Posts Tagged ‘herniated disc’
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
If you visit clinician be it orthopedic surgeon or a neuro-surgeon and complain of back ache you are more than likely to be advised to have a MRI.
Low back pain is a very common condition. The Need for diagnostic imaging for patients with low back pain has often been exaggerated. ‘Evidence indicates that routine imaging is not associated with clinically meaningful benefits but can lead to harms’, reports Annals of Internal Medicine.
Usually diagnostic imaging in this condition should be indicated only if low back pain is associated with progressive neurologic deficits or signs or symptoms that suggest a serious or specific underlying condition. This evidence-based recommendations from the American College of Physicians(ACP) and the American Pain Society (APS) appear to be grossly neglected. Routine imaging does not seem to improve clinical outcomes and exposes patients to unnecessary harms.
Overuse of imaging imposes severe financial burden on patients who already suffer lower productivity due to the menacing low back pain. Reducing unnecessary tests or ineffective treatments decrease the costs associated with low back pain. In addition to the direct costs imaging also causes additional expenses by leading to additional tests, follow-up, and referrals. It may also result in an invasive procedure of limited or questionable benefit.
The appropriateness of many of the low back imaging studies obtained in clinical practice has long been questioned. The ACP/APS low back pain guideline recommends selective imaging for patients in whom it is clinically indicated.
There are numerous factors that explain why routine imaging does not seem beneficial. Most lumbar imaging abnormalities are common in persons without low back pain and are only loosely associated with back symptoms. Although advanced imaging can detect more and smaller abnormalities, these abnormalities are not necessarily clinically relevant. This means a rapid MRI need not always be of greater practical value than radiography for evaluating low back pain.
Many abnormalities detected with advanced imaging are so common in asymptomatic persons that they could be viewed as normal signs of aging. The presence of imaging abnormalities need not mean that the abnormalities are responsible for symptoms.
Acute low back pain has a favorable natural history and the expected yield of routine imaging is low. Most patients show significant improvements in pain and function in the first 4 weeks; routine imaging is unlikely to improve on this. Imaging results rarely affect treatment plans. Thus they often have a low impact on clinical outcomes.
Routine imaging is associated with potential harms:
- Lumbar radiography and CT contribute to cumulative low-level radiation exposure. They may promote the development of cancer.
- The use of iodinated contrast in lumbar CT is associated with hypersensitivity reactions and nephropathy (disease associated with the kidneys).
- The average radiation exposure from lumbar radiography is 75 times higher than for chest radiography. This is particularly harmful to young woman because of the proximity to the gonads (sex glands). The amount of female gonadal irradiation from lumbar radiography is supposed to tantamount to having chest radiography daily for several years.
Most clinicians routinely order imaging for all cases of lower back pain even in the absence of a clear clinical indication though ACP/APS guideline suggests a trial of management without imaging in adults with no risk factors other than older age. The use of advanced imaging modalities like MRI and CT scans is skyrocketing. A large number of clinicians hastily jump to these modalities irrespective of any guidelines.
Patient expectations and preferences about diagnostic testing also add to the cause. They expect a clear diagnosis for their low back pain. Some attach a clinician’s decision to not obtain imaging with low-quality care. There are patients who think that their pain is not legitimate or important if the clinician doesn’t order for imaging. Wanting diagnostic testing is a frequent reason for repeated office visits for chronic back pain. There are ones who insist that they need imaging even after the physician explains that it would be unnecessary.
The potential solutions include:
- Clinicians should adhere to the ACP/APS recommendations on use of imaging so as to reduce overuse. Most patients do not need immediate imaging, and an initial trial of therapy before imaging is warranted in many cases.
- Advanced imaging should be reserved for serious situations, i.e. only when the results are sure to influence clinical decision making. Conditions like major trauma, severe neurologic compromise, or vertebral infection qualify for being imaged using an MRI or CT scanner. In the absence of strong risk factors for cancer and lack of neurologic signs, initial imaging with lumbar radiography and evaluation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a reasonable approach.
- Patients should be educated about the pros and cons of imaging. Face-to-face information with patient hand outs, self-care education books, online materials, mass media educational campaigns help.
Source: ‘Diagnostic Imaging for Low Back Pain: Advice for High-Value Health Care from the American College of Physicians’: Annals of Internal Medicine.
Source-Medindi
by Dr. Nithin Jayan
Read more: Does Routine Imaging in Low Back Pain – Do More Harm Than Good? http://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/Does-Routine-Imaging-in-Low-Back-Pain-Do-More-Harm-Than-Good-80842-1.htm#ixzz1Dylv7n6r
Tags: back injuries, back pain, back surgery, healing, herniated disc, Imaging, Lower Back Pain, pain
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Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffers from Sciatica, you know all too well how it can negatively affect your life. But what is Sciatica? How is it diagnosed? Can it be healed?
What is Sciatica?
Many folks confuse sciatica to be a diagnosis. It’s not. It’s a symptom of a different problem. But finding the problem can be…well, a problem. Think of it this way: You pull out a string of Christmas lights to put on your tree. You plug it in to be sure they work…but they don’t. So you check the fuse. It’s good. Now what? You systematically start looking at each bulb to find the one that is missing or burned out. It’s a painstaking process of hit and miss. That’s the same kind of problem doctors are facing—albeit much more intricate and critical—when they are trying to pinpoint the cause of sciatica.
Finding the source of sciatica can be difficult at best because it can be caused by a number of different conditions anywhere along the roots of the five sciatic nerves. The roots stem from the lumbar and sacral nerve lines which string down the spine in the L4 to the S3 vertebrae regions. Just about anything can go wrong in that area and cause sciatica to manifest itself in your buttocks, leg, knee or foot. You’ll know it when it occurs because it hurts! But moderate to severe pain is not the only challenge. Numbness, tingling, pins and needles and muscle weakness are signs of sciatica as well.
The most common culprit behind sciatica is nerve pinching. Nerves can get pinched in a variety of ways ranging from lumbar misalignment, a sacroiliac joint misalignment, Piriformis syndrome, greater Trochanteric Bursitis and most commonly, disc herniation.
How is Sciatica Diagnosed?
The standard protocol no matter what kind of doctor is consulted is for an examination to be performed first. If the sciatica does not extend below the knee, it is less likely that it is due to a disc problem, and it’s more likely that it’s due to a lumbar misalignment, a sacroiliac joint misalignment, Piriformis syndrome or Greater Trochanteric Bursitis. If on the other hand the sciatica does extend below the knee, it is somewhat more likely that it is due to a disc lesion.
Once the examination is performed the next steps differ depending on what type of doctor is doing the examining. If it’s a chiropractor, it is most likely that after the examination he will take an x-ray to rule out any kind of pathological process (such as bone cancer), and then treat the patient with chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy. If the patient does not respond favorably within a week or two to this conservative approach, then the doctor will request pre-authorization from the insurance company for an MRI. It is unlikely that an insurance company will approve an MRI until after conservative treatment has been tried first and failed.
If however the patient is complaining of neurological symptoms such as numbness in the leg or weakness of any of the muscles of the leg, particularly the inability to walk on their heels (a condition called foot-drop), or loss of control of bowel or bladder function, then those neurological signs justify immediate approval and performance of an MRI. To not do an MRI in such a case could constitute negligence and could jeopardize the patient’s life, if not their ability to walk normally for the rest of their life.
If the patient goes first to an MD instead of a chiropractor, it is likely that they will first be prescribed some pain killers and anti-inflammatory medication. If that doesn’t work then they’ll prescribe physical therapy. If the therapy doesn’t work then they’ll order an MRI. Unless of course the patient demonstrates neurological signs and symptoms in which case the same urgency exists as in the above paragraph.
It is important to note that X-rays do not show whether or not a disc is bulging or ruptured. They only show the disc space, showing if it’s normal-sized, or thin. If it’s thin it may or may not show signs of arthritis. Occasionally an inflamed disc can show up on an x-ray as somewhat thicker than usual.
MRI’s and CT’s both show discs and will differentiate a normal healthy disc from an unhealthy one. They will also show if a disc is bulged or herniated and will show how well hydrated it is. Generally speaking, CT’s are best to show hard tissues such as bone, and MRI’s are best to show soft tissues like discs and nerves. So if arthritis or fractures are suspected by the ordering physician, a CT is ordered. If a disc bulge or herniation is suspected, then an MRI is ordered. Other diseases can also show up on CT’s and MRI’s such as spinal cord tumors, bone cancer, bone abscesses, meningeoceles, etc.
Can Sciatica be cured?
The more correct question is, “Can sciatica be relieved?” Remember sciatica is a symptom not a diagnosis. So whether or not sciatica can be relieved depends on whether or not the cause of the sciatica can be fixed.
The good news is that since the most common cause of sciatica is an impinged nerve usually resulting from a herniated or bulging disc, the answer is yes: Sciatica can be relieved with a fairly high success rate depending on how the problem is addressed. Many successful tactics can be implemented by your chiropractor or MD. They range from spinal decompression to surgery on the extreme end to core muscle strengthening, stretches, yoga and acupuncture on the more conservative end.
If the diagnosis is something other than a disc problem, the treatments can vary quite a bit…more than can be covered in this article.
Conclusion
The cause of sciatica can be very hard to diagnose. If you or a loved one is suffering, definitely seek help. Visit your chiropractor or MD, based on your preference. To do nothing may cause irreversible damage that may affect your ability to walk. Rest assured, help is out there. Relief is within reach.
Tags: back pain, back surgery, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, pain, sciatica, spine
Posted in Articles by Michael Harris | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
This article is a repost from The Charlotte Observer. See the original article here.
North Carolina’s largest health insurer is coming under fire from surgeons across the country for implementing tougher restrictions on an increasingly common type of spinal surgery.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s new rules, which take effect Jan. 1, are designed to reduce overuse of spinal-fusion surgery, a costly and controversial procedure to ease patients’ lower back pain. The Chapel Hill-based insurer says it wants to ensure the surgeries are approved based on the latest medical evidence.
“We are not going to stop coverage, but we do want to make sure the ones being done are appropriate,” said Dr. Don Bradley, Blue Cross’ chief medical officer. “In some cases, we’re seeing technology being used when more conservative measures might be more appropriate.”
But some spine surgeons worry that the restrictions will limit care for thousands of patients and could set a new coverage standard among other insurers.
A coalition of surgeons representing nine medical associations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the North American Spine Society, wrote to Blue Cross this month, urging the company to reconsider.
The group also suggested various changes that would ease the new restrictions.
“If this intrusion into the physician-patient relationship goes unchallenged, other insurers will follow suit,” said Dr. John Wilson, a neurosurgeon at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center who is president of the N.C. Neurological Society and one of nine physicians who signed the letter to Blue Cross.
“It will be a progression of ever-more restrictive policies that will handcuff us as we try to treat patients,” Wilson said.
The surgeon groups requested a meeting with Blue Cross executives before the rules kick in one week from today to discuss the new policy. But the insurer responded in an e-mail message that because of the holidays, a meeting could not be scheduled until the third week of January.
Wilson estimates that he performs about 100 spinal-fusion surgeries a year. Only a small percentage of his practice’s patients would be ineligible for coverage under the new Blue Cross rules.
“Even if it’s just a few patients, if we’re limited in how we can help them, it doesn’t sit right with us,” he added.
The new spine-surgery rules come as Blue Cross faces increasing pressure to keep costs down and control premiums. The company announced plans in July to slash administrative costs up to 20 percent by 2014.
“The tendency is to label us as the big, bad insurance company,” Bradley said. “We understand folks rely on us to cover the things that should be covered. They also assume that we’re making decisions about appropriate care” to keep premiums affordable.
Blue Cross reports that it covered 3,593 spinal fusion surgeries last year, up 22 percent from 2007. The insurer paid $105 million in claims for the procedures last year, up 44 percent from 2007. The procedures require longer hospital stays and cost more than three times the amount of a simpler surgery, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The new rules will require patients and physicians to get approval before spinal-fusion surgery. The insurer still will cover the surgery for some ailments, such as scoliosis, injury and tumors.
But Blue Cross won’t cover the surgery for degenerative disk disease. The condition is caused by aging disks and can cause debilitating back pain.
“We feel that to completely omit this as a covered procedure under any circumstance is overly restrictive,” the national group of surgeons wrote in their letter to Blue Cross.
The surgeries involve implanting rods and screws to repair vertebrae. JAMA reports that patients who had a complex fusion procedure were nearly three times as likely to develop a life-threatening complication and that the surgeries didn’t result in dramatically better outcomes.
But spinal implants have become a booming business for surgeons and medical-device companies since winning Food and Drug Administration approval in 1995. Minneapolis-based Medtronic is the biggest maker of spinal implants, accounting for about half of the $7 billion market last year, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Critics in Congress and elsewhere are calling for a review of Medicare’s coverage of the procedures. Spinal-fusion claims cost Medicare $2.24 billion in 2008, up nearly 400 percent since 1997 after adjusting for inflation, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Blue Cross has tried to work with physicians for several years to develop guidelines on the procedures, but it hasn’t stemmed the surge in the number performed, Bradley said.
“We have tried the kinder, gentler approach,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that it takes looking at each case each time, but other approaches haven’t really worked.”
A Blue Cross patient or surgeon could appeal any denial of coverage, and the process would include at least one review by a physician who isn’t employed by the insurer, Bradley said.
In late September, the company notified spine surgery practices across the state about the new rules. Before issuing the new policy, officials met with several spine surgeons in the Chapel Hill area and incorporated their input into the new rules.
In some cases, where doctors have tried physical therapy and other types of treatment, the only other option may be surgery, Wake Forest’s Wilson said. “To say you’re not going to cover them at all, you’re hurting some patients,” he added. “We don’t want there to be patients left suffering.”
Blue Cross continually reviews its coverage policies and makes adjustments based on the latest medical guidelines, Bradley said. But the new rules will take effect Jan. 1, despite the outcry from surgeons.
“We always listen to providers,” he said. “It’s unlikely we would not implement this. But if there’s new data that says our criteria are incorrect, we’ll be open to that.”
Tags: back pain, back surgery, decompression, discs, healing, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, spinal fusion
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Monday, December 13th, 2010
The following article is a repost from Newsmax.com. You can read the original post here.
There are many myths about back pain including:
Myth 1: The spine can be easily injured.
Fact: One of the most common back pain myths is that compared with the rest of the body, the spine – being extremely delicate – is more prone to injury and can be easily injured. The truth is, that the spine is not delicate, as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support and surround the spine render it a very well designed and sturdy structure that is both supportive and flexible.
Myth 2: Lower back pain increases with age and becomes debilitating.
Fact: One myth is that lower back pain at a younger age gradually gets worse as we grow older. Research suggests that, on average, lower back pain reaches its peak between the ages of 35 and 55. After the age of 55, back pain treatment may be required to treat the problem of disc degeneration that occurs as part of the aging process as a natural phenomenon. Spinal paralysis is not genetic and lower back pain is not among its symptoms. However, spinal tumors, spinal infections, and unstable spine fractures do increase the risk of spinal paralysis.
Myth 3: Causes of back pain are hereditary.
Fact: You cannot assume that your lower back pain is due to a genetic predisposition. Parents play absolutely no role in passing their lower back pain on to you.
Myth 4: Causes of back pain can only be discovered by expensive MRI scans.
Fact: High-end diagnostic tests like MRI are not the only way to diagnose the underlying causes of back pain. This is one of those back pain myths that have no scientific basis whatsoever. While a good physical examination and a thorough analysis of a person’s medical history usually suffice in understanding the causes of back pain, only a few specific cases need diagnostic tests. This usually happens when the patient does not respond to any appropriate common back pain treatments. While the results of an MRI scan may suggest certain spinal abnormalities, there is enough medical evidence to prove that people with no lower back pain can sometimes have more serious problems and abnormalities like a herniated disc or a degenerative disc as revealed by their MRI results. In addition, lower back pain cannot be assumed to be a good indicator of the severity of spinal damage.
Myth 5: Active people don’t need back pain treatment.
Fact: Athletes, sportspersons, and home makers who lead an active life assume that they will never need back pain treatment. While a good amount of physical activity provides quicker back pain relief if the body is well-conditioned, there is no hard and fast rule that states that active individuals are less prone to lower back pain compared to sedentary individuals. Irrespective of the level of activity, an individual may need back pain treatment. In fact, some sports such as golf, volleyball, and gymnastics can sometimes lead to back pain.
Tags: back injuries, back pain, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, pain
Posted in Reposted from another source | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
Did you know that virtually all back braces on the market today are based on the same working concept that was first developed way back in 650 A.D.? Sounds crazy but it’s true. That concept has been to immobilize the area of the back that is experiencing the pain. Immobilization is best accomplished using a belt or brace that squeezes tightly, similar to a woman’s corset. This is referred to as constriction.
However, in the 1990’s with the onset popularity of spinal decompression therapy one company designed a new kind of brace from scratch…a brace that could achieve a similar effect achieved during decompression therapy. (Decompression therapy is the use of computer guided spinal adjustments that targets herniated or bulging discs while you are lying on a spinal decompression therapy table. The adjustments expand the space between the two compressed vertebrae thus allowing the disc to distract [return] into its proper place and begin healing.)
The resulting new brace is the SR 500…a brace that inflates with air and expands vertically once adorned. As it expands vertically it pushes up against the rib cage and down against the pelvic girdle. This action helps offset the effect of gravity and stretches the lower spine thus creating decompression.
Since its invention and introduction to the U.S. market, the SR 500 has gained many fans, sworn advocates and users. The exclusive US distributor of the SR 500 is Spinal Rehab Solutions, Inc. (and the owner of this blog). It has received numerous testimonial letters at its offices in Henderson, NV. Many of them tell of how the SR 500 has practically healed them, saved them from spinal surgery and/or has afforded them a normal life again. The following is one such testimony:
“I have been using the SR 500 for about 18 months now. I first injured my back over 17 years ago when I fell on a ceramic tile floor. The fall caused my L5 disc to bulge. Since then my lower back had gotten worse as my discs had degenerated. No doctor or surgeon could help me. Weekly visits to my chiropractor were all that was saving me. During this time I never stopped looking for a remedy. Every three months or so I would use Google to search for various key words for back pain remedies. Then finally I found the SR 500 and I have been wearing it religiously since. I love it! It works! I can definitely tell my back is finally healing. I am no longer in pain and am even able to start exercising again. My chiropractor even got mad at me because he knows I am doing something that is healing my back but I haven’t told him what! I estimate that in another 6 months my back will be totally healed.”
Kathy Benkert
Lathrup Village, Michigan
Here is another testimonal from a gentleman in Kansas City, KS–a man that happens to actually work in the medical equipment supply industry and was already familiar with the various constriction braces on the market. Here is what he had to say:
“I was first introduced to the SR 500 Brace at a company training. Spinal Rehab Solutions founder and CEO Steven Fontana had flown out to our corporate headquarters in Kansas City, KS, to educate our staff on how this new brace works so we could best represent it to our client base. As Steven began to explain how the brace creates decompression of the spine by lodging up under the rib cage and pushing down against the pelvic girdle, my interest immediately began to intensify.
I approached Steven after the training to inquire about getting one. I explained to him how I had been suffering from chronic back pain for the last 8 years (since my spinal compression fracture) and was on the verge of agreeing to back surgery.
Steven was kind enough to leave me with a sample brace and I began wearing it that day. I was very anxious to see if it would do what Steven claimed it would do—decompress my spine. I had a 3 day ministry convention coming up where I would be standing in a booth long periods of time. I figured that would be the ultimate test for the SR 500.
Well, it has been a month since I first started wearing the brace and I can honestly say I am very blessed to have received it. My back pain is pretty much eliminated. I still wear the SR 500 from 2 to 4 hours per day. If I have a particularly long day on my feet, or have to do a lot of walking, or any serious lifting (not often, but occasionally) I still feel that old ache… but it is SIGNIFICANTLY improved! So much so, that I have really put off the idea of surgery!
I used to have nights when I couldn’t sleep, even with pretty heavy doses of anti-inflammatory medication, and sometimes even with prescription pain meds; I have not had a sleepless night (well, at least from back pain) since about a week after I began wearing the SR 500.
I wore the SR 500 for most of the time that I worked the 3-day ministry conference; I wore it under my polo, over a t-shirt, and it was quite comfortable for the extended hours I worked our booth. I am gearing up to work another 3 day festival on Labor Day weekend, and will be counting on my SR 500 to pull me through again!
Thanks again to Steven and Spinal Rehab Solutions for providing this incredible product to me. I’m serious… I LOVE it!”
Jim Gillespie
Knit-Rite
Kansas City, KS
If you suffer from a bulging or ruptured disc please consider the SR 500 brace. It could help you like it has helped thousands already. You must first obtain a prescription from your doctor. Most insurance companies will cover the SR 500 as will Medicare. If your doctor is not familiar with the SR 500 you may want to visit www.SpinalRehabSolutions.com and print off appropriate material to take to him/her. If your doctor still will not prescribe you one (although rare, it has happened. Some doctors just don’t like new things or change, or they may have financial motives to steer you toward surgery or other remedies), then please move on to another doctor, or call the Spinal Rehab offices at 702-586-5107 to inquire about a doctor in your area that is known to be familiar with the SR 500.
Happy healing!
Tags: back brace, back pain, back surgery, chiropractics, decompression, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, pain, spinal brace, spinal decompression, spine, sr 500
Posted in Articles by Michael Harris | No Comments »
Friday, October 29th, 2010
If you were to do a search online for the “SR 500” you would likely come up with some links to a Yamaha motorcycle. You would also find the SR 500 is the given product name for a certain type of back brace, however, the SR 500 is no normal brace. Normal braces—or braces that are “common” on the market—are constriction braces. This means exactly what the term implies…they constrict. They are designed to cinch tight around the abdomen to immobilize the area. The theory is less movement less pain.
This simple logic has been the “backbone” of back bracing theory for hundreds of years. Then in the mid 1980s a new kind of treatment started to take hold in America—spinal decompression. By the late 1990s decompression therapy had made significant advances in technology and popularity. It was about that time that a Korean Medical company asked the question: Why can’t there be a brace that produces some of the same effects as decompression therapy?
The result of that question led to the world’s first ever decompression brace. I’ll spare you the details of exactly how it evolved, but evolve it did to what is now known as the SR 500. So let’s take an inside-out look at the SR 500. What makes it unique? What makes it a “decompression” brace?
First of all, the SR 500 is not a constriction brace. It does not immobilize the spine. When properly adorned, it actually promotes healthy movement. This helps avoid muscle atrophy which is a known side effect of the constriction back brace.
What the SR 500 does is expand vertically. In order to obtain a decompression effect, the designers created unique air chambers or cells made of a rubber bladder-like material that, when filled with air, expand upward. As they expand they cause the overall profile of the belt to grow from just 4 inches in height to over 7 inches in vertical height. As it does it lodges up under the rib cage pushing upwards and down against the pelvic girdle pushing downwards. The result is an unloading of the lumbar spine as the weight-bearing forces are offset. As this occurs, something quite magical takes place inside the spine. Discs that have been “compressed” due to an injury (such as a herniated or bulging disc) or due to a long life of poor health and poor posture (results are disc degeneration) can now “decompress.” That means they can distract or facilitate back into their original space and shape. As they do they reabsorb any lost fluids and begin to heal.
The decompression effect achieved by the SR 500 is a scaled down version of the decompression achieved on a decompression table at a qualified chiropractor’s office. Decompression tables use computer guided micro movements to target and adjust specific discs for short periods of time while the patient is on the table. This pinpointed effect has produced thousands of positive results for chronic back pain sufferers. The SR 500 offers the chance to continue decompression into the home between visits or after the therapy ends. It serves as a perfect supplement to the table treatments and it has helped speed the recovery of many patients. It has even allowed many patients freedom from pain killers and the elimination of the possibility of spinal surgery.
Included with the SR 500 is a hand pump that has a built in pressure gauge to insure proper inflation, a owner’s manual and a laundry bag. The SR 500 is 100% machine washable. The brace also comes with a rigid front and rear panel for those individuals who need more spinal stability in the initial stages of healing.
The design behind the SR 500 is patent protected and is available by prescription only. Medicare and private insurance companies reimburse for the brace. Visit your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist or other care provider to inquire about obtaining your own SR 500. You may want to visit www.spinalrehabsolutions.com first and print off some information to show your provider in case he/she is not familiar with this type of brace.
Tags: back brace, back injuries, back pain, back surgery, chiropractics, decompression, discs, distraction, Durable Medical Equipment, healing, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, pain, spinal brace, spinal decompression, Spinal Rehab Solutions, spine, sr 500
Posted in Articles by Michael Harris | 10 Comments »
Monday, September 27th, 2010
See if this sounds familiar: Man is in pain. Man goes to doctor. Doctor prescribes pain medication. Man feels better. Prescription runs out. Pain comes back. Man goes back to doctor. Man gets prescription renewed. Man does this many more times. Man eventually gets surgery and fixes source of pain, has a full recovery. Man no longer needs pain meds for pain, doctor discontinues prescribing them. But man still needs pain meds…because he is addicted. Man resorts to obtaining pain meds illegally. Man eventually gets caught and suffers public humiliation. Man goes to rehab and finally becomes free of his addiction.
Sound crazy? Think it is unfathomable that our great medical system could aid in the addiction of an otherwise upstanding man? See Rush Limbaugh.
The truth is hundreds of thousands of individuals are hooked on narcotic pain medications every year. And who can blame them? Pain hurts and so do withdrawal symptoms.
In the last few decades a different thought trend has emerged for dealing with pain. Appropriately called “alternative pain management,” this trend has grown into an industry providing many products and services that thousands of chronic pain sufferers rely upon on a daily basis.
A new study by David Eisenberg, M.D found that total visits to alternative medicine practitioners jumped 47% from 427 million in 1990, to 629 million in 1997 which easily topped the 386 million visits to primary-care doctors.
Here is your quick rundown on the top trends in alternative pain management.
TENS
Tens stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Transcutaneous (trans-kyoo-tey-nee-uhs) means “through, or by way of the skin.” TENS sends electrical impulses via electrodes or conductive garments to occupy the nerve pathways with a more comfortable sensation which overrides the pain. TENS recently was recognized by the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Task Force on Chronic Pain Management as an effective mode of pain relief. (Read full article here.)
Chiropractics
Despite its growing acceptance even within “mainstream” medicine, Chiropractics still has its doubters. Yet it has far more advocates. Golfers and other pro sports individuals will often employ a private Chiropractor. The practice has been growing in popularity here in the U.S. since the early 80’s.
Decompression
Usually administered by a specialized Chiropractor, decompression is very effective for disc-related back pain sufferers. The patient is harnessed on a table and a computer uses micro movements to slightly expand the amount of space between the vertebrae.
Visceral Manipulation
This is practice of “massaging” internal organs and the membrane that supports them. When an organ is damaged the membrane that holds it in place can stiffen forcing the surrounding organs to move around it. Visceral manipulation has helped thousands with ailments ranging from lower back pain to heart and lung problems.
Acupuncture
Got pain? Fix it by sticking dozens of needles in you. Sounds fun doesn’t it? Acupuncture dates way back to ancient China. It works by altering the senses of the nerves surrounding the area in pain. Reviews have been mixed as with most alternative approaches. Some swear by it, others get nothing out of it.
Yoga
Combining the art of meditation and stretching, yoga is the ultimate heal-yourself approach to dealing with pain. There is no shortage of believers either. But like most alternative approaches, science can’t find any solid evidence to back up the claims of the thousands who swear by it.
There are many other alternative approaches to managing pain in addition to these front runners. If you are in pain it may be in your best interest to try some of these remedies first before accepting a potential addictive regimen of pain killers. Who knows, you may even be able to avoid a surgery and improve your overall health. And good health is the number one preventative medicine to keep you out of pain in the first place!
Tags: acupuncture, back brace, back pain, chiropractics, decompression, discs, DME, DMEPOS, Durable Medical Equipment, Electric Muscle Stimulation, electro therapy, healing, herniated disc, HME, Home Medical Equipment, TENS, visceral manipulation
Posted in Articles by Michael Harris | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
I recently read a Q and A session on a European blog where individuals could ask a doctor about a certain situation in their personal health lives and the doc would respond.
One particular question a woman was asking about her 70-year old mother’s back pain. The response was lengthy and informative so I have taken the liberty to copy what was said and post it here for your educational reading.
“My mother has severe pain in her lower back and legs. An MRI scan showed ‘cauda equina’ compression and a slipped vertebra. She was told the only treatment is an operation but the outcome will not be that good and may even make things worse. She was given Gabapentin for the pain but it hasn’t helped, and she’s constantly crying and unable to do anything. Are there any other treatments?”
Dr Scurr says… Your mother is stuck between a rock and a hard place. But as is so often the case, communication is everything, and what is significant is that you’ve been led to believe the outcome of surgery ‘will not be that good’.
While I agree there’s a possibility an operation may not help, and under exceptional circumstances could make matters worse, the balance of probability is her pain will be reduced and she’ll be able to get back to normal life.
Hers is a common problem, so it is worth describing what’s going on. The cauda equina (or ‘horse’s tail’) are the group of nerves which travel from halfway down the back. They run through the spinal canal, a channel about the thickness of your little finger which is situated behind the vertebrae.
The scan revealed your mother has degenerative disease (often referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis), which has put pressure on those nerves. This is usually because a disc between two vertebrae is breaking up or bulging.
Sometimes the pressure is due to lack of space when new bone has formed in the spinal canal (a condition known as osteophyte formation). This is due to damage and inflammation caused by arthritis.
The medical term for this lack of space in the spinal canal is spinal stenosis. It is very common, probably affecting almost all of us to some extent as we age, though not to this degree.
All this pressure on the cauda equina causes severe back pain and some pain in the buttocks and legs, usually relieved only by lying down. It’s a disabling and miserable condition, and it usually worsens.
Your poor mother’s stenosis is being compounded by a slipped vertebra (spondylolisthesis). Imagine a pile of three cotton reels, one on top of another, then gently push the middle one; the cotton reel holes are no longer lined up, so that the bundle of nerves running down the middle are at best kinked, at worst crushed.
This slippage is caused by degeneration of the ligaments and muscles which support the vertebrae, and is the result of a sedentary lifestyle combined with natural ageing.
By the time it gets to this stage, other options, such as good physiotherapy, are very limited.
The spinal stenosis can be relieved by laminectomy, trimming the bone behind the cauda equina to open up enough space for the nerves to travel free of pressure.
To tackle the spondylolisthesis the surgeon will stabilise the vertebrae using screws, bone grafts, or both (a technique known as spinal fusion).
The combination of the two procedures constitutes major surgery, but it is routine, i.e. thousands of such operations are performed every year, and it’s the best potential route for your mother to be pain-free and mobile once again.
Gabapentin can be effective in the treatment of pain, caused by damage to nerve tissue. The dose has to be adjusted upwards, slowly, to reach a level that provides relief, although in this type of problem, which is caused by the crushing of nerves, the chances of success are limited.
You need to tackle the cause, and that means having the courage to go through with an operation.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1299793/Ask-doctor-Is-surgery-cure-pain.html#ixzz0vgGF8Sxy
Personally I wonder if decompression therapy would help her, or are her joints and ligaments too deteriorated? Wearing a decompression brace such as our SR 500 would certainly help relieve some of the pressure and be a good indicator as to whether decompression may work.
Tags: back brace, back pain, back surgery, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, spinal brace, spinal decompression, spine, sr 500
Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
The following is a repost. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article.
All back pain is not created equally. The way pain in the back presents itself can be a clue to what kind of problem exists and therefore what to do about it. A proper assessment is crucial in order to begin relief and training to prevent recurrence of the cause.
Pain in the low back that does not radiate to the legs or buttocks is called lumbago. This pain will be described as an ache that may become sharp with certain movements. The pain can start suddenly or gradually and often the actual cause of it may not be known. Generally, lumbago is thought to be caused by overusing a weak back. Lifting, gardening, cleaning the house or other seemingly innocent physical chores may be enough to bring on lumbago. Sudden onset lumbago may be caused by a disc injury, muscle strains or spinal joint misalignment or irritation. Gradual onset lumbago may be caused by many things like postural problems, weak muscles or muscle imbalances, sacroiliac joint problems or poor sitting positions at work or while driving and spinal misalignment. Treatment can include heat if the pain is not of sudden onset or has continued for more than three or four days, spinal realignment such as a chiropractic adjustment, rest and massage. Lumbago can go away only to return sometime later. If this happens, an exercise program with a trainer is recommended to strengthen the back to prevent the problem in the future.
Pain in the lower back and or buttocks which radiates down one or both legs is called sciatica. Sciatica is not a condition, it is a symptom which can be caused by a long list of problems which cause pressure on the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower spine and pelvis into the legs and all the way to the toes. Causes include inflammation, disc bulges, disc herniation, piriformis muscle syndrome or something less common, like tumors, bony growths or infection. Sciatica can be accompanied by…[read full article here]
Tags: back pain, back surgery, discs, healing, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, nerves, neurological disease
Posted in Reposted from another source | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010
Tags: back brace, back pain, back surgery, DME, Durable Medical Equipment, herniated disc, Lower Back Pain, pain, prescription drug addiction, spinal brace, spinal decompression, spine, sr 500
Posted in Articles by Michael Harris | 2 Comments »
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