Disc herniations cause back pain and
leg pain for some. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka welcomes those back pain sufferers due to
a disc herniation. Gentle, relieving treatment
without surgery is what we offer. Sitka back
pain patients find relief when they find us!
DISC HERNIATION: Size, Weight, Sleep
What matters when a disc produces back
pain? Its size? Its weight? Its effect on quality of life? Spinal researchers have
produced data and published that how the
painful disc appears on imaging does
not really matter. The size and shape of an intervertebral
spinal disc’s protruded nucleus pulposus has no link to
a what a patient’s symptoms may be
or how a patient feels. (1) The weight of a disc fragment did not correlate
with the duration of symptoms or severity
of pre- or post-operative leg pain nor post-operative leg pain or back pain improvement,
the percentage of space the disc occupied in the spinal canal, herniation classification, or vertebral level. The size
of the lumbar disc herniation did not have much effect on patient
outcomes. (2) Chronic lower back pain and sciatica due to lumbar disc
herniation negatively affected sleep quality. Treatment positively impacted
patient perception of pain in visual analog scale (VAS) scores and the PSQI Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index scores. (3) Pain lessening
chiropractic treatment of a pain-producing disc entails
reducing the risk of recurrent back pain episodes as well as decreasing
the pain of the current episode.
MANAGING BACK PAIN AND RISK OF ITS RECURRENCE
Once you’ve felt back pain related to a
disc herniation,
you don’t want it again! Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka gets
that and shares that managing - as conservatively as
possible - the disc herniation is more realistic than curing it.
6.05% of lumbar discectomy surgery patients experienced a re-current disc
herniation. What brought that on? On their own, factors
like age, BMI, current smoking status, heavy lifting, degenerative facet joint
disease, operation time, and the ambulation time
after surgery influenced the risk of recurrent disc herniation.
Combined, older age, male sex, high body mass index (BMI), and early ambulation
were significant factors in the recurrence or a
lumbar disc herniation. Managing weight, not lifting heavy
items, and exercising were proposed risk reducers. (4) One new
study reported that the amount of sedentary time probably did not increase
the chance of a new bout of low back pain
as much as the amount and type of physical activity. (5) Pain relief happens
more as a roller coaster than a straight hill to pain relief. A
disc herniation is like a bruise on an apple rendering the apple (and
by comparison, the spine) never quite the same again. That is
where Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka comes in with a treatment plan that makes sure
you know all there is to know about a disc herniation, how
to nutritionally take care of it, how to exercise to return
it to strength and keep it strong, and how to perform activities
of daily living to prevent (re)injury. A newer
systematic review of ways to approach the management
of back pain revealed 10 approaches:
manipulation/mobilization, psychological/behavioral, advice to stay active/bed
rest, reassurance, antidepressants, NSAIDS, opioids, muscle relaxants, and
paracetamol. (6) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka supports walking, moving,
careful lifting, and especially being treated with gentle, safe, effective Cox®
Technic spinal manipulation!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Robert Patterson on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the realistic expectations
back pain patients can expect with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management.
Make your Sitka chiropractic
appointment today. Disc herniation sufferers are invited
to our practice for relief and a plan for controlling its future effect
on life.