Back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor’s visits. It is one of the most common reasons for missing work.
Yet, back pain continues to defy standard treatment. As most people with chronic back pain can attest, many treatments simply do not work.
Most patients that will suffer back pain will try a number of pills, including over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs, prescription muscle relaxers, possibly narcotic pain medication or other drugs. They will try heat, ice, rest, exercise, dangerous inversion contraptions, wearing corsets, applying chemical patches or any number of approaches that are recommended by their friends, neighbors, mother-in law, doctor, a magazine or the internet.
During the past twenty five years, I think I have heard and seen it all in my clinic when I consult with back pain patients. Obviously, if these approaches had been successful, the patients would not be in my office.
The big secret to solving back pain is this: there are dozens of causes for back and neck pain. Simply applying a one-size-fits-all approach is likely to fail.
After a quarter-century of solving back and neck problems the one universal truth I have discovered is that there is not a single universally successful treatment approach.
I use a combination of hands-on manipulation, rehab training, various modalities such as electrical stimulation, acupuncture and specialized treatment tables to treat the variety of backs that come into my office.
The key to success is solving the first mystery of why that particular patient has pain. In my experience, if I can solve that first mystery, the treatment plan is likely to be successful.
I have learned through the years that one patient may present with a nearly identical history to the next patient, and yet the cause of their pain can be different.
Recent research has revealed that subtle disc damage is responsible for a great deal of pain that is not responding to typical medical treatment.
For years it has been taught to medical students that the disc is only culpable if it is severely bulging or herniated. Recent research has shown this flawed assumption to be a rather naïve and simplistic approach.
The spinal disc has been researched more heavily during the past couple of decades than ever.
In our practice, we have seen several patients respond very favorably to treatment with the new generation of non-surgical spinal disc decompression device that were facing surgery. Knowing how often spinal surgery fails or creates a secondary problem that ultimately leads to disability I am keenly interested in saving patients from spinal surgery if possible.
However, there are still cases that I consult with in which I recommend surgery. Sometimes, it is simply a matter of having no other practical option, even though spinal surgery has significant risks of permanent damage to the spinal bones, joint tissue, muscles or nerves.
I have also observed that there are a number of non-surgical spinal disc decompression devices on the market. Like any other device, not all brands are similar in quality of manufacture, safety, or effectiveness. I researched for a number of years prior to obtaining a state-of-the-art spinal disc decompression table.
A high-quality spinal disc decompression device can be very effective at helping restore normal height to a damaged spinal disc. In order to do this successfully, it is critical to improve the fluid exchange function of the spinal disc membranes.
It has been shown that as a disc is damaged, fluid is lost from the disc that is never recovered under normal circumstances. If disc decompression treatment can successfully target the injured disc and adequately pump the joint to restore more normal fluid mechanics, the disc has a chance to reverse the progression of degeneration.
Non-surgical spinal disc decompression is in my opinion the most promising spinal treatment I have seen in the past thirty years. Although not everyone is a candidate it can be safely used for most people with chronic neck or back pain.
As more is learned about the causes of back pain that originate in the spinal disc, it will be rewarding to apply this new technology to people that were once told that they would just have to learn to live with daily pain.
