Do I have Fibromyalgia?

To help determine if someone has Fibromyalgia (FMS) they will typically have the following symptoms:

1. Pain that is often described as “all over.” The pain is often in multiple regions of the body and can change often. Sometimes it’s worse than others; sometimes pain occurs more due to precipitating factors; other times it comes and goes with no rhyme or reason.
2. Tender points throughout the body. These are typically local tender spots, meaning they don’t refer to pain to another area like a muscular trigger point.
3. Fatigue is another common symptom. This can often be an overall sense of being tired or also a feeling like your muscles are tired and weak.
4. Morning joint stiffness or stiffness from being in one position too long. This is usually an extreme stiffness and can make it difficult to work or enjoy a leisurely outing or get-together.
5. Extreme sensitivity- this could mean touch, smell, noise, light, vibration, etc … Everything tends to translate to pain.
6. Disturbances in sleep. People with Fibromyalgia often complain that they wake up feeling more tired than when they went to bed.

The mystery of Fibromyalgia is what really causes the pain and the condition itself. However it appears to be some form of nervous system disorder. This may be one reason chiropractic treatments help with Fibromyalgia pain. Chiropractic adjustments help to relieve nervous system pressure allowing your body to function better.

If you or someone you know suffers from Fibromyalgia or Fibromyalgia related pain, call our office to find out if we may be able to help.


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:

• Chiropractor Glastonbury
  
• Glastonbury Chiropractic Blog
  
• Study shows cold laser helps with fibro pain
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Free Report On Spinal Decompression
  

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Low Back STrain vs. A Low Back SPrain

A strain typically refers to the muscle and a sprain usually involves the joint or tendons and ligaments. Because in an injury both tend to be effected, we often refer to the condition as a strain/sprain.

Basically, tendons connect muscles, ligaments connect bone to muscle and they cross joints. So, based on this, it’s often difficult to isolate one injury from another.

Both a strain and a sprain can be from an acute injury, but they can often be a result of a chronic condition that has been there, but is re-injured or re-exacerbated.

For example, you can get a new low back injury or pain that can strain or sprain the low back, but you can also re-injure your low back.

However, the back pain which started as a low back strain or sprain is treated very well with chiropractic care. When it’s disc pain, the spinal decompression works best.


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:

• chiropractic glastonbury
  
• chiropractor video
  
• support belt for a lower back strain or sprain
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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What Kind Of Pillow Should I Sleep With?

A very common question in the office that patients often ask is: "What is the best neck pillow to use for sleeping?"

My answer most often is our cervical traction pillow. When we first started in practice we tried alot of pillows and supports. The traction pillow, by far, has given us the best and most consistant results. Nine out of ten customer and/or patient's of our absolutely love it.

Not only does it help one hold their neck adjustments better, it also helps align the spine as well. So most often if you are looking for a comfortable pillow that will give you a good nights sleep, improve neck posture, and help keep neck pain away, try the traction pillow.

If you have specific questions or concerns about your neck, give our office a call and we can help.

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:

• Information abour our favorite neck pillow
  
• More neck pillows and postural supports.
  
• More serious neck traction to correct your neck curve
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Lifting Weights may help Improve Back Pain

Lifting weights is the absolute best way to build lean muscle and reduce body fat. This kind of exercise also helps the body cleanse.

First of all, when your body has more muscle, it will ultimately burn more fat. Stronger muscles help prevent injury and having less fat or less weight can help too. As we put more weight on, it often becomes difficult for our body to support this added weight. Unlike muscle that is more proportional, excess fat tends to pool more in specific areas, causing postural shifts and uneven stress on our spines.

By lifting weight and exercising the body will also need more oxygen, breathing helps detox the body. This, along with sweating are two natural methods to help the body stay healthy. Along with these also comes drinking more water. As you sweat and lift weights, you will also be thirsty because you lose fluids. Water will also help cleanse the body.

Lastly, lifting free weights helps build a lot of the core stabilizing muscles. These are all the little muscles that help with balance. Using machines allows you to focus more on one particular muscle. While this is good for certain things, for strengthening your back and improving pain it’s better to work the core and improve balance.

Additional Reading Resources

• Chiropractic care for a Healthy Back
  
• Can An Inversion Table Help My Lower Back Pain?
  
• Don't make your Back Pain An Excuse for Everything
  
• 10 Problems with your Chair that Can Contribute to Lower Back Pain
  
• 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

Stop Making your Low Back Pain Worse.

Today’s post comes from my March newsletter that I mail to all of my patients.

I often get many questions about what to do and what not to do when some one is in pain. Should I use ice or heat? What kind of exercise should I help me feel better ? Can I still work at my job with this pain ? When a patient enters my office for treatment of their lower back, it may include spinal manipulation, adjustments, muscle therapy, or non surgical spinal decompression. It also includes patient education in regards to heat/ice, performing daily activities and exercise. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about lower back pain:

1. Should I use Heat or Ice?
   
   This topic is controversial, as often, patients will be told by their friends and family to use the opposite of what we may recommend to our patients. Often times when pain is presents inflammation also exists. Ice Therapy works best on this becuse it reduces the swelling and provides an analgesic effect (pain relief). When heat is improperly used during this inflammatory phase of healing, vasodilation or, an increase in blood supply to the already swollen injured area often results in an increase in pain. The use of heat may be safely applied later in the healing process during the reparative phase of healing, but as long as pain is present, using ice is usually safer and more effective.
   
   
   
2. Can I continue with my Daily Activities or my job?
   Improper methods of performing sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and lifting can perpetuate the inflammatory phase, slow down the healing process, increase pain and interfere/prevent people from returning to their desired activities of daily living, especially work. Improperly performing these routine activities is similar to picking at scab since you’re delaying the healing process and you can even make things worse for yourself. Sometimes it is better to wait and allow your body to heal before jumping into your regular activities.
   
   
3. Can I Exercise?
   There are many exercises available for patients with low back pain. When deciding on the type of exercise, the position the patient feels best or, the least irritating is usually the direction to emphasize.
   
   More specifically, for those who feel a reduction in pain when bending forward (referred to as "flexion-biased"), flexion exercises are usually indicated. Examples of these low back exercises include:
   
   
   
   
   • raising a single knee to chest
     
   • double knee to chest
     
   • posterior pelvic tilts
     
   • sitting forward flexion
     
   • hamstring stretches
   
   
   When bending backwards results in pain reduction (referred to as "extension-biased"), standing and bending backwards, performing a sagging type of pushup ("prone press-up"), laying backwards on large pillows or on a gym-ball are good exercises. The dosage or duration exercises must be determined individually and it is typically safer to start with 1 or 2 exercises and gradually increase the number as well as repetition and/or hold-times. If sharp/"bad" pain is noted, the patient is warned to discontinue that exercise and report this for further discussion with their chiropractor. It is normal and often a good sign when stretching/"good" pain is obtained at the end range of the exercise.

At CT Spine and Disc Center, we have recognized the importance of patient education in our approach to managing low back pain cases, and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Central Connecticut, in Glastonbury- 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:

• Glastonbury Chiropractor Offer Lower Back Pain Relief
  
• Can An Inversion Table Help My Back Pain?
  
• A Good Lumbar Support Belt Can Prevent Your Back Pain From Getting Worse
  
• Back Pain While Sleeping or After Sleep
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Can an Inversion Table help my Back Pain?

Yes, inversion is like traction. The DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression treatment is a much more advanced form of traction. In no way am I comparing the decompression to traction. Spinal decompression is really much different, it actually creates a suction effect at the disc level, helping to pull the discs back into place. Traction is simply a stretch which distracts the spine, opening it up.

I’ve had multiple patients that tried traction when they first injured their backs with no results. However, decompression did the trick, and relieved their back pain.

The reason I’m mentioning inversion traction is because there are times when it does give good results. What I have found is that once a patient is done with decompression, using an inversion machine periodically helps maintain patients low backs. Keeping your back maintained and healthy is extremely important. After doing DRX 9000 decompression you may be 100% and never need treatment again, but why take a chance? Many people use chiropractic, periodic decompression treatments, or an inversion table to maintain their back. It’s a smart thing to do and I highly recommend it.


Additional Reading Resources

• Teeter Hang-Up Inversion Table for Lower Back
  
  
• Best Treatments for Your Lower Back by Dr. Oz
  
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: Faq’s
  
  
• Lower Back Pain Relief: Supports, Traction, Back Rests & More
  
  
• 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