjusted life year of $13,015” (p. 627).  The fact that lower back pain is a major source of disability and abuse of pain medication makes providing the best care possible a priority based upon outcome studies.  In this paper, it was reported that, “The majority of systematic reviews find that chiropractic manipulative therapy (adjustments) seems to reduce pain and disability at least moderately for many patients with low back pain” (p. 627).  Therefore, the questions are, “Should chiropractic care be part of your treatment plan and should it be included with standard medical treatment for lower back pain?” 

In the Goertz et al. (2013) study, the patients were allowed to seek standard medical care in an unrestricted fashion which meant they could go to their medical doctors as they normally would for lower back pain.  “Standard care included any or all of the following: a focused history and physical examination, diagnostic imaging as indicated, education about self-management including maintaining activity levels as tolerated, pharmacological (drug) management with the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents, and physical therapy and modalities such as heat/ice and referral to a pain clinic” (p. 628).  On the chiropractic side, the authors stated “Treatments consisted of HVLA [high velocity low amplitude a.k.a. chiropractic adjustment] manipulation as the primary approach in all cases, with ancillary treatments at the doctor’s discretion, including brief massage, the use of ice or heat in the lumbar area, stretching exercises, McKenzie exercises, advice on activities of daily living, postural/ergonomic advice; and mobilization” (p. 628).  This is important since chiropractors view the spine as an entire system and the approach to patients is different as well as the therapeutic intervention.

In conclusion, the authors reported, “The results of our pragmatic pilot study indicate a statistically and clinically significant benefit to those receiving chiropractic manipulative therapy (adjustments) in addition to standard medical care” (p. 631).  Finally, they report, “The results of this trial suggest that chiropractic, in conjunction with standard medical care, offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning compared with only standard medical care, for active-duty men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute low back pain when delivered in a pragmatic treatment setting” (p. 633).

This study concurs with a previous study by Liliedahl et al. (2010) who studied 85,402 patients and adds to the growing body of evidence in diverse forums that chiropractic for mechanical back pain is more effective and cost-effective than standard medical care. Evidence such as this helps to dispel the partial truths and overcome the prejudices to help the public make informed choices.

References:

1. Goertz, C. M., Long, C. R., Hondras, M. A., Petri, R., Delgado, R., Lawrence, D. J.,…Meeker, W. C. (2013). Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute low back pain: Results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study. Spine, 38(8), 627-634.

2. Liliedahl, R. L., Finch, M. D., Axene, D. V., & Goertz C. M. (2010). Cost of care for common back pain conditions initiated with chiropractic doctor vs. medical doctor/doctor of osteopathy as first physician: Experience of one Tennessee-based general health insurer. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 33(9), 640-643.

Degenerative disk disease - Spinal manipulation techniques - Neck bone spurs causing headaches?

Degenerative disc disease refers to any condition where the spinal discs are degenerating or degrading, often causing back pain. This interactive video provides information on spinal anatomy and how degenerative disc disease affects the vertebrae and spinal discs. It also gives an in-depth overview of symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease.
http://www.spine-health.com/video/degenerative-disc-disease-interactive-video

Spinal manipulation techniques
There are well over 100 types of adjustment techniques used by chiropractors throughout the world. Typically, chiropractors will focus on and utilize 8 to 10 different approaches in their practice.
http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/spinal-manipulation-techniques

Bone spurs in the neck could be causing your headaches:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/cervical-osteophytes-bone-spurs-neck

Degenerative disk disease, lower back adjustments, and more on whiplash

Degenerative disc disease refers to any condition where the spinal discs are degenerating or degrading, often causing back pain. This interactive video provides information on spinal anatomy and how degenerative disc disease affects the vertebrae and spinal discs. It also gives an in-depth overview of symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/degenerative-disc-disease-interactive-video

Chiropractic can be an effective nonsurgical treatment option for many types of low back pain, including those associated with facet joint or sacroiliac joint dysfunction and disc problems. Chiropractic manipulation is a common therapeutic treatment designed to increase function and decrease pain and nerve irritability. Here's a video explaining what it looks like and how it works.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/chiropractic-adjustment-lumbar-spine-low-back-video

When the cervical spine (neck) is subject to whiplash, there is usually a combination of factors that contribute to whiplash pain in the neck and back, and ultimately need to be addressed individually by a chiropractor. Read the details below:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/sources-whiplash-pain

Controlling pain from disk regeneration, and battling the heat with back pain

3 suggestions to control pain from disc degeneration: 1-stay active 2-modify any activity that puts stress on your back 3-improve your nutrition

/www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/controlling-degenerative-disc-disease-pain-three-things-you-can

Sometimes battling the heat with back pain can be tough. Check out these tips.

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/battling-heat-and-back-pain

Degenerative disk disease (with interactive video)

Degenerative disc disease refers to any condition where the spinal discs are degenerating or degrading, often causing back pain. This interactive video provides information on spinal anatomy and how degenerative disc disease affects the vertebrae and spinal discs. It also gives an in-depth overview of symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/degenerative-disc-disease-interactive-video