Climbing Out After the Big Snow Storm in Glastonbury Connecticut

Sorry for the long delay with posting to our Glastonbury Chiropractor Blog! We are finally getting back to business as usual after a freak storm that hit Connecticut on Saturday October 29. This was not just your run of the mill storm. 9 days it left us without power, without phones and off course, no internet. It uprooted century old trees- one of our neighbors in South Glastonbury had a sign on their lawn after a large tree was uprooted: " born: 1878, died 2011- 138 years old" Yep, trees came down as did power lines. It looked like a war zone in Glastonbury. I have never seen gas lines as long as they were. It seemed that the little town of South Glastonbury's Gas Station Irvine, was the only one open for miles. It took us 40 minutes and some scary minutes to fill up our vehicle.

The kids in our neighborhood didn't even get a true October 31 Halloween !

It was quite frustrating dealing with our power company CL & P- their reaction to the disaster was painstakingly slow. 800,000 customers without electricity, and the numbers were increasing. You would think after Hurricane Irene 8 weeks prior (for which we lost power for 5 days), the work would have been a little faster. But Nope, not so.

Off course some folks were lucky, they had a generator. This kept them going for a few days. At least with a generator you can have some semblance of normalcy. You can run your refrigerator, take a proper shower, and simply flush your toilet.

Lucky for us, my wife's sister was getting married on the November 5 weekend in Canada ! With no heat, no phones, and not being able to do anything really, we left for our trip earlier than planned. Getting out of Glastonbury was difficult, but well worth it. The timing could not have been more perfect. Even the Toronto Star- one of Ontario's main newspaper- featured Glastonbury CT and the storm damage.

Needless to say after the storm, we had storm related pain with patients as well. Picking up, or starting up the generator, chopping wood for their fire place, shoveling snow, and filling up their pellet stove. Lots of low back, midback and neck injuries. Its true, everyone suffered from this snow storm. These sprain/strain type of injuries can happen readily in emergency situations- you do much, lift too much, or bend over just the wrong way, and your back goes out. Emotionally, it can make you crazy too- we have mulitple stories from our patients about the agony of having no power ! If you suffered physically (and emotionally) from the recent CT Storm, visit our office. We can help you.

The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut- CT Spine and Disc Center specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call our chiropractic office at 860-633-8756 to schedule an appointment and to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Visit the Glastonbury Chiropractor on Facebook

Additional Reading Resources:

• Lumbar Belt for lower back pain
• Hot and Cold Therapy for low back sprain/strain
• Chiropractic care for neck and low back pain
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

Save this to Del.icio.us

Digg This !

Subscribe to CT Spine Disc Center by Email

Subscribe in a reader

What Specific Muscle Tightness do 90% of my Back Pain Patients Have?

Most have some tightness or spasm or maybe trigger points in the lower back musculature, but everyone is a little different. It might be tightness in the quadratrus lumborum, spasm of the paraspinals or knots in the gluteus medius.

As far as tightness goes for one specific muscle, the answer is hamstrings. Always keep in mind that the whole body works together and everything attaches. The calves attach to the hamstrings, the hamstring muscles to the gluteus muscles, and the gluts to the lower back.


Keeping the leg muscles loose is extremely helpful in restoring the low back’s function. The hamstrings are one of the biggest and most powerful muscles in the body. Stretching them on a regular basis will help your back. And now you know; if you are suffering from back pain, chances are you have some tightness in your hamstrings.


Picture Source: Meet the quadratus lumborum

Additional Reading Resources

• What Are The Best Exercises if You Have a Herniated Disc?
  
• Why is back Pain So Common?
  
• Back Pain When Standing
  
• Alternative to Back Surgery
  
• The Muscle Experiment- Bodyweight Training Program That Shows How To Build Pounds Of Massive Muscle without weights
  
  
  
  The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut- CT Spine and Disc Center specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call our chiropractic office at 860-633-8756 to schedule an appointment and to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Save this to Del.icio.us

Digg This !

Subscribe to CT Spine Disc Center by Email

Subscribe in a reader

Gardening Safely Without Pain

Here in Glastonbury Connecticut, we hit record a record high of 102 degrees F. Not the type of weather that you want to be out and about, but still it is the season to be doing outdoor activities such as gardening. Getting out into the sunshine is important for exercise and also to get our required vitamin D. Many patients spend hours getting their flowers and bushes planted. Unfortunately, they don't always give their body the same respect and loving care. Here are some tips you can use to protect your back and body while gardening:

• Pushing or pulling when bent over can cause strain to the shoulders and lower back area. When you can use tools with longer handles, so that you don't have to bend down as mcuh. Raking, digging, or mowing is a lot more ergonomic and comfortable when you use long handled tools.
  
  
• Be careful with lfiting dirt, leaves and mulch. Carry the load close to your body, and use your knees when lifting. Keeping your back straight and knees bent ill help to avoid injuries and lower back pain
  
  
• When raking, hoeing or shoveling, switch your dominant hand. This can prevent prolonged straining on your dominant side which can lead to muscle spams and pain.
  
  
• Don't try to accomplish 1/2 years worth of gardening into one day- pace yourself and give your body a break
  
  
• Drink lots of water while working in the garden. Your garden needs water, and so does your body !
  
  Keep these gardening tips in mind next time you are out gardening. Your garden will be bountiful, because you can get out there day after day. Gardening the right way can prevent unnecessary aches and pains.
  
  
  
  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:
  


• Sleep Better and Boost Brain Health with Herbs
  
  
• Chiropractic Care for Lower Back Pain and Neck Pain
  
  
• Heat Vs Cold For Lower Back Pain
  
  
• LumboSacral Lower Back Support Belt
  
  
• What is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

Save this to Del.icio.us

Digg This !

Subscribe to CT Spine Disc Center by Email


Subscribe in a reader

2 Tips to Avoid Back Pain

Today’s Blog Post comes from Dr. Bellinger’s April 2010 Newsletter that he mails to his patients every month.

Back pain is no fun. It is also a MAJOR problem for our healthcare system and economy. Here are some important facts about back pain, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA):

• 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time.
  
• One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.
  
• Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
  
• Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain, and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.
  
• Experts estimate as much as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives.
  
• Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
  

There are two different types of mechanical stress that can cause back pain. First is a blatant injury to the lower back area. . This can be anything from a car accident, sports injury or slip and fall. This cause of back pain is easy to understand. Trauma to your spine causes injury to the soft tissue (ligaments, muscles and disks). This is why the first tip is to make your home, work area and car as “back safe” as possible. Home and work should be kept uncluttered so you do not slip and fall. This is especially important at night, when lighting may be dim. A seatbelt should always be worn while driving and your headrest should be checked and adjusted to your height to minimize damage from a crash. If you are in a car accident, you should be examined by a doctor trained to handle these types of injuries. Chiropractors are well-trained in the diagnosis and treatment of car accident injuries. Back pain caused by the trauma of car accidents and falls is obvious.

What’s not obvious is the other type of mechanical stress: MICRO-TRAUMA. Micro-trauma is a small amount of bad force applied to your back or spine. This small amount of bad force does not seem to be a big deal and usually does not cause pain or discomfort right away, but over time, micro-traumas add up and can cause major problems. An example of such a micro trauma is incorrect posture – either sitting, standing or sleeping. Either one of these three, over time, can ruin the structural integrity of your spine and cause major pain. That’s why tip #2 is to make sure you have the proper bed and chair and always keep good posture. If you need advice on any of this, your Chiropractor is an expert and can help you. And you should try not to stand, sit or lay in one position too long. Motion is important – when in doubt, change position! Prevention of back pain is one of the most important things you can do in your life. Minimizing both big and small stresses on your spine is one important way to accomplish this goal.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Glastonbury Chiropractor offers non surgical solutions to lower back pain
  
• Specialized treatment for Sciatica, Herniated Disc, Bulging Disc, and Degenerative Disc
  
• Common Back Pain Patient
  
• Lower Back Sprain vs Lower back Strain
  
• Back Pain While Standing
  

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

New Study Shows Smoking Linked To Chronic Low Back Pain

A recent Canadian study showed that regular smokers were more likely to have chronic low back pain. The study looked at survey data of over 70,000 people and showed that the daily smokers had about an 8% higher likelihood of back pain than the non-smokers.

The Study was published in the Clinical and Investigative Medicine.

We know smoking regularly has a lot of negative effects on the body, here’s yet another one. But you must remember, this is only one factor. If you stop smoking it may be only one piece to the ‘lose the pain’ puzzle.

Mental health (stress), proper rest, fitness, diet, sleep, and posture play the biggest role with your back. In fact these factors play a major role in your overall health. The most important thing to know is that you must take action to get rid of your back pain. Look at your lifestyle- if you know you smoke too much- cut back. If you know you don’t do any exercise- start doing some.

Source: Cigarette smoking and chronic low back pain in the adult population

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:

• Low Back Rehab: A Vital Tool To Keep Your Lower Back Pain Away
  
• Two Stretches for Lower Back Pain Relief
  
• How are NonSurgical Spinal Decompression and traction different for treatment of chronic lower back pain
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

Save this to Del.icio.us

Digg This !

Subscribe to CT Spine & Disc Center by Email

Subscribe in a reader

Dr Oz Talks About Prescription Pain Medication

Yesterday my wife was watching Oprah and said I should watch this episode. I did and was shocked at some of the ststs I saw. It's so scary to be addicted to pain medication, and even scarier is that it really can happen to anyone.

In our office we see alot of people on different medications. These meds are meant to help in the short term and are not something to be taken for months and/or years. At our office we use natural methods to get rid of your pain so that you can get off of these medications.

Medications are drugs, there is no difference between a street "drug" or a prescribed "drug", as Dr Oz mentions. Becareful, they both have nasty side effects.

Watching this reminded me of another show I had watched and it was about heroin addicts. To be honest, most started by taking prescriptions for their back pain and ended up switching to heroin because it was cheaper and easier to get.

If you are suffering with severe back pain and have tried almost everything, don't give up hope - DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression has been a life changer for many.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Glastonbury 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:

• Welcome to CT Spine And Disc, Your Center For Spinal Decompression and Advanced Chiropractic
  
• Dr Oz talks about prescription meds on Oprah
  
• More great information on Spinal Decompression
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  
  
  

Save this to Del.icio.us Digg This ! Subscribe to CT Spine & Disc Center by Email Subscribe in a reader

I get pain when its bad weather outside, does that make any sense?

…“the pain I experience in my neck and mid back are worse with the changing weather”. This is something I hear quite a few times from patients. In fact, some of my patients even let me know when a rain storm or snow storm is coming! They can “feel” it in their joints. Why does this happen, you ask?

When this occurs it tends to put more pressure on your spine and discs. This is why it is very common for our patients with herniated discs or bulged or degenerative discs to feel slightly worse on these days. It’s much like gravity putting slightly more pressure down on you. A 2007 study by Tufts University showed that an increase in barometric pressure or an decrease in temperature caused an increase in arthritis pain. Specifically, every 10-degree drop in temperature corresponded with an incremental increase in arthritis pain. Other studies in cadavers have found that barometric pressure affects pressure inside the joints. In one experiment, when pressure in the hip joints was equated with atmospheric pressure, it threw the ball of the hip joint about one-third of an inch off track.

Gravity pushes down, and your spine and discs are built to withstand these forces. But when a disc is injured (a disc tear, a bulged disc, etc . . .) or the spine is out of alignment (subluxations, scoliosis, and degenerative change) this extra pressure can be noticeable.

Keep your spine and discs healthy with spinal adjustments and DRX 9000 spinal decompression therapy by your chiropractor.

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. Our Glastonbury office helps you find lower back pain relief. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• Lower Back Rehabilitation: A Vital Tool To Keep Your Back Pain Away
  
• Heat Vs Ice for Lower Back Pain Relief
  
• 3D Spine Animation
  
• Comparison chart of treatment options
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

Save this to Del.icio.us Digg This ! Subscribe to CT Spine & Disc Center by Email Subscribe in a reader

Can My Back Be Causing More than Just Back or Leg Pain?

Yes, low back pain can often cause leg pain. Nerves in the low back not only communicate to your back and leg muscles but also go to the important parts of your body like you bladder, intestines, sexual organs, etc...And if pressure continues to accumulate on nerves or a nerve other problems often do start to happen.

Think of it like this – if you have extra pressure on the nerves traveling to your right kidney and nothing interfering with nerves traveling to your right kidney and nothing interfering with nerves to the left kidney, which one do your think will be working better?

This is the reason why keeping your nerves free of pressure is extremely important, one day it may be back pain, the next it could be something much worse.

Second, when your body is working to heal your back other parts of the body often pick up the slack. Remember the kidney example I just gave – the left kidney will have to pick up the slack for the right kidney. This can then lead to problems there other parts of the body as a result.

Lastly, dealing with pain can wear you out mentally, maybe causing depression, loss of sleep, fatigue, irritability… It’s is usually a downward spiral of things just getting worse..And all because of your back.

If you have back pain or know you have degeneration and pressure on the nerves of the low back, don’t wait until its too late.

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:

• Oh..My Aching Leg?
  
• The Common Answers To Solving Back Pain From a Herniated Or Bulging Disc...And Why They Almost Never Really Work!
  
• The Two Best Stretches for Sciatica Relief
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

Save this to Del.icio.us Digg This ! Subscribe to CT Spine & Disc Center by Email Subscribe in a reader

Low Back Pain And Its Many Causes!!!

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common complaints presenting to our Glastonbury office and remains one of the most challenging conditions to manage because there are so many causes of LBP. Some of the causes include the obvious such as over lifting, over use activities such as sports injuries (bowling, golfing, skiing, tennis, football, etc.), raking leaves, shoveling snow, and more. Frequently, work related strains are the primary cause of LBP due to the constant, persistent and awkward positions frequently required in many jobs, especially in repetitive motion assembly line work.

The cause can also be as simple as standing on 2 feet versus 4 feet. Studies show when 2 legged and 4 legged animals are compared, arthritis starts in the 3rd vs. the 6th decade of life, respectively due to the vertical load placed on the biped or 2-legged animal. In spite of this, after sharing this information with patients, I have not been successful in convincing them to start walking on all fours! Because we are a 2-legged species, addressing a short leg can have significant benefits to any spinal condition. This is because a short leg of only 5mm (1/4 inch) can result in a drop in the pelvis resulting in crooked foundation that the spine sits on, creating a curvature in the spine. This places stress on the spinal components including the spinal cord and nerves and can contribute or be the actual cause of not only Lpw Back Pain, but also problems higher in the spine including neck pain and headaches!

Many times, a satisfying outcome is not achieved until I address the leg length issue by the use of heel or a combination of heel and sole lifts. If a leg is short, the effects at the top – that is, the neck and head, are dramatically affected. In one case, treatment to the neck and head had little effect on his headaches and only after placing a heel lift in one shoe and arch support in both shoes did he feel significantly improved.

In most cases, treatment addressing the entire body from the feet up yields the most satisfying results. Also, secondary issues such as diet, stress management, home treatments including exercises, can be very important in the successful management of back pain. In many patients, a combination of chiropractic, leg length correction, and nutritional management including the use of vitamin and herbs resulted in the best approach results.

Usually, offering the patient advice on the methods of applying ice, modifying/reducing bending/ lifting activities, as well as performing the chiropractic treatment will satisfy the majority of patients. However, in some cases, co-management with other allied health care providers is necessary, especially where there is a slow response in the initial acute stage of LBP. If these less common cases should occur, the combination of chiropractic and primary care yields the best results.

In our Central CT Clinic, we offer a multidimensional, holistic approach to the treatment of low back pain so that a positive, satisfying outcome is achieved. We also incorporate the latest, most up to date treatment methods such as Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

YOU MAYBE A CANDIDATE FOR DRUG FREE RELIEF!
FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 633-8756