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
  

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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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Lower Back Rehabilitation: A Vital Tool To Keep Your Back Pain Away!

Rehab for the lower back pain or sciatica patient should include natural, safe therapies such as chiropractic care, spinal decompression, muscle massage, low back stretches, and lower back strengthening exercises. Along with that, ice, heat, electrical muscle stimulation, endurance exercises, balance/proprioceptive exercises, nutitional advice, and support or postural improving products should be utilized.

At often times with the initial chiropractic care we use muscle therapies such as trigger point massage, heat or ice, and tens. We also will give recommendations on support belts or low back and/or neck pillows or cushions to use.

After the initial chiropractic care or spinal decompression for acute back pain or sciatic pain, we often start with some simple low back stretches and exercises. This helps rehabilitate the back quicker and gets you back to your usual daily routine.

Initially using ice on the low back helps alleviate pain and decreases inflammation. When pain is less often, or to loosen up the back before physical activities, heat can be recommended.

The most common muscles I find patients need to stretch are the low back, glut muscles, hamstrings, and the calves. Stretching the low back and leg muscles helps increase flexibility, balance, musculature from one side of the body to the other, and gives pain relief.

Muscle massage or electrical muscle stimulation helps retore blood flow, decrease inflammation, and break up muscle knots (in other words- trigger points) to balance out the lower body and speed recovery as well.

Most often, once we heal the back significantly, we want to strengthen the core to help prevent future injury. Your core region is the mid-section of your body. If you put a hula hoop around your waist, this is your core. Start with walking, which actually helps build lower back muscle endurance and helps strengthen the core. Gradually work up to light back extensions and planks.

Building proprioception or the proprioceptive muscle is also key to healing and rehabilitating the back. These are smaller muscles that we don’t always think about but help with balance. Doing some light cardio with combined movements, standing on one foot or using a balance board helps with this.

For more information you can email us HERE.

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:

• Getting Rid Of Lower Back Trigger Points
  
• Our recommended low back support belt
  
• Stetches for Low Back Pain Relief
  

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Dear Doctor, I have Butt and Leg Pain. Can you Help me?

Pain starts in my left rear-end and travels down my leg. Sometimes I even get numbness. I don’t really have much back pain. Is it back-related?

Over and over we see patients with pain in the legs and buttocks or numbness and tingling in the legs, but no back pain. Most often the problem still comes from the lower back.

The reason is that nerves have specific referral patterns, measuring pressure on one part of the nerve may refer or send symptoms to another area.

In the low back the lower nerve roots form together to create your sciatic nerve which travels down near your sacrum (or tailbone region) and exits out the buttock on each side and sends nerve innervation to the legs.

Depending where the pressure is and how severe it is will determine your symptoms. The nerve roots that branch off the spinal cord are a bundle of nerves; depending which fibers in those nerve roots are irritated will determine where your symptoms may occur- leg pain, foot numbness, back pain, shooting pain down the leg starting at the base of your rear-end, muscle cramping in your calves. . .

Some symptoms are more common for certain conditions or a disc problem at a specific level often causes similar symptoms. This is specifically why we do specific exam tests or lab tests, or take pictures of the spine and/or discs.

So, to answer your question in the title- the answer is often: yes! However, our consultation and exam with you will give us a clear yes or no.

If you suffer with symptoms in your lower extremity such as leg pain and tingling/numbness in the legs, call our office for a free, no obligation consultation right away.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Glastonbury, CT- Serving patients in central CT and MA. If you suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine, we can help you. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression.

Additional Reading Resources:

• What is Causing my Sciatica?
  
• How does Drx9000 Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Work?
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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How Does Chiropractic Care Help Put The Disc Back In Place?

Your chiropractor may use many different therapies and techniques to put the spine back in its best position. Aligning the spine helps the discs fall back in place.

Having the spine in its best position also increases the strength of your spine allowing it to better tolerate stress, strain, and simply gravity.

Making sure your spine is in normal alignment, most importantly, frees nerves from pressure. It gives the nerves adequate space between the vertebrae as well as allowing the body to work like it should. Down to even the cellular level your body processes nutrients, gets rid of waste, and functions 24/7.

Adjusting the spine (adjustments or manipulations) also helps mobilize the spine. This helps the body by allowing better blood flow and oxygenation of your system. Most often pain is due to internal inflammation putting pressure on nerves. Getting your body and spine moving allows for the inflammation to go away and allows oxygen and hydration in. Blood flow is important because cells created for healing can travel to the area of the body that needs repair and waste toxins can be pulled out.

At a neurological level, the nervous system can be more activated or the dysfunctional part can be reactivated) to balance your body's nervous system out. This may help restore immune system function so your body can heal as quickly as possible.



So at one level, putting your spine in its best alignment (orthopedic) will help the strength and function of the spine and discs. At another level (neurologic) it will help your body function better by activation your nervous system which is the main control center of the body.


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 or chiropractic care.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Watch An Individual Get Adjusted.
  
• Get A Free Guide On The DRX9000 in CT.
  
• Meet the doctors at the CT Spine Center.
  

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Latest Independent Lumbar Disc Disease Study: 76% of patients satisfied after treatment using DRX-9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

The following is information was from an independent study done in Japan. The success of the drx, at this point, is worldwide. Any doctor’s office using the correct protocol should get these results or better. At our office in Glastonbury CT we enjoy having these high success rates with patient’s that suffer from severe BACK PAIN, SCIATICA and the like. The drx9000 has proven extremely effective in the treatment of disc disease (disc degeneration, herniation, bulging, etc.).

Here’s what the lumbar disc pain study showed:

Japanese study titled, “The treatment of lumbar disc disease using DRX-9000” is published in the December issue of the Nigata University Journal of Health and Welfare. After treating fifty patients on the DRX-9000, Dr. Noriaki Yamamoto and others reported that 76% of patients were satisfied with the treatment. The patients received 30-minute sessions every week or 2 weeks, for 3 months and revealed a decrease in pain of 4.91 ± 0.93 to 2.69 ± 1.02 (p<0.01). Although the treatment program used by Dr. Yamamoto did not follow Axiom’s published protocol, positive results were still demonstrated. A previous study following Axiom’s protocol which was published in the December 2008 issue of the Journal of Medicine revealed a mean patient rating of 7.61 (0-10 scale) at the mid point of treatment and 8.1 after the final week of treatment. To review additional clinical studies please go to the makers of the DRX9000's website.

The foregoing study was not sponsored by Axiom Worldwide. Axiom has made no determination of and makes no representations as to the design, scope or manner in which the study was conducted. Axiom Worldwide's referencing the presentation of the study should not be construed to mean that Axiom Worldwide represents that the study establishes any conclusive success rate or the efficacy of the device. The information is offered simply to demonstrate the exciting activity ongoing with the DRX9000. As always, individual patient’s experiences with the DRX9000 may vary and patients should always consult with their physician to determine whether treatment on the DRX9000 makes sense for them.


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:

• Hear what our patients that suffered from severe back problems had to say
  
• Testimonials of one time low back pain sufferers from accross the US.
  
• Clinical Reseach on the drx
  
• More studies with spinal decompression

I Have A Tear In My Disc, What Does This Mean?

Most often times your doctor or your MRI report is referring to a tear of the Annulus Fibrosis. This is the outer layer of your disc.

This disc is made up of an outer fiber called the annulus. This is a cartilaginous material slightly more firm than the inner, more gel-like nucleus pulposis.

When the nucleus leaks out it’s referred to as a disc herniation or protruded disc. This usually creates significant nerve pressure and therefore pain.

We don’t always have to have a bulged disc or a herniated disc to have serious back pain.

You can also simply have a tear in the annulas fibers. The annulus has nerve fibers as well. Often times a tear of the annulus can cause a lot of pain.


With our discs there are a few types of injuries or conditions that cause pain or neurological symptoms. The conditions are disc protrusions (herniated discs), disc bulges, disc degeneration (flattening and bulging), and a disc tear. Nerve fibers in or around the disc get irritated from any one of these disc conditions and can result in serious back and/or leg pain.

Our Connecticut office uses advanced chiropractic techniques as well as DRX 9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression to heal your spinal discs and end your back pain.


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:

• drx9000 decompression - the only pain free, safe option for real disc pain relief
  
• Common Disc Problems Glossary
  
• Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: The New Safe Way To Now Get Rid Of Disc Pain With No Side Effects
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

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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What Kind of Doctor Using Spinal Decompression?

In my experience it has been mostly chiropractors that use it. I have also seen it used in an orthopedics office, neurologist’s office, pain clinic and a multidisciplinary clinic (those clinics that have a variety of Doctors such as chiropractors, medical doctors and physical therapists that work together).


It tends to be Doctors that use more of a natural approach as non-surgical spinal decompression is just that- non-surgical. Its helps the body do its own healing without masking the pain with medications. Don’t get me wrong however, sometimes medications help get through the acute phases of pain if unbearable.


It does take some looking around because there are so many doctors and so many specialists to begin with not to mention each may practice a certain way.


Since chiropractors don’t give prescription medications to their patients they tend to be more knowledgeable of the various natural treatments like drx9000 non surgical spinal decompression.


Most surgeons do surgery and most M.D. and D.O’s treat their patients with medications regularly. This isn’t always the case however, and whatever Dr you go to should refer you to the appropriate practitioner when necessary.


At the CT Spine and Disc Center in Glastonbury CT, our Doctors are trained in specialized testing procedures for patients suffering with lower back pain from disc herniation, disc herniation, disc bulging and sciatica. Call our central Connecticut office at (860) 633-8756 to see if you will be a candidate.


Additional Reading Resources:

• Low Back and Leg Pain Relief…Treatments available for your Sciatica
  
• Chronic Lower Back Pain Is On the Rise: What are your Treatment Options
  
• Are you a Candidate for Non Surgical Spinal Decompression ?
  
• How Does Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Work, and what Research has been done?
  
• Dr.Bellinger’s Chronic Lower Back Pain Blog
  

What tests will my doctor do to help determine what’s wrong with my back?

First, your doctor or chiropractor will ask you about your pain. Things like how long it’s been going on, was there an incident that started it up, where is it located, how much back pain (or leg pain or foot tingling etc…) is there and how often is it, does it travel, what medications for your back pain are you taking, etc.

Next, a thorough exam needs to be performed. This should include specific tests to determine the nature and cause of the problem. For your back, it should include observatory and palpatory findings, ranges of motion, orthopedic testing and neurological testing.




























Then any advanced testing and/or imaging should be performed and/or reviewed. This will include things like MRI’s, x-rays, CT scans, discograms, nerve conductions, EMG’s, bone scans, or blood work, to name some.

Last, all of these findings need to be correlated together. It is not enough to simply look at an MRI without doing an adequate consultation, or simply doing a consultation with no real exam. It sounds like common sense, but inadequate consultations, exams, and testing happens everyday.

Without the proper testing an individual will not get the correct diagnosis, and without the correct diagnosis, the patient will often not get the care he/she needs.

Located in Glastonbury, 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 us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression

Additional Reading Resources:

• Specific Symptoms associated with a lumbar disc herniation
  
• Low Back And Leg Pain Relief...Treatments Available For Your Sciatica!
  
• Chronic Lower Back is On the Rise, What are your Treatment Options
  
• Using Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Drx9000 at CT Spine and Disc Center
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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