by Dr. Jennifer Cardinal |
It is estimated that 80 percent of people will suffer from back pain at some point in their life. The costs associated with back pain are estimated to be $50 billion a year. Back pain is the most common reason for missed work and the second most common reason for a visit to the doctor’s office, which is second only to respiratory infections. The personal costs of back pain can be immeasurable, interfering with the things that make up our life … from playing with our kids and/or grandkids, doing our favorite activities, being able to work, etc. Back pain can lead to a diminished overall sense of health and well-being and can affect us physically, emotionally and even spiritually.
The most common causes of back pain are mechanical in nature, originating from things like poor posture, bad body mechanics, repetitive stress, and/or acute injury. For most people, these things accumulate over time and eventually lead to back pain syndromes. Unless there is trauma such as a fall or car accident, most people cannot pin point any one particular cause. In fact, one of the most common reports goes something like this, “I don’t’ know what happened, I just bent over to tie my shoe and BAM – I could not stand up”. In truth, bending over to tie your shoe is not enough stress to cause an injury unless there is weakness or instability. Think of a paper clip. Bend that paper clip back and forth and then keep bending it back and forth. What will eventually happen? The paper clip will break. It was not that last bend that broke the paper clip though; it was the cumulative effect of bending it back and forth over time.
Tears in the spinal disc (either from an acute injury or a build up of something happening over time) can ultimately result in what is commonly called a bulging disc, or herniated disc. The spinal disc is a highly innervated structure which basically means if injured it can be a great source of pain, both in the neck and the low back.
Until recently, it was most commonly thought that the only way to correctly treat an injured disc was through surgery. However, there is an alternative FDA approved treatment called Spinal Decompression Therapy. This is a non-invasive treatment that has up to a 70 percent chance of the patient resuming a normal lifestyle. It can be used for both the neck and low back. Gentle decompression of the disc is performed with the use of a specialized table. The patient lies on a table, which then applies a distractive force to a targeted area of the spine (the injured disc). A computer controls the distractive force which is applied between periods of relaxation, gently pulling the spine and stretching. This creates a vacuum, pulling the disc back into its normal healthy shape. The decompression works in increments over time allowing the disc to re-shape and heal itself, taking pressure off both the disc and spinal nerves, acting as a natural pain reliever. This also helps the disc get the proper flow of nutrients, which help protect it against future injuries. Treatment sessions last for 15 minutes and generally take place over a four to six week period.
Signs and symptoms of a spinal disc problem can vary from moderate to severe back and neck pain, sciatica or leg pain, arm pain, numbness and tingling and/or muscle weakness.
If a spinal disc problem is suspected, accurate diagnosis by a physician is critical to ensure proper treatment protocols.
References:
- American Spinal Decompression Association. www.americanspinal.com.
- Hestbaek L, Leboeuf C, Manniche C: Low back pain: what is the long-term course? A review of studies of general patient populations. European Spine Journal 2003 , 12(2):149-165.
For more info, contact Dr. Jennifer Cardinal at (775) 829-8686.
