Steroid Injections For Your Back

When does someone typically get an injection for their back pain.  First, it's only considered when the pain is very severe, has been present for a long period, and the patient has tried other methods of pain relief with no help.

Here's an example: Sam presented to his chiropractor's office with left side sciatica.  His pain is exacerbated with sitting long periods.  He was prescribed muscle relaxers by his primary care physician and referred to physical therapy. This returned no help so he went to his chiropractor.

Here he had temporary relief of his symptoms but pain would return.  He was seen for 5 visits and then that doctor referred him for an injection.  Sam had consistent pain at some level, as well as inflammation.  While the chiropractic treatments helped, as well as the recommended home ice did seem to help, pain was still present.

The steroid shot is a big blast of anti-inflammatory to the specific area.  It is typically the inflammation that puts pressure on nerves causing the back pain or sciatica.  Doing this may give the body that extra chance to heal, thus allowing inflammation to stay away and normal motion return to the spine.

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. For low back pain, neck pain, midback pain, headaches, fibromyalgia and more, chiropractic can help you. Call our Glastonbury 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:

• Glastonbury Chiropractor
• Chiropractic Demonstration
• Home Chirpractic
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut with the Drx 9000
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor via telephone, or email

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The Back Store: Cushions, Belts, Pillows, Tens, Hot and Cold Therapy and More | You Tube The Glastonbury Chiropractor

Neck Pain After Car Accident Two Years Ago?

Today's blog post comes from a Yahoo Question I read on the internet:

I am Kelsey 19 years old 5"5 150 pounds. I had a wreck 2 years ago and I flipped my car and now I have severe neck pain. Could the wreck be what caused this? But this happened 2 years ago why would it just now be hurting? 

Hi Kelsy, unfortunately a car wreck can cause neck pain after two years- especially if you did not seek treatment right away. It also depends on the severity of the car accident in the first place. The car accident you describe sounds quite severe. At our Glastonbury Chiropractic Office we treat many car accident patients- the majority of patients seek treatment right away, within a few days- to a few weeks. However, sometimes they come in with pain many months after the accident. These cases can be more complicated and take longer to see relief of pain, just because of the distance in time. Also there can be a more build up of scar tissue, severely tightened muscles and also misalignment's in the cervical spine.

 I am not sure the type of injury you sustained, and what type of treatment you received afterwards.  Hopefully you received some type of physio therapy or chiropractic treatment. Also, sometimes something else in your life can trigger the neck pain. It may be an area of weakness, and a simple forceful sneeze or sleeping on the wrong type of pillow can even trigger severe neck pain. Even something as simple as driving for a long period of time or some type of repetetive motion can bring the neck pain back.

A few things that I would reccomend to you:

•  if you have not had any x-rays, please have those done. There may be degeneration going on in your neck from this car accident, especially if you did not get the treatment that you needed right away. If the neck pain also involves shooting pains, weakness, numbness and tingling, I would also recommend an MRI of the cervical spine
•  see a chiropractor. They can assess what is going on in your neck area and recommend a treatment protocol. They can also recommend home treatment that you can do such as neck exercises.
• see a massage therapist 
•  use ice or heat at home. In most cases if the pain has been going on for some time, you want to use heat therapy. If this is pain that came on suddenly, than ice will be the way to go. 
• use a proper neck support pillow at home. Using a flat pillow or for that matter, too many pillows can be the cause of more neck pain and it can aggravate existing neck pain 
• you may be a candidate for neck traction - this simple stretching of the neck can of great benefit for neck pain. If you have a herniated disc or bulging disc this can be of benefit as well

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

Additional Reading Resources:

• What is Causing my sciatica?
• What to do after a motor vehicle whiplash accident
• Research shows Chronic Pain Can result after a Car accident. 
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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Study Shows that Spinal Manipulation is more Effective than Over the Counter Medications

A study published in the Annals of Internal medicine (Jan 2012 issue) reports that conservative care treatment such as chiropractic manipulation or home exercise is more effective than pain medications for acute and subacute neck pain. This was shown for short and longer time treatment periods. This was a 6 year study and involved adults aged 18-65 with non specific mechanical neck pain for a duration of 2-12 weeks. There were three treatment groups:

• Group 1: Received chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy using diversified techniques including adjustments and mobilization
  
• Group 2: Received home exercises. They were recommended mobilization exercises, neck retraction, lateral bending motions, and scapular retraction. Each exercise was to be performed 5-10 times.
  
• Group 3: Received medications: NSAIDS, acetaminophen, and muscle relaxers
  

Findings:

At 12 weeks, a significantly higher proportion of Group 1 (that received chiropractic treatment)reported a decrease in pain by at least 50%. This was also seen with long term improvement as well.


Source:

• Study: Spinal manipulation and exercise are more effective than OTC pain relievers, narcotics and muscle relaxants. Dynamic Chiropractic Feb 12, 2012
  
• Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain
  
  

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:

• Glastonbury Chiropractor offers pain relief for sciatica, neck pain, headaches and more
  
• Lumbar Support Helps Low Back Pain Sufferers
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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Chiropractic Spine Alignment

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:

• Glastonbury Chiropractor in Connecticut
  
• Traction Products for Pain Relief
  
• Health Articles at Glastonbury Chiropractic Office
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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Consumer Reports Ranks Chiropractic #1

Consumer Reports: Going to the Chiropractor #1



Back Pain is one of the number 1 reasons someone goes to the doctor. Many reports have shown chiropractic to be the most sucessful and safest treatment for back pain. It is even better to prevent the back pain before it starts.


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

Additional Reading Resources:

CBS News Chiropractic, longer video

chiropractic on "The Doctors"

chiropractic on the "Todays Show"

Meet our Glastonbury Chiropractor

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Use Common Sense When It Comes To Your Health...

So, I’m on the phone with a neurologist in regards to a patient. I ask the neurologist if there are any natural alternatives or at least things she can be doing in addition to the medications in order to get better. The answer I got: “No, in fact, if I saw this patient a year ago I would have prescribed this medication.”

Now, that’s fine, if that is his honest and best decision to help the patient. However, after speaking with this patient’s primary doctor, he gave some health alternatives other than harsh medications, but suggested a neurologist because a neurologist would know more about this patient’s problem since it is more his specialty.

There’s good and bad doctors, there’s good and bad chiropractors, there’s good and bad contractors, you name it. This patient’s primary care doctor; overall great- good guy, pleasant to talk to, very knowledgeable, refers to other appropriate practitioners, and truly cares about helping his patients. My primary doctor, an osteopath actually, all the same- great doctor, great guy, etc …

That being said, sometimes you’ve got to find the great ones, and you may go through a few on the other end of the spectrum first.

My take home message: Use your gut, and your common sense. If something doesn’t feel right, or a recommendation just doesn’t sit right with you, consult with someone else!

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 decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

• Natural Health Secrets
  
• Looking for a chiropractor in Glastonbury
  
• Directions to our new chiropractic office in Glastonbury
  
• What is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

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Take Time Out for Yourself In 2011.. Happy New Year !

Well another busy Christmas season and New Years and passed and we begin the new year again with 2011. For many of my patients I noticed that there was a lot of running around, doing errands, stress from family functions, and making sure to get the perfect gift for the holiday season. It was also a time for clearing snow, shoveling, and dealing with the cold weather, and all that it brings.

Happy New year to all the patients of CT Spine and Disc Center. Make 2011 a year for good health without using medications and prescription drugs. Get out there and exercises- push yourself. Stretch before you exercise so you don't injury yourself. Get adjusted, exercise, and manage your stress as best as you can.

Happy New Year !

- Dr. Bellinger and Dr.Gill at CT Spine and Disc Center.

P.s. Please don't forget, we are in our Chiro Office is in our new Glastonbury Location now. Located in Glastonbury CT at 437 Naubuc Ave #105, Glastonbury, CT 06033. Even if you do go to our old office by mistake, directions are posted. You can always call us at 860-633-8756 too, to verify directions.

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.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Chiropractic Care At Glastonbury Chiro Office
  
  
• Directions to Glastonbury Chiropractic Office- CT Spine and Disc
  
  
• How to Choose the Right neck Pillow for the Best Sleep at Night
  
  
• 
  What is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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"When Is My Back The Most Vulnerable, and What Can I Do To Prevent Pain and Injury?"

There are two times during your day when your low back is at the most risk for pain or spasm. The first is when you wake up in the morning. When you first wake up, the discs in your back are somewhat swollen with excess fluid in the joints of your spine. This is why you are taller in the morning, and also why you are more vulnerable.

Your back is also more vulnerable after you have been sitting for a long period of time. This can be long car or plane trips, or sitting at your desk at home or at work. As you sit, your tendons and ligaments lengthen into the position you are sitting in. The longer you are sitting, the more at-risk you are when you do get up.

It’s important to know when your back is at the most risk, so you can be prepared for those times and know what to do to stay protected and pain-free. When you first wake up, don’t do any twisting or bending right away. Also, avoid sitting down right after you wake up too. It’s good to do simple motions to warm up your back for the day. Taking a walk or doing simple movements will help “wring out” that excess fluid from your spine.

While seated, keep your posture in mind. Slumping forwards will reinforce the risks, so sit up straight. If at all possible, choose seats with good lumbar support. If you are taking a long car trip, stop every hour or so to stretch and walk. If you are on a plane, try to get up during the flight and walk around a bit if possible. Once you’ve landed, do some quick back-bends to stretch before bending or twisting to gather your belongings.

Knowing when you are at risk for injury, and knowing what you can do to prevent it, are great steps toward less back pain. Talk to your chiropractor if you have any other questions on what to do to help keep your back safe.


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 decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

• "chiropractic helped my back"
  
• chiropractic blog
  
• ct spine in the news
  
• What is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
• Research about Non Surgical 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 You might Have in Common With Gold Medalist Nastia Liukin

Nastia Liukin, all around gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and her family do many things to maintain a healthy lifestyle and be at the top of their game. According to Anna Liukin, her mother, she wants health and happiness most of all for her daughter, now 18. Anna Liukin discusses the 5 things that she does to maintain optimum health and fitness for her family:

1. Maintain a healthy diet and eat healthy food Nastia’s mom says,"We eat lots of vegetables and fruits and drink a lot of water. We love fresh juice, and we squeeze it ourselves at home. I always tell Nastia: 'Your body is like a car. The fuel you put in is the performance you will get.' "
   
2. Exercise The entire Liukin family is very active. "When she was small, we used to Rollerblade at the park a few times a week as a family. We also try to set a good example by doing our own individual exercises. My husband, he loves fly fishing. I enjoy jogging and Pilates and yoga.”
   
3. Rest "We're all pretty good sleepers. And we never cut sleep time for anything. Even now when Nastia is on the road for the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars tour, she takes little naps in between shows."
   
4. Listen to your body "If something hurts, you need to take care of it right away. But we try to avoid medications unless necessary. First we try alternative methods like acupuncture or going to a chiropractor."
   
5. Enjoy your life "Even if you eat well and exercise and rest, if you are not happy, a big piece will be missing. Enjoy the moment. Don't forget to stop and smell the roses. If you want to have a cookie, have a cookie. Just don't have five and sit on the couch without exercising!"
   

Most top athletes whether Olympians of pro football players regularly go to the chiropractor. When competing against the best of the best anything that gives you the slightest edge over the competition becomes huge.

Chiropractic not only helps athletes recover from injury quicker but also helps them to prevent injury. Not only that but for your body to function at its best, the spine needs to be in normal alignment with no pressure on your nerves. At this day in age the majority of all professional teams and college teams have a team chiropractor on staff or one they regularly use.

Source: The Hartford Courant October 2008
Picture Courtesy of: Jodfevic on Flickr.com

Dr Bellinger and his team at CT Spine and Disc Center in Glastonbury CT will keep you at optimum health. He treats patients with neck pain, headaches, lower back pain and other symptoms. His office is located near Hartford, CT. Call his office at 860-633-8756 for a complimentary consultation to see if you are you are a candidate for treatment at CT Spine and Disc Center.