Treating Sciatica Pain
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems with some surveys reporting as high as 80% of adults suffer from it at one point in their lives. Though the majority of back pain symptoms resolve themselves, usually within a few weeks, for some, the onset of back pain is an indication of something serious. Unfortunately, knowing the difference between the two isn’t always easy and can often result in unnecessary pain and even damage to one’s back. However, at Healthquest, we specialize in the relief of chronic back pain through non-surgical back pain treatment techniques.
Muscle Strains and Sprains
Muscle strains are the most common way to cause back pain. This is especially true of lower back pains which are typically the result of lumbar muscle strains. Often, these muscle strains are the result of overexertion but can result any time the lumbar muscle fibers are abnormally stretched. The result of both abnormal stretching and
overexertion is the same however, the muscle is torn. Sprains differ from strains in that sprains are the result of the ligaments that attach bones to each other being torn.
Diagnosing Your Back Pain
Determining if your back pain is caused by a back sprain or a back strain can be next to impossible without a medical professional, especially when you may or may not remember the movement that resulted in the injury. Fortunately though, the treatment for both is the same. Given time and rest, strains and sprains typically heal themselves. If however, your pain is constant, you have numbness or tingling in your extremities, you feel like you’re being electrocuted, or you are suddenly weak, something more serious is wrong!
Watch this short video about the treatment of sciatica pain:
Treating Your Back Pain
A variety if treatment options are available if you have back pain resulting from a strain or sprain. These treatments range from anti-inflammatories and rest to physical therapy and massage. Some of the more common treatments for muscle strains and ligament sprains are:
- – Rest and give the injury time to heal
- – Use anti-inflammatory medicines to relieve any pain
- – Massage and Physical Therapy
If these treatments do not slowly heal the injury, there may be further damage and you may need to have an MRI or CT scan by a specialist.
Ruptured Discs
Ruptured or herniated discs are caused when the disc, essentially a soft cushion of tissue between your spinal vertebrae, is damaged and pushed out abnormally. This in turn allows pressure to be placed on the nerves of the spinal column itself. Spinal discs become increasingly rigid with age making them more susceptible to damage during routine movements. Because this damage can happen through essentially the same movements that can result in a strain or sprain, a ruptured disc can often go undiagnosed until the damage becomes severe.
Diagnosing Your Back Pain
Many of the symptoms listed above can be caused by the rupturing or herniating of the discs between vertebrae. As the disc that had been protecting the nerve from damage and compression is itself damaged, the nerve is left vulnerable to being pinched. This nerve compression can manifest itself in any number of ways but some of the more common are:
- – Muscle Weakness in the extremities
- – Numbness or Tingling sensations throughout the body
- – Bowel or Bladder problems
- – The feeling of Electric Shocks
If you experience any of these symptoms, its important that you do NOT ignore them. A ruptured disc is a medical condition and requires a specialist. For more information about this specific condition, visit our Ruptured and Herniated Discs page.
Ruptured Disc Treatment
Back pain caused by ruptured or herniated discs can be non-surgically treated through manipulation and Spinal Decompression by certified doctors. Spinal Decompression is a non-surgical back pain treatment for treating back pain caused by compression related conditions such as a ruptured disc. During the procedure the patient is secured to a decompression table which is then gradually adjusted in order to relieve the pressure the body naturally places on the intervertabral spaces. This
relief of pressure allows the damaged tissue to heal.
In the worst cases, surgical techniques such as Lumbar Discectomy might be necessary. These surgical procedures involve the removal of small portions of the vertebrae (under general anesthesia) on either side of the disc in an attempt to relieve some of the discomfort caused by the lack of natural cushioning. Because this surgery is a last resort of sorts, we recommend patients try non-surgical back pain treatment and decompression techniques first.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal Stenosis is a condition that can result in back pain due to the gradual narrowing of the space surrounding the spinal cord itself or the nerves leaving the spinal cord. Spinal Stenosis is a common condition that is more likely to occur as we age, often effecting people over 50 but it is not unknown in younger individuals. Often, when it does occur in those under 50, it follows a traumatic back injury.
Diagnosing Your Back Pain
Spinal Stenosis is often associated with the same sets of symptoms as a ruptured disc. The reason for this is that as stenosis narrows the spinal cavity itself, the result is often the very same nerve pinching a ruptured disc would cause. The two conditions are also typically associated in that the narrowing of the spinal canal in stenosis can lead to a ruptured disc directly.Due to the seriousness of both conditions and the difficulty in telling one from the other outside a clinical setting, we recommend anyone with the associated symptoms make an appointment immediately.
Treating Stenosis
Back pain caused by stenosis, like that caused by herniated discs can be non-surgically treated through back pain treatment and Spinal Decompression by certified doctors.
As mentioned above, Spinal Decompression is a non-surgical treatment for back pain caused by stenosis and other compression related conditions such as those caused by a ruptured disc. During the procedure the patient is secured to a decompression table which is then gradually adjusted in order to relieve the pressure the body naturally places on the intervertabral spaces. This relief of pressure allows the damaged tissue to heal.
In the worst cases, surgical techniques such as Lumbar Discectomy might be necessary. These surgical procedures involve the removal of small portions of the vertebrae (under general anesthesia) on either side of the disc in an attempt to relieve some of the discomfort caused by the lack of natural cushioning. Because this surgery is a last resort of sorts, we recommend patients try non-surgical chiropractic back pain treatment and decompression techniques first.
Disease, Infection, and Tumors
Though rare, it is possible that back pain can be caused by cancer or infection of the spine itself. Cancerous spinal tumors are usually secondary tumors, meaning they typically form as a result of a metastasized cancer spreading throughout the body. In the case of infection, the cause is often injury or or post-surgical infection.
Diagnosing Your Back Pain
The symptoms of a spinal infection are often severe and require immediate medical attention. These typically, but not always, include fever, headache, chills, stiffness, and when associated with injury, a red or tender wound.
Spinal tumors can often manifest themselves with back pain and symptoms that mimic other spinal problems. These symptoms typically appear without associated injury. As with other serious back related symptoms, immediate medical attention should be sought.
Treating Disease, Infection, and Tumors
In the cases of infection a patients should immediately consult a physician and, depending on the severity of the symptoms, the hospital emergency room. For cases of suspected tumors, an MRI or CT scan should be performed to establish the presence of the growth, followed by a biopsy to establish malignancy. Following this diagnosis, an oncologist should be consulted immediately.
Treatment Options
Every day, we see our Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression patients go from living in constant agony to living completely pain free. We see the physical AND emotional relief that our patients experience when the severe back and neck pain they’ve had for weeks, months and years disappears. We are dedicated to giving you your quality of life back…without surgery, shots or drugs.
| Treatment | Non-Invasive | Safe | Success rate | Painless |
| DRX9000™ Decompression System | Yes | Yes | Excellent | Yes |
| Laminectomy | No | Standard Surgical & Anesthesia Risks | Depends on severity of condition and skill of surgeon | No |
| Discectomy | No | Standard Surgical & Anesthesia Risks | Depends on severity of condition and skill of surgeon |
No |
| IDET | No | Standard Surgical & Anesthesia Risks | Depends on severity of condition and skill of surgeon | No |
| Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression | No | Minimal Surgical Risks | Usually Good | Mild |
| Do Nothing | Yes | Condition usually continues to get worse | None:Can have a very poor Prognosis | Very painful, Not advised |
We provide true, ground-breaking, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression . The patient lies on a Decompression Therapy Table and relaxes as the device applies decompression to affected areas. Decompression is the elongation of the spine in a slow and gentle manner in order to alleviate pressure on the affected areas. This treatment system has an proven sucess rate in clinical studies.
