Will You Get Back Pain?

Eighty percent of the population will experience back pain. When you are suffering it, it is extremely difficult to get comfortable.

That is one big benefit of the Arc4Life Memory Foam Travel Twist Neck Pillow. Not only can you use it behind the neck or low back, you can put under the knees, or bend it for any part of the body or any position you are in.

So don’t just pull the twist pillow out when you are going to travel on the airplane, but use it at home or elsewhere too.

The Back Dr’s specializes in pain relief for the neck and the lower back. We will help you have better posture, get better sleep and help you be more comfortable. Helping you find natural remedies for your active lifestyle.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Neck Pain Relief
• Choosing the right neck pillow and neck traction for pain relief
• Contact the Back Dr for help with choosing the right pain relief products via telephone, or email

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How Can I Easily Combat My Back Pain?

There's a few simple things one can do at home.

The first one is diet - avoiding highly inflammatory foods is important but drinking a good amount liquid like water is also high on the list. Those discs in between each spinal bone have and need a large water content.

Next, is keeping the spine in alignment. A great way to do that is when you sit. Simply use a lower back posture cushion to keep that spine where it belongs. Seeing your Chiropractor can also make a big difference.

Lastly, stretch the muscles and keep Them loose. Remember all those muscles attach to bones and when things are really tight they will pull thing out of alignment this means no pressure this means no pressure and no pain.

The Back Dr’s specializes in pain relief for the neck and the lower back. We will help you have better posture, get better sleep and help you be more comfortable. Helping you find natural remedies for your active lifestyle.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Neck Pain Relief
• Choosing the right neck pillow and neck traction for pain relief
• Contact the Back Dr for help with choosing the right pain relief products via telephone, or email

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Have You Been Staying In Bed Too Long?...

Yep, NASA did a study on this one too. So beside just waking up with lower back pain there's a lot of other problems too... Watch the video...
The Back Dr’s specializes in pain relief for the neck and the lower back. We will help you have better posture, get better sleep and help you be more comfortable. Helping you find natural remedies for your active lifestyle.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Neck Pain Relief
• Choosing the right neck pillow and neck traction for pain relief
• Contact the Back Dr for help with choosing the right pain relief products 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

So Many Back Pain Sufferers...

Do you ever get back pain? So many of us do, in fact, about 80% of us will have a major episode or two in our lives. Back pain is one of those things that is responsible for a lot of doctor visits every year. Not only that, we're talking about lost wages, lost productivity, and just something that occupies the mind constantly. It is something that is preventable however. Keeping the spine in alignment help quite a bit. Sit against something like the slim back rest to help your back stay in alignment and reduce pain. The Back Dr’s specializes in pain relief for the neck and the lower back. We will help you have better posture, get better sleep and help you be more comfortable. Helping you find natural remedies for your active lifestyle.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Neck Pain Relief
• Choosing the right neck pillow and neck traction for pain relief
• Contact the Back Dr for help with choosing the right pain relief products via telephone, or email

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If It's Not Working Then Change

I know a number of people who keep seeing the same doctor even though they're not getting better.  That doctor may not know unless you tell him.  But who's fault is it then, the responsibility lies on you.  Make a change; see someone else, try a different treatment, etc...

You want to be 100% healthy or as close to it as you can.  That is why I put a number of products on my website that have been tested in the office.  If I didn't like it, I don't sell it.  It's that simple.  I realized a long time ago that there were so many people I could help, but they were just to far away.  This is why I've put a number of these products on my website; that way, no matter where you are you can get relief...

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:

• Two of the most popular - slim and sit-back rests
• Read more here...
• Try low back traction - 
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut with the Drx 9000
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor via telephone, or email

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My Back Hurts So I Sleep On The Couch

Sleeping on the couch once in awhile is okay but it's not something to make a habit of. It's one thing if you were evicted and your staying at your friends place but quite another if you have a cozy bed waiting for you. Plus, if you are sleeping on your friends couch because you were evicted you probably have bigger problems than low back pain.

Here's the thing, the couch really isn't made for sleeping all night, every night. The support just isn't there for the spine. Not to mention, you may not use your regular pillow. Your usual neck pillow doesn't fit on the couch or you are in such an awkward position your head doesn't rest properly on that pillow.

So not only are the back and neck often crooked on the couch, the living room is also not always conducive to sleep. There's light shining from the kitchen, glowing from the tv, the dog is all over you, etc, etc...

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:

• Looking for a Chiropractor In Glastonbury?
• Help me choose the right pillow so i can avoid sleeping on the couch
• I have a pinched nerve in my neck and the pain is severe
• 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

Chiropractic is #1 for Back Pain!

Studies show that almost 9 out of 10 people will suffer back pain at some point. But guess what, they're not turning to drugs and surgery... Here's a clip from the morning news:
 

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:

• Get Chiropractic
• Have Your Glastonbury Chiropractor Help You With Your Posture
• Contact us at any time, our phones are always staffed! Call 860-633-8756!
• 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

Study Shows Improvement in Acute Low back pain in Military Patients

Study Shows that Chiropractic Therapy
Helps Military Personel ages 18-35 with actue
low back pain

In the April 2013 issue of Spine, a new study showed that a decrease in acute lower back pain in military patients when they received a combination of chiropractic and medical treatment, as opposed to just received medical attention.The study showed a significant decrease in their back pain as well as physical functioning.

The study involved 91 active duty military personnel ages 18-35. 73% of participants in the medical care plus chiropractic treatment group rated their global improvement as pain completely gone, much better or moderately better. Only 17% in the standard medical care group said their pain was completely gone.

"It is critical that we explore drug-less approaches to reduce pain," said Wayne B. Jonas, MD, president and CEO of Samueli Institute. “Chiropractic manipulation is an important option to consider for musculoskeletal disorders, which is the most prevalent pain complaint in the military.


Source:Adding Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy to Standard Medical Care for Patients With Acute Low Back Pain: Results of a Pragmatic Randomized Comparative Effectiveness StudyApril 15, 2013, SPINE Volume 38 - Issue 8 - p 627–634

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:

• The Back Store: Low Back Pillows, Cushions, Supports and Traction units
• Glastonbury Chiropractor on Squidoo 
• Get Your Spine Adjusted. Joe DOES!!
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut with the Drx 9000
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor via telephone, or email

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Two Exercises to Prevent Low Back: The Bird Dog and Side Plank

In my last blog post I mentioned the importance of having a strong core. In the recent March April- issue of Web Md magazine, Dr. Michael Smith writes about how back pain can be prevented if one has a strong core. Specifically, he talks about two exercises that you can do.

1. Bird Dog Exercise - For this exercise get on all four, and raise your right arm and left leg straight out and hold for 2 seconds. Slowly lower. Then raise your left arm and right leg and hold. Repeat this exercise 8-12 times.
2. Side Plank- For this exercise, lie on the right side with your upper boy propped up on your elbow. Lift your hip off of the floor to form a straight line from head to toe. Hold for up to 20 seconds and lower. Repeat two times on each side. 

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:

• Low Back Supports and Cushions
• No More Low Back Pain - Simple Tips to Keep a Healthy Low Back
• The Drx 9000: Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Get in touch with the Glastonbury Chiropractor
• Can whiplas affect my lower back

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Energy Healing Revealed on Dr.Oz

Energy Healing - Can this
alternative treatment help? 

I recently tuned in to see Dr. Mehmet Oz, and I found it pretty interesting!...

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/secrets-reconnective-healing

Some energy healing gets a little out there for me but just like Dr. oz says, keep an open mind. You know if it works for someone and doesn't harm anyone or themselves, what's the big deal.

They also interviewed an osteopath who saw healing results with his son who has cerebral palsy. By the way, his wife is a medical doctor too. But of course they had an MD on who didn't believe it.

Like I said if it doesn't harm anyone, who cares, good for them with their son!

Anyway, just thought it was interesting.

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:

• The Low Back Store
• Chronic Pain Sufferers- Be careful of drug dependency with medications
• How Do I wear My Low Back Support for Maximum Support and to Get Rid Of My Pain
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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Another Research Study Showing the Effectiveness of Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

The title: “Restoration of Disc Height through Non-surgical Spinal Decompression is associated with Decreased Discogenic Low Back Pain: a Retrospective Cohort Study”
Aptel et al. You can find the study in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010, 11:155

Here’s what they found: Before and after a six week treatment period with spinal decompression low back relief correlated with a disc height increase.
How did they do it? 30 patients with an average age of 65 were treated with the DRX 9000. 21 females and 9 males with lumbar disc herniation and low back pain were assessed via a verbal pain scale disc height was measured with CT scans.
We also use the DRX 9000 Non-surgical Spinal Decompression in our office. I have watched patients’ pain level decrease and/or vanish as well as other symptoms like tingling or numbness in the legs.

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:

• Lower Back Supports for Patients with Lower back pain
  
• Low Back Pain and Its Many Causes
  
• Drx 9000 for leg pain
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
  
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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Good In = Good Out, When it comes to your overall health as well as low back pain or sciatica!

Remember when you were a kid and your aunt used to tell you thinks like “you eat so many ____, you’re going to turn into a _____.”

She’d say something like “you eat one more donut, you’re going to turn into a donut!” Maybe it was Mom or Grandma, or whoever, but it actually rings true. We kind of are what we eat. Hence, my title here means you put good stuff in, you get good stuff out. Good food- lots of fresh fruits and veggies, healthy things- means more energy, better body function, etc …

And remember, 100% health equals 100% function of our bodies. Eating right is one major piece to that puzzle of 100% health. Getting adjusted by your chiropractor is another.

I remember back in chiropractic school, in nutrition class we had to make a chart of what we ate every day for a week. Until you track what you eat daily from breakfast, lunch and dinner to snacks, you sometimes forget or just don’t even realize you aren’t eating as well as you should be.

Make a chart and see what you can improve in your diet- maybe it’s less sugar, maybe more fresh vegetables, whatever the case is … tracking your diet is easy to do and can really open ones eyes to improving their diet and health.

Don’t be afraid to ask your chiropractor some ways you can stay healthy with your diet. At CT Spine & Disc, Spinal Decompression and chiropractic care and our chiropractors in Glastonbury are always here to help.

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:

• Chiropractor Ct
  
• chiropractic glastonbury
  
• About us at CT Spine Chiropractic and Spinal Decompression
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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What can I do to Exercise with my Low Back Pain?

The key here is often moderation. Don’t over-exercise or push your lower back too much. This often exacerbates back pain or previous back injuries. Even if the back feels really good, don’t push it; back pain often appears the following day.

That being said, how and “what exercises can I do?” The best thing to do is try to keep the back stable. For example, if doing abdominals, do leg raises where you keep your back flat (stable and immobile). Raise your legs and rear slightly off the floor, hold a couple seconds then relax and repeat. Keep in mind for this move, as well as other exercises, to bend the knees. This will take pressure off of your lower back.

Also, use less weight. What you’ll find is that even when doing shoulders, you will work the lower back. So for this example, if doing shoulder raises, keep your back stable and use less weight.

Some other important tips are to use proper foot wear when working out. This can help shock absorbtion but also foot and leg alignment which can work into the back. Also, stretching before and/or after your workout can help prevent an injury or making one worse. Lastly, a lumbar support belt can help hold the lower back in place. I don't advocate using it all the time because we want your back to strengthen but if you are currently dealing with a low back injury it's helpful.


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:

• low back pain relief products
  
• Chiropractor in Glastonbury
  
• back pain and running
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression in Connecticut
• Contact the Glastonbury Chiropractor

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How Can I Stretch the Piriformis?

With low back pain, sciatica, pain into the front of the leg, or groin pain we often have piriformis muscle tightness and spasm. The muscle spasm and taut muscles can be in the buttocks and hamstrings too.

The piriformis muscle is in the bottom of your buttocks; think of when you sit, the part that is against the chair is the piriformis region.

The standard stretch is to cross one leg over the other and then pull that leg-knee to the chest.

Ex: to stretch the right piriformis muscle, cross the right leg over the left and pull the left knee toward your chest. Do this in a lying on your back position.

Another great way to do this that’s often easier is to do it seated. Cross your right leg over your left and lean forward until you feel the stretch. Depending on your level of back or leg pain this version may be easier to do.

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:

• Sciatica Exercise Program
  
• stretches for sciatic relief>
  
• Glastonbury Chiropractor
  
• What is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

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Study Shows Bed Rest Is Not Good for Back Pain...

Years ago, a common treatment for back pain was bed rest. Even today, your doctor may say “you have lower back pain? Go lie in bed, rest your back.” They have actually found that in the vast majority of cases this is not the best recommendation. In fact, it’s the opposite; getting moving is better most of the time.

Now, keep in mind that there are many types of back pain and many various causes for back pain, but for lower back pain and sciatica it’s best to keep moving!

Stretches, back exercises and light walking, for example, may actually help. One of the reasons is that staying still causes stagnation and leads to muscles getting weak. A lot of the body parts involved in back pain need blood flow to get nutrients, stay hydrated, and function at their best. As you guessed, moving promotes this kind of healing.

Lastly, there’s a mental component too. I have found that a lot of my patients who can take their minds off of the pain and think instead about work, or their kids, or whatever, handle low back pain better.

To sum it all up, there are a lot of kinds of back pain and they’ve found that the majority respond better to moving instead of bed rest.

Talk to the chiropractors in our office to find out what may be the best option for your back healing.



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:

• Solve rcurring back issues
  
• Latest in Chiropractic Treatments
  
• How to watch out for bed bugs
  
• What is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

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Why Is Back Pain So Common?

Your spine is made up of 24 vertebrae or spinal bones and 72 joints just in the spine alone. Spinal bones connect or join at the disc and at the facets (two on each side). Moving joints will move out of place occasionally.

Your back is like a machine that has a number of moving parts. Things break down, parts need to be maintained, fuel must be supplied.

For your lawn mower, you can run it until it can’t run anymore. If it has a major breakdown you can go out and buy another. With our spine, however, we ony have one and we can’t get another. So we MUST maintain our back and spine health.

It is these factors that make low back pain so common. A lot of us don’t maintain our spine or do things to keep our backs healthy. We run it into the ground, then back and leg pain occurs or something worse. Sometimes we maintain our backs and try to stay healthy, but one of these moving parts, one of our many joints, goes out of place and puts pressure on nerves causing pain.

But, keep in mind, those of us who maintain the backs will have far fewer episodes of back pain, and when and if an episode occurs, it is much easier to fix.


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 decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

• DRX9000 Glastonbury
  
• Chiropractic Glastonbury
  
• Causes of Back Pain
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

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Can Going To The Gym Help My Back Pain?

The answer to that question, is that it depends. Not only that, it may depend on a few factors.

First, does movement or light exercise make your back feel better? If so, going back to the workout routine may help. Getting your body moving, blood flowing, muscles loosened, etc. often will help. It really depends on the injury, however. Often I will see a patient who has really strained his back and needs some healing time before working out. If you work out too soon or too hard, you may risk re-injuring your low back; making things worse. This is why some of you reading this may have been sent to physical therapy immediately following an injury and felt like it made you worse. If things aren’t healing and you are pushed too hard or push yourself too hard with certain exercises, you run the risk of re-injury.

What I would recommend is to get things healed first, then slowly start with light exercise, then work up to your usual routine. For a disc issue I would recommend a spinal decompression consultation.

During any particular treatment in our office, whether it's spinal decompression, chiropractic, muscle work, etc. our doctors will advise you on proper exercising for maximum benefit.


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:

• Back Pain Exercise Program
  
• Our best lower back support products.
  
• Glastonbury Chiropractor
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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One of the Most Commonly Overlooked Sources of Back Pain…

The quadratus lumborum muscle is one of the most common muscles to cause back pain. This muscle runs from the last rib and the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae down to the top of the pelvis on each side.

If you have pain on only one side and commonly sit alot without good back support your pain my be arising from your QL muscle. Check with your doctor to confirm this however because your pain may be arising from another muscle or something else altogether.



Pain from this muscle typically travels down to the SI joint (sacro-iliac) and lower buttocks. Also pain can often be felt around the top of the pelvis and in the groin and lower abdomen on that side.

One good stretch to do often is to lie on your side with your back towards the side of the bed. Extend your top leg back and down towards the floor. Then turn your upper body slightly in the other direction while reaching up with your upside arm. Hanging that upper leg off the side of the bed will help increase the stretch. Having someone help assist the stretch as in the picture may help facilitate more stretch also.




This muscle may be easier stretched or treated by your chiropractor. And be careful, if you are in a lot of pain, you may not be able to do the stretch for the QL’s.

If you have severe pain in your back or have a disc condition such as herniated disc, bulged disc, or degenerative disc, see your chiropractor or spinal decompression specialist for advice or treatment.


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:

• Try these two stretches as well to help relieve your back pain
  
• Stretches are often a vital component to you low back rehab
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Learn more about our Connecticut office
  

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Tips For Heavy Lifting That Can Save Your Low Back...

Here's 5 tips on lifting that can help you avoid back pain or a back injury:

1. Get help- have someone help you lift awkward shaped or extremely
heavy items. Also, use a cart or dolly if possible. If you already have a back injury then you may want to avoid heavy lifting altogether. Why chance it?

2. When possible, lighten your load- break up loads into smaller pieces
or quantities. It may take slightly longer but well worth it. Don't become a statistic.

3. Use your legs when lifting and lift and release something from a
straight-on position, never twist your body. Twisting is one of the most common ways to injure the back because it puts torsion stress on the discs and ligaments.

4. Minimize your reach and widen your stance. Your back doesn't have
to work as hard if you broaden your base and limit your reaching for things.

5. Hold items close to the body and at waist level. This is where you
are strongest and safest.

Keep these tips in mind when lifting. They will help prevent low back pain
and help you keep minimal stress on your low back discs.



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:

• Spinal Decompression may allow you to lift again.
  
• If you are going to do a certain amount of lifting, here's our back support belt
  
• Lumbar support belt video- Dr Bellinger shows how to use it.
  
• Over lifting can cause back problems
  
• Our lower back rest for lumbar support.
  

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Is Your Lower Back Pain Or Leg Pain The Result Of A Lumbar Radiculopathy?

Severe Lower Back Pain Or Leg Pain may be the Result Of A Lumbar Radiculopathy. Patients who present with lower back pain that is radiating into their legs and feet may be diagnosed with a lumbar radiculopathy. A lumbar radiculopathy includes anything that causes irritation, compression or dysfunction of one or more of the lumbar (low back) nerves. The lumbar nerve roots are sensitive to any type of irritation or pressure- and can cause those nerve roots to not function properly. The general term we often use for a lumbar radiculopathy is Sciatica.



What goes on at the nerve root level in the low back can cause many different symptoms? Any type of irritation to the nerve root can cause inflammation which can then cause back pain. Believe it or not, pressing on a nerve may not cause pain, or at least pain right away, but it will cause neurological deficits at some level.

The lumbar nerve roots have sensory, motor, and reflex components. When we say compression of a nerve root could cause neurological deficits, the sensory, motor or reflex component may be affected. Each nerve in the low back controls certain muscles and certain sensations and reflexes in areas of the low back, buttocks and legs.

Radiculopathy can be caused by different things- and often times it is important to distinguish a radiculopathy from other conditions such as spinal cord lesion or a severe muscle strain.

To diagnose a radiculopathy, it is important to have a proper history and consultation with your Doctor. What caused this pain? What is the pain level? Does the back pain travel into the legs? Does the pain cause numbness and tingling anywhere? Your doctor will determine what level the radiculopathy is taking place by looking at sensory changes such as feeling altered sensations or tingling, decreased or absent reflexes, and weakness in certain muscles. This goes back to looking at the sensory, motor and reflex aspect of each lumbar nerve root. So the first step in understanding a lumbar radiculopathy, is to see your doctor for a proper consultation, history and examination. You may also be sent out for specific imaging studies such as a lumbar MRI.

I will discuss more about specific details about what can cause a radiculopathy, what symptoms present at certain levels and how to treat this type of back pain or sciatica in the next couple blog posts. If you have specific questions about a lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica or have tried various treatments with no real success, call our office at 860-633-8756 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 Resources:

• How does spinal decompression work
  
• View our 3D animation of back pain causes
  
• Learn how chiropractic manipulation can be extremely valuable on your pathway to health and relief of pain
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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