Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

Osteoarthritis and Exercise

San Francisco Chiropractor and Chronic Back Pain Doctor Comments on the Benefits of Exercise for Spinal or Degenerative Arthritis:

Some spinal arthritis patients find it extremely difficult to perform certain exercises...like weight lifting or even physical therapy. But the thing is...exercise is usually something the patient should be doing.

After all, life is motion. Every joint in the body, including the spinal joints are what is called avascular. This means there is no direct blood supply to the joint. The joints stay healthy with motion. This is how they exchange nutrients and expel waste products with the bloodstream.

So, it can be quite beneficial to explore your options with your doctor and try to come up with some osteoarthritis exercises that you can handle. Chances are...you will be glad you did.

Obesity, Weight Loss, & Plant Foods

San Francisco Vegan Chiropractor Comments on Obesity Epidemic:

According to statistics...over 31% of Americans are obese...which means they weigh 30 lbs or more than they should. Almost 70% of our population is overweight...which means they weigh 10-30 lbs more than they should. In addition, the amount of children that are obese and overweight is sky-rocketing. 

Along with our obesity epidemic comes much sickness and disease. Diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, colon and rectal cancer, breast cancer, degenerative joint disease, and more.

It's spiraling out of control. And the treatment and advice that is being disseminated is NOT working, because it doesn't get to the root of the problem...our food choices.

I just spent several hours reading some very well respected websites on nutrition and weight loss...and for the most part the advice is worthless...it involves cutting back on portions (of the junk we should avoid) which means you have to go hungry...which is impossible to sustain. You will never win the battle with the hunger drive.

I guess it's just the way it is...the status quo. Well...we can still think for ourselves and search out truth. For those that are interested I write this blog. A diet centered around plant foods solves most of our weight gain and diseases of excess problems...yet the mainstream ignores this fact.

I guess we will just keep inflating our populations waistlines. We are on track to have a 76% overweight population, with a 40% obesity rate by 2015...along with all the health problems that go with it. But you don't have to be a part of it...because you and only you decide what goes in your mouth...and your childrens mouths.

There is plenty of great information out there...especially at websites like www.drmcdougall.com.

Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression or Artificial Disc Replacement?

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:

I just read an article on the excellent www.spine-health.com Back Pain Blog, entitled:

First Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery With ProDisc-C

I must say...this advancement is very interesting, and I would be curious about the long-term studies down the road. But, for the folks that have really bad herniated cervical discs or advanced degenerative cervical disc disease...this surgery has the potential to offer instant relief.

I'm sure I will be asked if spinal decompression with the DRX9000 should be considered first...and my answer would be YES. Geez...Who wouldn't want to try to fix their problem without neck surgery? That's always been my opinion...and I'm sticking to it.

However...if all else fails...including nonsurgical cervical decompression with the DRX9000c...then by all means consider disc replacement. Anyway...check out the article...it's hot off the press.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for nonsurgical cervical spinal decompression with the DRX 9000c...please call our San Francisco Decompression Center at 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation.

Spinal Disc Function, Vertebral Subluxations, and Disc Herniations

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:

The spine has 24 movable segments called vertebrae. There are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar vertebrae. There is a fibrous pad in between each vertebrae called a spinal disc (spinal disc anatomy).

The spinal discs have two primary functions...they act as a ligament by holding the spinal vertebrae above, and the one below together. And, they also function as a shock absorber. The intervertebral discs have a gelatinous center called the nucleus pulposus, and a very strong fibrous exterior called the annulus fibrosis.

Spinal Discs are avascular...which means they have no blood vessels that connect directly to them. They exchange nutrients with the bloodstream through a process called imbibition, a pumping action involving spinal motion. This is how they stay hydrated and healthy.

When the vertebra lose their normal alignment...what we call a vertebral subluxation...they can get stuck and are unable to perform the pumping action on the disc, which can lead to abnormal wear and tear, disc degeneration...and even disc herniations.

So, how do these spinal subluxations happen?

      

Can A Disc Herniation In My Neck Cause Carpal Tunnel Symptoms?

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:

The nerves that control the hand, come from the neck. If there is pressure on the cervical nerve roots  as they exit the cervical spine...say from a herniated disc...or degenerative disc disease (DDD)...it can cause symptoms in the hand. The same symptoms you get when you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

In fact...the nerve that is inside the carpal tunnel...the Median Nerve, is created by cervical nerve roots C5-T1. A small amount of pressure from a disc herniation...even the pressure of the weight of a pencil erasure, can cause pain, numbness/tingling, or weakness in the hands (CTS symptoms).

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused when the median nerve is compressed inside the carpal tunnel (wrist bones).  Usually, people that use their hands a lot, like court reporters, office workers, hair cutters, and athletes, get CTS...but, there are other risk factors as well (diabetes, hypothyroidism, obesity, arthritis, and more).

I treat mostly downtown office workers at my SF Financial District Back & Wrist Pain Center...so we see our fair share of CTS...as well as cervical disc herniations.

Sometimes there is both a herniated disc in the neck (or other form of cervical nerve root pressure), and carpal tunnel syndrome. This is called double crush syndrome...and is fairly common.

DRX9000 Spinal Decompression-When Should I Do It?

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:

We have been experiencing an unusually large amount of interest in our DRX9000 spinal decompression program lately. I'm not sure why? Maybe because it's the beginning of the year and New Years plans include fixing long standing back or neck pain.

Typically, patients with chronic back or neck pain have had the problem for a while. By definition, a chronic condition is anything that has been around for more than 3 months.

Most of the herniated disc and chronic back/neck pain patients we treat with the DRX9000 or DRX9000c, have had their symptoms for much longer...sometimes many years.

The DRX9000 (lumbar decompression) or DRX9000c (cervical decompression) can be considered either right away...say after six weeks of conservative care which fails to deliver favorable results(chiropractic, acupuncture, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, etc.), or at any point thereafter.

My experience has been...most patients wait a while before they try the DRX9000. Afterall, it's a commitment of time and money. It takes about 6 weeks to go through the 20 visit treatment protocol. And...there is home care and exercises. The DRX is NOT a Magic Bullet ...even though some patients swear it is.

The best thing to do if you have herniated discs...think you might...or are just plain fed up with the other treatment choices for chronic back or neck pain...is to find yourself a doctor that has the DRX9000 or DRX9000c...and go meet with him/her to discuss your treatment options.

As far as when to start or if you should start...well, the consultation with the doctor will help you decide. Spinal decompression therapy with the DRX9000 is not for everyone. Really, it's only for those that are ready to take action.

There will always be a reason why you think you shouldn't...too much work...too much money...too far to travel, and on and on. You just need to pull the trigger and make it happen...or you wont ever know.   

You have to make your back pain or neck pain a priority, and schedule your life around the treatment. If you do, chances are...you will be glad you did.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for nonsurgical spinal decompression at our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Center...simply call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary DRX9000 consultation.   

Read some Bay Area DRX9000 Success Stories

 

Sciatica? DRX9000 Lumbar Spinal Decompression May Be The Answer

San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. The nerve roots that exit the lumbar spine to form the sciatic nerve are very sensitive. Even the weight of a pencil erasure can irritate them and cause pain that travels down into the buttocks or leg.

In fact...sciatica is pain in the buttocks or leg (radicular pain) from irritation of the sciatic nerve.

So, how does the sciatic nerve become irritated?   

Well, this can happen several different ways, here are most of them:

1. A Herniated Lumbar Disc (most common cause of sciatica).

2. Spinal Stenosis or Foraminal Stenosis.

3. Vertebral Subluxation.

4. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD).

5. Piriformis Syndrome.

6. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction.

7. Spondylolisthesis.

8. Trauma (auto accident, skiing injury, sports, etc)

There are a few other causes...but this list covers most of them. The big question here is what can be done to get rid of the symptoms?  At least that's what my patients want to know.

 

Chiropractic is a Family Affair

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

It's not unusual for entire families to visit the chiropractor together. In fact, when I opened my first chiropractic clinic, which was in the suburbs of San Francisco...half of my patients were children.

Once I explained the benefits of chiropractic care first to one of the parents...everyone would pile in. It's more difficult now because of our downtown location, and the fact the we are not open on the weekends.

But...we still encourage our patients to bring the family in when they can...and they do. After all, everyone has a spine. And that spine protects the nervous system which controls all bodily functions. When the spine is out of alignment it can cause all sorts of problems...from ear infections in children, to back pain, neck pain,  and headaches (children and adults).

Kids love chiropractic care...and they are easy to work with. They say most problems that adults present with at a chiropractic office, happened from spills and falls they had when they were children. Well, it would have been a lot easier to work on back then...it just makes sense to have your family checked by a chiropractor on a regular basis.

If you would like to bring your family in to our San Francisco Chiropractic Center...the initial consultation will be complimentary. We will check everyone out and let you know what they need. Remember...most insurance plans cover chiropractic. Simply call 415-392-2225.

How Smoking Can Increase Your Back Pain

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

I came across a really good article on the excellent www.spine-health.com back pain blog. The title of the article is:

Stop Smoking To Reduce Back Pain: Why The Anti-Smoking Crowd Hurts Less

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you...but the connection between chronic back pain and smoking is often overlooked. Personally...it's one of the first things I look for when I look over a case history form or do a consultation.

What happens is the Nicotine causes vasoconstriction of the blood vessels that innervate the spinal discs...depriving them of oxygen and nutrients. They become brittle,  unhealthy, and vulnerable to injury from physical or mental stresses.

Smoking is just bad news...and should be avoided. And...it makes it really hard to deal with a chronic back condition if the discs are unable to breath and are suffering from malnutrition.

Check the article out...it explains this topic very well. 

The DRX9000c-For Neck Pain That Wont Go Away?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments on Cervical Spinal Decompression:

If you have neck pain that just wont seem to go away, no matter what you do...you may have a herniated cervical disc?  But the thing is...you could have a herniated disc in your neck, and have no symptoms at all.

In fact...most people that know that a disc is ruptured (another word for herniation) or bulging in their neck...had the problem for a long time before there were any symptoms. That's just the way it is.

Some people have herniated discs in the neck and never get any symptoms. Or they get some mild neck or arm pain that goes away with conservative treatment, such as chiropractic and exercise.

Studies suggest we could pull 10 random people off the street, and 6 of them would have some level of disc herniation...they are graded by severity. Some of the 10 would have symptoms...some would not.

Anyway, there is a certain subset of people with disc herniations...say 10-15% or so...that just don't seem to respond to anything.

Some patients I meet with at my San Francisco Chronic Back Pain Center have tried everything...chiropractic, acupuncture, pain killers, anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, Pilate's ...everything, even surgery...nothing seems to help...or help enough.