Our Discs Are Made Of Water, Don’t Keep Them Thirsty!

Water is essential to keep our discs healthy. Our disc is made up of an inner nucleus and an outer annulus. The inner part is more fluid filled. It was made this way to support the body weight and also to support you against the forces of gravity.

These discs also function to allow us to twist, move, lift, and so on. Dehydrated discs will not only have limited support, but also decreased tensile strength.

Also, muscles put pressure and tension on the spine and discs. Muscles that are not properly hydrated often cramp or spasm easier. Muscle spasms put unwanted stress on our structure and therefore our nerves and spine are irritated.

It tends to be a downward spiral … As one area gets aggravated, it tends to cause problems in other areas. For example: muscle alignment problems may cause disc problems, and disc issues may cause more serious nerve problems … The point is- keep your body hydrated, it will not only keep your muscles happy, but it will keep your discs healthy.

Keep in mind too, that the discs are the whole way up the spine. The spine has 24 vertebrae or spinal bones and there is a disc between each one with exeption of the 1st and 2nd cervical bones which is a slightly different joint. There is also one between L5 (your 5th lumbar) and S1 (the sacrum - basically the tailbone). We typically find that L5 and then L4 take the most amount of stress but every disc must remain healthy to keep your spine healthy.

One fact also to remember is that, if you feel thirsty your body has already been dehydrated for some time. So, keep yourself hydrated and drink more water.


CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• Various Lumbar Disc Conditions
  
• Video showing decompression and how it pulls nutrients and H20 in the discs.
  
• Decompression helps hydrate disc
  
• Discover How To Achieve Radiant Health By Naturally And Effectively Eliminating Toxins And Fat Everyday, Using Only Water.
  

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The Differences In Various Lumber Disc Conditions…

I often have patients that bring in their MRI report page with a very confused look on their face. Doctor- can you tell me what this word means?

The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae or spinal segments. Between each segment is a disc. This disc acts as a shock absorber so we can do things like: run, jump, twist, and lift. It also acts as a spacer between segments forming a hole between spinal vertebrae. L1 refers to Lumbar 1, L2- Lumbar2, and so on. There is an L1 to L5, then you hit the sacrum which is often referred to as S1.

Disc problems are often classified into one or more of the following conditions:

• Disc Degeneration- this is age related breakdown of the disc. This is often synonymous with disc desiccation and is accompanied with fibrosis and osteophyte formation of adjacent vertebrae.
  
  
• Disc Desiccation- a disc that has fibrosed or hardened due to loss of water content. You see the disc is made up of an annulus (outer fibers which are slightly harder), then the inner nucleus which is more of a gel-like material.
  
  
  
• An annular tear refers to any disruption in the outer disc fibers. Besides a tear you can also have a rupture of the annulus fibrosis. The annulus is the outer ring of the disc.
  
  
• When someone has a herniated disc they have disc material that has broken out through the annulus. The nucleus pulposis is displaced beyond the margins of the vertebrae.
  
  
• Next is a Disc Protrusion- It is basically another name for a herniated disc. There are two types; focal disc protrusions or broad based disc protrusions. Focal is when the disc protrusion is less than 25% of the disc circumference. A broad based protrusion is when the disk protrusion encompasses 25-50% of the disc circumference.
  
  
  
• When the disc that has herniated out is more wide than it is long (meaning how far it is reaching outward) it is a Protruding Disc vs. the next definition.
  
  
  
• Extruded Disc- this means the disc has come outward further than it is wide. Extruded discs can also be classified as sequestered or migrated discs.
  
  
  
• Sequestered disc- Also called a migrated disc, is when that extrusion breaks free from its connection to the rest of the disc material and is now a free fragment or “fragmented disc.”
  

Additional Reading Resources

• The Most Common Disc Herniation in the Neck
  
• Understanding A Disc Problem with a Jelly Donut: Herniated Disc or Slipped Disc?
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

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CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Are you Afraid of the H1N1 Virus....

Is This Plentiful And Inexpensive Berry The Answer To Swine Flu?

More you should know: If you want to kill germs - Is it better to wash your hands in hot or cold water?

Are you afraid of the H1N1 virus… or what is commonly know as “swine flu?” If you are – you are not alone.

Everywhere you look H1N1 is the hot topic. It’s all over the news – every day. It’s the talk at the water cooler and public schools. Even the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and his staff have made several speeches and announcements about the possible dangers and implications of this virus.

Some say H1N1 is extremely dangerous… while others say it is over-hyped and no more harmful than the seasonal flu.

There are many places you can go on the internet to read about it; however, it is not the purpose of this newsletter to try to convince you one way or another about it.
But, one thing is clear: Whether H1N1 is deadly… or just makes you miserable for a week or two or three…

Chances Are, You Don’t Want To
Deal With It… PERIOD!!!

Right? Seriously – who even wants a little head cold for a day or two – much less “the swine?”

So, if there was a way to make sure you and your family doesn’t get H1N1… would you be interested?

Better yet: if this prevention were easy to get, inexpensive, and had absolutely NO SIDE EFFECTS… wouldn’t that be great?

Well, there is no “perfect” way to avoid H1N1. No one knows how effective the vaccine is going to be… yet. Or what the side effects will be. Only time and research will tell.

Your choice to vaccinate yourself and your family is a personal one and should come with some education on the issue. The purpose of this newsletter is not to make that decision for you or sway you in any way. Instead, it is to inform you about H1N1.

For example, did you know that there is an inexpensive and plentiful berry that has been shown to be helpful in treating Influenza A and Influenza B?

This berry is the elderberry. The extract of the black elderberry is called “sambucol.”

A small study published in 2004 showed 93% of flu patients given Sambucol were completely symptom-free within two days, while those taking a placebo recovered in about six days. This study treated people who had Influenza B.

H1N1 is subtype of Influenza A and now a study shows that it works for Influenza A as well.

Ering Thom with the University of Oslo in Norway reported the findings at the 15th Annual Conference on Antiviral Research.

Here are the findings according to WebMD and Wikipedia: There were 60 patients who had been suffering with flu symptoms for 48 hours or less. Ninety percent were infected with the A strain of the virus and 10% were infected with type B.
Fifty percent of the infected group took 15 milliliters of Sambucol (Elderberry extract). The other 50% took a placebo four times a day for five days.

Patients who took 15 milliliters of Sambucol had "pronounced improvements" in flu symptoms after three days. “Nearly 90% of patients had complete cure within two to three days. Also, the Sambucol group had no drowsiness, the downside of many flu treatments.”

The placebo group didn't do nearly as well. Without the elderberry extract, they did not recover until at least day six. They also took more medications such as painkillers and nasal sprays.

Erin Thom said Elderberry extract could be an "efficient and safe treatment" for flu symptoms in otherwise healthy people and for those with compromised immune systems, such as the elderly.

Russell Greenfield, MD, a leading practitioner of integrative medicine and Medical Director of Carolinas Integrative Health, is quoted on WebMD as saying: "It can be given to children and adults with no known side effects or negative interactions."

Is It A “Cure-All”?

Is Elderberry a “cure-all” for Influenza A (like H1N1) or Influenza B? Not even close. But, it is obviously something that should be further researched and the facts should be known so you can make an educated decision based on fact and not just clever marketing, hysteria or fear.

It is important to look into your options BEFORE you get sick. No matter what route you choose. Being informed early is the key.

Is It Better To Wash Your Hands In
Hot Or Cold Water To Kill Germs?

One last tip about staying “swine flu” free…

It is commonly known that one of the best ways to not get sick with common colds or the flu is to keep your hands away from your mouth and eyes and wash them with soap and water frequently. But, is it better to wash your hands in hot or cold water?

Hot… right? Even the FDA, in its literature, recommends hot over cold because it removes bacteria harboring oils. Not according to a recent study. In a 2005 report in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, scientists found NO DIFFERENCE in bacterial reduction between the use of hot or cold water.

Bottom line:
wash your hands in water that is comfortable.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• Swine/Seasonal Flu-Homeopathic/Herbal Prevention And Cure
  
• Dr.Oz Talks about Prescription Pain Medication
  
• How Chiropractic Can Help you Stay Healthy
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Do I Have Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is diagnosed typically from looking at an MRI along with the usual medical history and physical exam. Spinal stenosis is a closure of the spinal canal. This can result from inflammation of certain ligaments, spinal degeneration, disc bulging and/or disc herniations, spinal deformities, or possibly a tumor.

Imagine a hose, water can travel through it with no difficulty. Now put a bunch of crud at one pint in the hose, or kink the hose and you start to get problems. Your spinal cord carrying important nerve impulses travels down this canal; any blockage inhibits the flow of this information.

Due to low back stenosis, you can get pressure causing back pain, leg numbness, or something even worse. Typically the pressure from stenosis is gradual. The scary thing is that this pressure can be building and you don’t necessarily know it. Then eventually when the stenosis becomes sever and the pressure on the nerves is more severe or more continuous, then you get symptoms. Symptoms like back pain, sciatica, leg numbness, or something similar.



Surgery may be recommended if bowel or bladder control is lost, or if there is a tumor, or severe stenosis is discovered. Mild-moderate, and even in some cases of severe lumbar stenosis, the following treatments may provide significant relief:
1. Chiropractic care- which has been proven to be the most effective and safest treatment for lower back issues.
2. Physical Therapy or specific lower back exercises- this helps restore ranges of motion and strengthens lower back muscles needed to heal the back.
3. Lumbar Inversion- a form of lumbar traction that’s cheap, effective, and easy to do.
4. Lumbar Spinal Decompression- (Non-Surgical Decompression with the DRX9000). This is my favorite option because it has an extremely high success rate with very low recurrence rate of back pain or leg pain. Much more effective than simple traction or inversion, but you have to find a medical doctor or chiropractor that provides this service.


CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• Glossary of terms like stenosis
  
• Lose the Back Pain System
  
• Information on Neck Pain
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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