How do we Determine a Disc Injury?

The key to diagnosing a disc that has bulged or ruptured causing pain or back problems is the combination of a few things. We can determine a lot from an MRI image, for example, but this is just one test.

Here’s an analogy: We can predict with relative certainty if someone is lying by having them take a lie detector test. Why can’t we then use this in court? The answer is that there may be a small percentage of tests that come out incorrect- maybe someone can beat the test, maybe on rare occasions it doesn’t really work or is unable to be read clearly, who knows. The bottom line is that you don’t want to put someone in jail for life if they didn’t do it! Same goes for reading an MRI. I don’t want to recommend someone to see the surgeon if the pain or problem doesn’t warrant it.

Some doctors or even surgeons may see an MRI and say “Back Surgery.” However, the good ones won’t dare to cut someone’s back without combining the pictures with an exam and the patient’s history. You really need all of these things. So, if your doctor gets your history and MRI, but doesn’t do an exam, this is not the best. Or, if he does an exam but doesn’t get the patient’s history … same thing.

I have found we need all of these things to really make a determination. Patient’s come to our office for DRX Spinal Decompression and the same holds true. Now, don’t get me wrong, spinal decompression is nothing like surgery. DRX 9000 spinal decompression is safe, non-surgical, and very successful, but I don’t want to treat someone with it that I don’t think is a candidate for the DRX 9000. So, call our office so we can fully examine your case to see if the DRX 9000 may be your answer to lower back pain or sciatica.

The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut, in Glastonbury, Near East Hartford- 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


Additional Reading Resources:

• The Differences in Various Lumbar Conditions
  
• Heat vs Ice For Lower Back Pain Relief
  
• Is Your Lower Back Pain Or Leg Pain The Result Of A Lumbar Radiculopathy?
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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"I Only Have One Bad Disc, I Think I Can Tough It Out And Wait For It To Get Better On Its Own..."

First, let me start off by saying that everything in your spine and back work together. You know the old saying: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link". Well, this holds true for your back also.

We've seen hundreds of patient's in our Connecticut office at this point, and I can tell you your discs very rarely get better on their own. Occasionally, inflammation will go down, pressure from that inflammation comes off the nerves, and you may feel a little better. However, you better believe there is still a weak spot there and it can get re-aggravated.

Often times what happens is if there is one weak area, or bad disc le's say, usually the level above or below will pick up the slack. This means you are risking another disc level to have a problem.

We see this all to often. One has a bulged disc at L5 (making this area weaker than lumbar discs 1-4). The body has to help pick up the slack, and the L4 level has to work overtime. Now, because of this, you sustain injury to L4.

The more levels of damage and the longer they've been there makes it harder to fix.

Luckily, with the DRX9000 Lumbar Decompression we can heal discs which we could not in the past. However, don't wait until it's too late. We have had to unfortunately turn people away who let their back deteriorate too much.

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:

• 3D Spine Animation
  
• Comparison chart of treatment options
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Can A Disc in the Lower Back Just Go Bad?

Yes and no. Over time we will get some degeneration in our spine no matter what. Just from work, sports, physical activities, slips and falls etc . . . your body will have some wear and tear. However, that degeneration should be minimal and not cause major back pain.

What typically happens is that an injury happens to part of your back (one of your discs may sustain an injury); then over the years wear and tear and stress accumulates at that “weak spot.” Often times then something irritates that disc enough to cause nerve pressure and pain.

So you see, it doesn’t really go bad on its own. Usually something got the injury started and then it gets worse as time goes on. Sometimes it can be something very simple- a long trip on a plane, a cough, bending and lifting a child.

Here’s an example: Fred never had back pain his entire life, but after helping his neighbor move some furniture the next day he had lower back pain and soreness. The pain went away after a couple days. Fast forward six years . . . Fred presents with severe pain in the lower back that he appears to have just “woken up with” one morning. X-ray and MRI revealed one level of his spine had significant degeneration and a bulged disc.

What had happened, most likely, is that Fred injured his low back about six years ago while moving furniture; in fact, he may have had an injury even prior to that. Stress and degeneration have accumulated at that level in his spine until finally there was enough pressure and irritation to cause low back pain.

Until now, the only thing naturally that really helped with disc degeneration and bulging discs was seeing a chiropractor for spinal adjustments. Now we have a newer and more advanced method to help that gives substantially better results than anything out there. To learn more click this link: How Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Works.

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. We offer different treatments for chronic and acute lower back pain. Call us at (860)633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• What Tests Will My Doctor Do To Help my Lower back Pain?
  
• Can My Back Be Causing More Than Just Back or Leg Pain?
  
• Lower Back Pain and Its Many Causes
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Herniated Or Bulging Disc? Get Help Before It's Too Late!

At CT Spine And Disc Center we take Disc Herniations and Bulging Discs very seriously. These conditions usually do not get better on their own and typically get Worse!



To help understand your spine and discs think of your discs as jely donuts. Between each bone of the spine you have one. The discs allow us to move, run, jump, and ack as a shock absorber.

When the disc gets injured (the donut), the jelly breaks free from the crust. So in other words when we have a herniation or protrusion of the disc, the inner gel like material breaks through the outer fibers.

Now, if you squish a donut and all the jelly pushes to one side, the donut will bulge there. So a bulged disc is when the inner material pushes on the outer fibers bulging them outward but not breaking all the way through like a herniation.

Why are these conditions serious?
When you have a disc herniation or bulge your disc space is now smaller; and this decreasses the space your nerve root has as it branches off the spinal cord. Also, the bulge or herniated disc can literally put direct pressure on a nerve.

Remember, different nerve fibers detect and relay pain differently, so you can have a disc problem and not necessarily have that much pain.......Yet, Anyway!

The problem is - If pressure is left on the nerve, the nerve will start to break down or degenerate. The disc will also degenerate as well. Eventually because of this we will now get pain, more pain, or even worse...

The nerves of your lower back also travel to your legs, important body parts like your bladder, intestines, your sexual organs. So if left alone and nothing is done to heal a herniated disc or bulged disc, the pain...and other health problems can and will occur.

If the disc and nerve degeneration get too far along we may not be able to help!

Now, with our DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Protocol, we are able to heal herniated and bulging discs, relieving pain and improving one's health.

Do not put off doing something about your back pain because it's "not that bad" or it "only acts up when...". It can get alot worse very quickly, and if left alone too long the breakdown and degeneration of the spine, discs, and nerves, can reach a point where they are too far gone to repair.

At CT Spine And Disc Center we will perform a detailed examination and history, and review all x-rays, MRI's and other imaging studies to determine if we can help!

What is a Herniated Disc?

A Herniated Disc or Disc Protrusion or Extrusion or Prolapse or Slipped disc all essentially mean the same thing. Part of the disc has pushed out possibly putting pressure on a nerve or creates inflammation that is putting pressure on a nerve.

Technically speaking the diference between a Disc bulge and a disc herniation is that a disc hernation involves the inner part of the disc breaking out through the outer layers.

The disc is made up of an inner gel like part called the nucleus and an outer more cartilaginous section called the annulus. So a bulge is when that annulus is pushing outward or “bulging” outward but the border is not broken. A herniating disc, that inner material actually breaks through the annulus to the outside. A common analogy is a jelly donut – the nucleus is the jelly and the annulus is the rest of the donut. If you squeeze the donut the jeely pushes toward one side bulging the donut on that side. “a bulged disc” When you squeeze that donut and the jelly comes out that’s your disc “herniation”. Either a disc bulge or herniated disc can put pressure on a nerve. Typically a herniation creates more pressure but not always.