About 250,000 patients undergo lumbar spine surgery each year. almost 50% will not gain the desired outcome and up to 15% will be worse off following surgery.   Common symptoms of disc related pain are:

1. Muscle Weakness
2. Pain shooting down through the buttock and thigh into the back of your leg
3. Pain when you cough, sneeze, strain, or have a bowel movement
4. Pain and/or tingling  in the shoulder, arm or hand
5.  Incontinence brought on by affected nerves to the bladder and bowel

So the spinal disc can contribute to some forms of back/neck pain depending on the severity and longevity of your symptoms.  Understanding the spinal disc and their function will lead to a healthier back.

Basically the spinal discs are cartilage pads between spinal bones filled with a jellylike center.  Think of your car tire, the steel belts are just like the fibrous layers of the disk with the jellylike fluid center where the rim would be.  The disc acts as a connector and spacer / shock absorber for the spine.  When the disc is healthy it is flexible, strong and allows normal turning and bending.

Like most ligaments the spinal disc has poor circulation and blood supply, so movement is critical for proper circulation of joint fluids to bring nutrients in and waste products out.   So proper spinal joint movement acts like a pump to move fluids in and out of the joint and its spinal disc.   As the disc dries out it can become more fragile, brittle and less flexible.  This is how disc problems begin.  Repeated traumas, pressures, and lack of movement can cause a spinal disc to tear from the inside out which leads to disc bulges, herniation or even a rupture.   This causes abnormal pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots which leads to pain and impaired function.

The chiropractic approach to these disc injuries is to restore proper motion to the disc and its related spinal joint.  The adjustments will reduce the disc bulge increase circulation and reduce inflammation and begin the slow process of healing.  Once chiropractic restores mobility and initial stability then we introduce specific exercises to strengthen the surrounding tissues and address the cause of your disc injury not just the symptoms.  Each persons injury is unique so results to chiropractic care and customized exercises will vary.  In our experience with these type of spinal injuries early intervention is best and we can specific nutritional to assist decreasing inflammation and increase healing.

Fun Fact: There are 23 discs in the human spine and as we age the fluid content of these discs begins to dry out.  Just a 1/8″ loss in each of the 23 spinal discs would equal almost 3″ loss in overall body height.  For more information on back pain check out our Free eBook at www.yourwalnutcreechiropractor.com.  At Total Health Chiropractic we have many different treatment modalities to address your unique health crisis.

Dr. Haake

The top three diseases that effect the elderly population are arthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disease (Blood Pressure, heart disease, and stroke).  These diseases are currently treated; once developed with prescription medications.

Did you know that these prescription drugs are used to only manage the symptoms of a disease and they do not restore normal function nor can they maintain health.  Once you develop one of the top three diseases prescription medication is used to maintain a better quality of life, but realize you can still be proactive and manage a disease at the same time.

Whether you are approaching your golden years or  any age in between 20 to 80; life style issues are the same.

Stay Active-Stay Strong: Age or being young and sedentary can rob your physical strength, decrease muscle mass / bone mass, slow digestion and lower immunity.  The Solution: is regular exercise, a sound and nutrient packed diet, nutritional supplements for mineral and bone support.  If exercise is a problem try classes, community swimming, or home recumbent equipment.  Seek initial supervision / examination and planning through a Health-Coach to get started.

Regular Examinations: If you are already in your golden years or in your 20’s you should have annual examinations / physicals / or selected examinations for known health risks.  The Solution: Keep your annual physical biometrics such as blood pressure, blood sugar, body weight, cholesterol, triglycerides, vitamin D values To track any changes so early intervention can be implemented or other testing can be performed.

Set  Health Goals: Health goals keep you on track to better quality of life and motivate you to stay healthy.  They are usually challenging but attainable or realistic.  Once reached reward yourself for a healthy job well done!  The Solution: In your golden years try staying in touch with friends and family, involve your life with social events and hobbies.  In your twenties try being more active aerobically and lower daily stress with better coping strategies.

Realize 80 percent of disease is preventable and the younger you start the better off you will be.  In your golden years realize that medication alone will not cure a disease and being proactive goes along way in really managing a disease or health condition.

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