How can Stress affect my Back?

Stress is the response your body has to certain experiences. This response can be mental, physical, or both.

Stress tends to disrupt your body’s normal physiologic equilibrium (homeostasis). If your low back tends to be your weak area (sometimes you know it, sometimes you don’t) stress will often cause low back pain.

Speak to your chiropractor about ways to relieve stress, it can be vital to keep your body healthy and your back pain-free.


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:

• Specific Symptoms Associated with A Lumbar Radiculopathy
  
• Low Back Pain and Its Many Causes
  
• Eating Right for Optimal Health
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Unexpected Positive Side-Effects of Chiropractic Care and Spinal Decompression.

Most of us make our first visit to their chiropractor because of back pain or neck pain. After treatment not only is our back or neck pain better, but often we have better posture, more energy, and better flexibility. Seeing your chiropractor has also been shown to prevent colds, boost our immune system, and prevent spinal degeneration.

Take unwanted pressure off the nerves and the body will function at its best. This will get rid of pain but will also keep you healthy.

See your chiropractor for low back pain and neck pain, but also use him or her to maintain your health and prevent aches and pains. For more severe back pain or back and leg pain your chiropractor may recommend spinal decompression also.



CT Spine and Disc Center offers advanced chiropractic treatment and specializes in non surgical spinal decompression. Located in central Connecticut- Seeing 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:

• Do My Leg and Back Muscles Play A Role in Back Pain And Sciatica?
  
• What is Causing My Sciatica?
  
• I have Tried Everything for my Lower Back Pain. Surgery is My Next Step...
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Washington Post Discusses Top-Rated Back Pain Treatments

The June 2nd Washington Post Health section included an article reporting on survey results in April, in which survey respondents rated chiropractic/spinal manipulation as the top treatment for back pain.

Most people who suffer with back pain have tried many things to get rid of it. Hands-on therapies like Chiropractic rated in the top.

Low back pain can severely limit your life. Most people report difficulty with sleep, work, and their daily activities.

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 chiropractic care or non-surgical spinal decompression.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Read The Washington Post Article
  
• Meet Drs. Bellinger and Gill - Hartford Chiropractors
  
• Chiropractors Connecticut
  
• Consumer Reports: Rates Chiropractic Care Tops for Back Pain Relief
  

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Connecticut Spinal Decompression – A Very Advanced form of Lower Back Traction

Spinal Decompression looks a lot like traction, however it is much more than a traction machine. The way decompression differs is that it creates a suction effect in the spine, which pulls any bulged or herniated discs back into place. Once done consistently, the disc material will stay there and the body has a chance to heal the outer fibers of the disc.

All traction really does is stretch you. This opens the holes that the nerves come out of usually giving some relief. The problem is that when one goes back to gravity (gets done with traction) the pressure on the nerves returns and therefore the pain comes back.

For more information on advanced back traction visit: Spinal Decompression Connecticut!

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:

• What Kind of Doctor is using Spinal Decompression
  
• Chronic Lower Back Pain Is On the Rise, What Are Your Treatment Options?I don't have pain.But I Have Constant Numbness and Tingling In My Legs. Can Deocompression Help?
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
  
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression
  

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Consumer Reports says: "Chiropractor Best Choice For Back Pain Relief!"

Consumer Reports lists chiropractors as your best choice for back pain relief.
When compared to seeing your medical doctor (treatment with medication), survey respondents said they were more likely to be “highly satisfied” with their chiropractic doctor.

Here are some of the great things about seeing your chiropractor:

1)Chiropractic care is safe and drug free- the chiropractic adjustments allow the body to function like it should by freeing up nerves from pressure. This allows the body to heal itself. Basically it is the body healing from the inside-out, not outside-in like with medications. Which, by the way, have harmful side effects too. Not to mention, for severe back pain sufferers, some are given very strong, even addictive medications.
2)The chiropractors at CT Spine incorporate therapies (stim, ice, muscle massage) and stretches, or exercises, to help with your condition or back pain. Often times without removing nerve pressure (the chiropractic adjustments do this) the body does not heal. So you can have physical therapy and get instructions for home exercises, but they may do more harm than help.
3)Because chiropractors use natural methods of treatment (adjustments, natural therapies, nutrition, muscle work) they take the time to listen, and are often open to newer, non-traditional treatments to help with your pain. One example of this is using the DRX 9000. For more information on CT DRX 9000 or CT Spinal Decompression visit CTSPINEDR.COM.


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:

• Consumer Reports Survey
  
• How Does Chiropractic Care Help Your Discs
  
• Youtube video: Patient on Spinal decompression
  

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Do my leg and butt muscles play a role in my back pain and sciatica?

Most often your leg and butt muscles do play a role in your back pain and sciatica. As I mentioned in the last blog, everything in the body works together. Having leg muscles that are extremely tight will limit the flexibility of your pelvis and therefore limit movement of the lower back.

If your calf muscles are tight it affects your hamstring muscles; if your hamstring muscles are tight it affects your gluteus muscles; if your butt muscles are tight it affects your low back muscles.

Just like we talked about previously, if one area of the body has a problem, something else must pick up the slack. For example, if the hamstring muscles are extremely tight your low back may have to flex more to make up for the lack of motion in the leg muscles. This can put excessive stress on the spine and discs which leads to injury.

Make sure you stay limber by stretching leg muscles as well because it can save your back from injury.

Additional Reading Resources

• Lower Back Rehabilitation: A Vital Tool to Keep Your Back Pain Away
  
  
• Doctor, I have butt and leg pain, can you help me?
  
  
• What is causing my sciatic?
  
  
• Specific Symptoms associated with a Lumbar Radiculopathy
  
  
• Understanding Non Surgical Spinal Deomcompression
  

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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
  

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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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