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Chiropractic

Chiropractic Treatment and Decompression for Spinal Degeneration

Chiropractic Treatment and Decompression for Spinal Degeneration

Degenerative disc disease is the most common type of spinal degeneration. The condition is characterized by a loss of function of vertebral bones (and discs). Multiple underlying conditions lead to degeneration of your spine. The most prevalent causes of spinal degeneration include:

  • Aging: With progressing age, there is wear and tear in all the joints, including vertebral joints. 
  • Arthritis: A major contributor to spinal bone breakdown is osteoarthritis. Another type of arthritis i.e., rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to degeneration. 
  • Disc Herniations: Spinal degeneration resulting from a slipped disc is seen in numerous cases. 
  • Spinal stenosis: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is the most frequent cause of low back pain in old patients. It is commonly associated with spinal stenosis.

Spinal degenerative disorders frequently cause lower back pain and neuropathic symptoms like burning, tingling, and paresthesias, etc. Patients suffer from reduced mobility and range of motion. This reduces the quality of life and further worsens the condition. Mostly older patients encounter these problems, therefore, healing is slow and disease progression leads to loss of function and mobility.

One of the most potent treatment strategies for managing all such disorders is chiropractic treatment. This is because a chiropractic adjustment is non-invasive and shows promising results in alleviating symptoms.

How Chiropractic Adjustment Helps Spinal Degeneration Conditions?

Chiropractors can improve the life quality of a spinal degeneration patient in multiple ways. Most chiropractors opt for joint stretching to realign the spine (bones and the muscles). The equal distribution of forces on your back eliminates many problems. Sometimes, chiropractors may choose instrument-aided spinal correction such as the flexion-distraction technique. Studies show that flexion-distraction decreases pain and improves function in degenerative disc disease patients.

Going to the chiropractor has numerous benefits, some of which are mentioned below:

Relieves Pressure from Vertebrae

As spinal degeneration may be triggered by a herniated disc, repositioning the intervertebal disc takes away the source of damage. Chiropractic adjustment effectively regresses lumbar disc herniation and improves symptoms of degeneration.

Improves Mobility and Flexibility

Spinal manipulation and decompression strategies not only minimize pain and neuropathic symptoms but also improve joint mobility. A clinical trial revealed that spinal manipulation enhanced spinal mobility and hip flexion, and improved self-perceived pain in degenerative disc disease patients.

Halts The Progress of Disease

Chiropractic sessions improve the blood supply of the spine. This promotes natural healing of the body. Patients report significant improvements in the condition and enjoy a boost in generalized well-being. This strengthens the mind and body and thus, halts the further progression of the disease.

Spinal Degeneration Management at The Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic

The Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic offers highly effective treatment modalities to manage and halt the progression of spinal degeneration. So, you can enjoy a pain-free, active life with the right chiropractic treatment.  

Conclusion

Multiple conditions like trauma, aging, arthritis, and disc slippage can cause spinal bones to degenerate. This leads to radiating pain, burning/tingling sensations, and muscle weakness, etc. Chiropractic treatment strategies (like joint stretching, and flexion distraction techniques) and decompression help relieve symptoms. This non-invasive procedure realigns the herniated disc, improves spinal mobility, and halts the progression of the disease. This leads to significant relief and enhanced quality of life.

References

  1. Siemionow, K., An, H., Masuda, K., Andersson, G., & Cs-Szabo, G. (2011). The effects of age, sex, ethnicity, and spinal level on the rate of intervertebral disc degeneration: a review of 1712 intervertebral discs. Spine, 36(17), 1333-1339.
  2. Fine, N., Lively, S., Séguin, C. A., Perruccio, A. V., Kapoor, M., & Rampersaud, R. (2023). Intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis: a common molecular disease spectrum. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 19(3), 136-152.
  3. Koban, O., Öğrenci, A., Akar, E. A., Uyanık, A. S., Yılmaz, M., & Dalbayrak, S. (2021). Radiological and clinical comparisons of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis operated with rigid and dynamic instrumentation systems due to lumbar degenerative spinal diseases. Journal of Orthopaedic Science, 26(3), 369-374.
  4. Kirnaz, S., Capadona, C., Wong, T., Goldberg, J. L., Medary, B., Sommer, F., … & Härtl, R. (2022). Fundamentals of intervertebral disc degeneration. World neurosurgery, 157, 264-273.
  5. Hennemann, S., & Abreu, M. R. D. (2021). Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Revista brasileira de ortopedia, 56(1), 9-17.
  6. Buser, Z., Ortega, B., D’Oro, A., Pannell, W., Cohen, J. R., Wang, J., … & Wang, J. C. (2018). Spine degenerative conditions and their treatments: national trends in the United States of America. Global spine journal, 8(1), 57-67.
  7. Pi, T., & Chung, Y. (2021). Immediate effect of flexion-distraction spinal manipulation on intervertebral height, pain, and spine mobility in patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease. Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science, 10(2), 235-243.
  8. Chu, E. C., Chakkaravarthy, D. M., Lo, F. S., & Bhaumik, A. (2020). Regression of lumbar disc herniation following non-surgical treatment. European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, 7(1), 27-79.
  9. Vieira-Pellenz, F., Oliva-Pascual-Vaca, Á., Rodriguez-Blanco, C., Heredia-Rizo, A. M., Ricard, F., & Almazán-Campos, G. (2014). Short-term effect of spinal manipulation on pain perception, spinal mobility, and full height recovery in male subjects with degenerative disk disease: a randomized controlled trial. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 95(9), 1613-1619.

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Chiropractic

How Chiropractic Adjustment and Spinal Decompressions Help Disc Bulges, Herniations and Protrusions?

Chiropractic Adjustment and Spinal Decompressions Help Disc Bulges

The most effective non-surgical method of managing a herniated disc is chiropractic care. Numerous patients across the globe seek chiropractic treatment for aches induced by a slipped disc. According to reports, there is a growing trend of chiropractic care in US adults. The lifetime prevalence of patients seeking chiropractic care (majorly for back and neck pain) was 24%. The numbers continue to rise because of the therapeutic advantages of chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic Strategies for Disc Protrusions

A protruded or bulging disc exerts unnatural pressure on the nearby nerves. This nerve impingement can lead to the development of symptoms in the area innervated by the nerve. The most common issues encountered with a disc slip include:

  • Radiating pain (especially back pain radiating from the buttocks/lower back to the feet)
  • Burning 
  • Tingling
  • Numbness
  • Muscle weakness

Depending on the area, a slipped disc can present with symptoms like neck pain and lower back pain. The cervical (neck) and lumbar vertebrae are most prone to injury and protrusions.

Chiropractors are trained professionals who can relieve your debilitating symptoms. There are various techniques that a chiropractor adopts to help cut down the pain and agony. The highly effective techniques to realign a bulging disc include:

Spinal Decompression

This involves applying gentle forces on the mispositioned vertebrae. This particular treatment type significantly lowers pain and other symptoms. Therefore, it is considered a suitable option for conservative management of lumbar disc herniation.

Flexion-distraction technique

In addition to the conventional manual adjustment, chiropractors also perform specialized therapies for disc protrusions. Performed on a specialized table, the flexion-distraction technique involves gentle stretching i.e., distraction of the spine. The chiropractor flexes the spine in a rhythmic motion. This technique also improves the disc height. Studies conclude flexion-distraction to be a viable non-surgical treatment option for disc slip patients. Most individuals readily accept the treatment option and report significant improvements in symptoms.

Ultrasound Therapy

The introduction of ultrasound waves into the body produces heat which is capable of healing skeletomuscular disorders. Many chiropractors combine different therapies to achieve superior results. Ultrasound therapy and short-wave diathermy (heat application) help improve symptoms of disc bulging.

Laser Therapy

The field of therapeutic lasers is continually evolving. Therefore, now we have medical lasers for different medical conditions. The use of lasers in spinal disorders has shown promising results. According to a 2020 study, high-intensity laser therapy is highly effective in controlling lumbar disc herniation pain.

Other potent non-surgical disc herniation strategies include:

  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
  • Dry needling
  • McKenzie exercises

Disc Herniation Treatment at The Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic

The Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic offers multiple treatment options to manage disc protrusions under one roof. If your radicular pain is proving to be debilitating, visit the Legacy clinic and get your health back!

Conclusion

A disc herniation can be a debilitating disorder. Numerous patients avoid surgery and prefer non-surgical approaches. Chiropractic treatment is a safe, efficacious, and highly effective mode of healing for disc herniations. Most chiropractors use a combination of different techniques like spinal decompression, flexion-distraction, ultrasound, laser therapy, etc to obtain better results. Clinical studies advocate the use of these strategies in the symptomatic management of cervical/lumbar disc herniations.

References

  1. Adams, J., Peng, W., Cramer, H., Sundberg, T., Moore, C., Amorin-Woods, L., … & Lauche, R. (2017). The prevalence, patterns, and predictors of chiropractic use among US adults: Results from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Spine, 42(23), 1810-1816.
  2. Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P. B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International journal of clinical practice, 2022(1), 6343837.
  3. Kruse, R. A., White, B. A., & Gudavalli, S. (2019). Management of Lumbar Radiculopathy Associated With an Extruded L4-L5 Spondylolytic Spondylolisthesis Using Flexion-Distraction Manipulation: A Case Study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 18(4), 311-316.
  4. Ozen, S., Guzel, S., Senlikci, H. B., Cosar, S. N. S., & Selcuk, E. S. (2023). Efficacy of ultrasound versus short wave diathermy in the treatment of chronic low back pain in patients with lumbar disk herniation: a prospective randomized control study. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 15(1), 157.
  5. Huang, Y., & Gao, D. (2020). The effectiveness of high intensity laser therapy in the patients with lumbar disc herniation: A protocol of randomized placebo-controlled trial. Medicine, 99(41), e22520.
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Spinal Decompression Table in The Villages

Spinal Decompression Table in The Villages

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

Excruciating low back pain can hinder motion and leave you tied to the bed. Disruptions in the spine lead to sharp, radiating nerve pains that do not respond to most the over-the-counter painkillers.

Thus, the only way to treat low back pain arising from compression of spinal nerves is to set the spine back to its original position. This resetting can be achieved either surgically or via non-surgical spinal decompression also known as traction therapy.  

Who Needs Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression?

There are different conditions for which your doctor might recommend a manual traction therapy, some of which are discussed below: 

Sciatica Or Low Back Pain

As per the WHO, the lifetime prevalence of low back pain is estimated to be as high as 70% (average is 60-70%) in industrialized countries. Therefore, it is important to treat low back pain/sciatica with minimal invasion.

The sciatic nerve is a major nerve that innervates the back and the legs. Inflammation of this nerve (due to compression or other causes) leads to a painful condition called sciatica.

As per a retrospective cohort study, non-surgical spinal disc compression effectively reduces discogenic low back pain and also improves disc height.

Another study found this procedure to be a less-expensive treatment for low back pain/sciatica.

Neck Pain

Cervical and neck pain due to nerve compression are common complaints that are managed well by physiotherapy/chiropractic treatment. According to a study published in the Journal of Novel Physiotherapy and Physical Rehabilitation non-surgical spinal decompression is an effective treatment modality for neck and back pain.

Disc Herniation

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a condition that can lead to nerve symptoms such as radiating pain, burning, tingling, or numbness. Traction therapy can also be performed using decompression devices. It effectively alleviates symptoms of disc herniation, a study suggests.

Other conditions for which the non-interventional procedure can be employed include posterior facet syndrome and worn-out spinal joints.

How Is It Done?

A manual traction procedure usually lasts for 30 to 45 minutes. The patient’s spine is protected by fitting a harness around the trunk and pelvis region.

The patient is then made to lie face down and the doctor uses a computerized device for traction (tailored to the specific needs of the patient).

Non Surgical spinal decompression is available at Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic in The Villages, FL.

References

  1. Apfel, Christian C., et al. “Restoration of disk height through non-surgical spinal decompression is associated with decreased discogenic low back pain: a retrospective cohort study.” BMC musculoskeletal disorders 11.1 (2010): 1-6.
  2. Daniel, Dwain M. “Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media?.” Chiropractic & Osteopathy 15.1 (2007): 1-5.
  3. Henry, Lucian. “Non-surgical Spinal Decompression an Effective Physiotherapy Modality for Neck and Back Pain.” Journal of Novel Physiotherapy and Physical Rehabilitation 4.3 (2017): 062-065.
  4. Koçak, Fatmanur Aybala, et al. “Comparison of the short-term effects of the conventional motorized traction with non-surgical spinal decompression performed with a DRX9000 device on pain, functionality, depression, and quality of life in patients with low back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.” Turkish Journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation 64.1 (2018): 17.
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Spinal Decompression Or Spinal Surgery?

spinal decompression or spinal surgery

If you’ve been thinking about having spinal surgery, there is a very important question to ask yourself… would you rather have spinal decompression or spinal surgery?

Decompression therapy is a helpful tool for those who suffer from back pain. It is a non-invasive, all natural alternative to back surgery and harmful anesthetic treatments.

One form of spinal decompression therapy is the Kennedy Decompression Table. This unique method is designed to relieve pain caused by spinal disc injuries.

For the procedure, the patient lies down either on their back or their stomach. A belt is fastened arounbd the hips and this belt is gently pulled on by a machine at the end of the table. This relieves pressure from the spine and allows the discs between to eventually heal themselves.

Spinal decompression or spinal surgery

Spinal decompression could save you from a very costly and potentially dangerous spinal surgery procedure. Before you go under the knife, ask yourself do I want spinal decompression or spinal surgery?

Legacy Clinic has been helping patients get relief for many years and they offer a variety of therapies to help patients with all types of disorders. Let their experience guide you as you make one of the most important decisions you’re likely to make about your own health.

Most patients find their back pain is reduced dramatically after spinal decompression procedures. One study shows a marked association between disc height and pain relief. The study also reported an increased spinal disc height of at least 1mm and pain reduction of 74 percent in patients who participated in therapy consistently.

for more information or to schedule a free consultation, contact Legacy Clinic today!

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Feeling Compressed?

feeling compressed

Are you feeling compressed? Spinal compression happens when the vertebrae in our spines begin to press down on one another. This puts extra pressure on our discs and can cause them to bulge or even herniate. When the discs bulge or herniate, they put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves which is what causes immense pain.

What causes compression?

Poor posture is one of the leading causes of spinal compression. Our spines are naturally curved to be able to withstand the pressure put on them. Poor posture can slowly decrease these curvatures which puts more pressure on the spine than it can handle. This pressure then pinches the discs in between our vertebrae and causes them to bulge out.

What can be done?

feeling compressed

Spinal decompression is a safe and pain free treatment that helps you regain the natural space in the spine. This allows your discs to regain their natural shape.

Over the course of the treatment, your body can relearn how to hold the proper curvature. This will keep the discs healthy and keep you out of pain!

Spinal decompression involves the use of specialized tables that apply a gentle amount of pull to eith your neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine). This pull holds for 45 seconds stretching the spine and releases to half the pull for 25 seconds. This gentle pull and release allows your spine to stretch without causing your muscles to guard. The treatments typically last 10 minutes and are often so relaxing that patients can fall asleep.

Who should get decompression?

If you have pain anywhere in the back or neck, it would be a good idea to ask your chiropractor about decompression. The pain doesn’t have to be in the back or neck though. Because the spinal cord feeds nerves to the whole body, you coud have a problem in your back and feel it in your legs or a problem in your neck and feel it in your arms. If you’re feeling compressed, you could probably benefit from this treatment.

Contact Legacy Clinic for more information

Phone: 352-259-0024

Email: info@legacyclinic.org

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Promising Treatment to Avoid Back Surgery

spinal decompression or spinal surgery

Local doctor offers promising treatment to avoid back and neck surgery

An estimated 30 million Americans suffer from back and neck pain on a daily basis. According to Dr. John Theeck of Legacy Clinic, one common culprit is an injury or wear and tear to the gel-filled cushions or discs in the spine. This can lead to painful bulging or herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease. Even worse, the bulging or herniated discs may begin to pinch the delicate spinal nerves, causing sciatica, stenosis, or radiculopathy. This can result in debilitating back or neck pain, as well as pain, numbness, or weakness traveling into the buttocks, legs, or arms. Many desperate patients turn to prescription pain pills, invasive spinal injections, and even back or neck surgery, trying to find relief. “In many cases, those traditional treatments fail because they do not address the cause of the problem, and instead focus on covering up the pain,” states Dr. Theeck. “This can leave patients frustrated and without hope, as they face the possibility of endless medications, injections, and surgeries.”

The painless solution

“With advancements in medical technology, there is now a way to treat the source of the pain! Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is a break-through, FDA cleared procedure that takes the pressure off bulging, herniated, or degenerative discs, allowing them to rehydrate and heal,” explains Dr. Theeck. “This often relieves pinching on the nerves and reduces pain. The best part is that spinal decompression helps to heal the injured areas, rather than just managing (or masking) the pain.” The treatment is non-invasive, pain-free, and drug-free. There are no needles or anesthesia and it can be completed in a few weeks on an outpatient basis. It is considered a viable and reliable alternative to surgery in many cases. Thousands of patients are treated every day using this procedure.

How decompression works

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression uses a specialized table that gently pulls the two vertebrae on either side of the affected disc, producing a vacuum effect. This allows bulging material to be drawn from the nerve and back into the disc, allowing it to heal naturally over time. Advanced technology and computerized load sensors combine to create a gentle, pain-free treatment that avoids the muscle spasm or guarding reflex that is commonly triggered with traditional rudimentary traction or inversion devices. “Most patients find spinal decompression to be very relaxing and it’s not uncommon to fall asleep during the procedure states Dr. Theeck. “Although results can vary, many of our patients report a reduction in pain after the first few sessions. Typically, there is a significant improvement by the second or third week of treatment.”

Spinal decompression helps reduce pain caused by:

  • Bulging or herniated discs
  • Degenerative discs
  • Sciatica
  • Pinched nerves
  • Arthritis of the spine
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Neck and arm pain
  • Car accidents

The full program

The treatment at Legacy Clinic includes a combination of the latest modalities to help patients get on their feet and out of pain. Spinal decompression, core strengthening, laser therapy, and manual therapy are among the many modalities incorporated into each program. ‘With so many different therapies available, we are able to customize a treatment program for each patient depending on their pain level and the cause of the pain,” says Dr. Theeck. “Our goal is to treat the source of the pain, so you can get back to living life again!”

For more information about Legacy Clinic, visit us, or call 352-259-0024

What doctors are saying

“There is a place for surgery, but it is definitely not at the front line. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy should be a front line treatment for chronic back pain patients suffering from bulging, herniated, or degenerative disc disease and facet syndrome. As a surgeon, I only want to do surgery when I absolutely have to. Spinal Decompression Therapy gives my patients a more conservative treatment option that can eliminate the need for surgery altogether, and that’s a very good thing. It also gives me a treatment option for those patients who have had surgery and relapse or experience a return of pain following surgery. It allows me to offer patients a key, non-surgical weapon on the war on back pain.” –Dr. Bernard Zeliger, DO FACOS, FAOAO, FICS, Osteopathic Physician and Orthopedic Surgeon; Founding Dean and Provost of Touro University. College of Osteopathic Medicine; Vellejo, CA, Former President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

What Patients are saying

“After suffering 2 bulging discs and 2 severely herniated discs and months of pain –such severe pain that I was thinking I could not go through the rest of my life like this, I went to a spine orthopedic doctor that offered nothing but shots and no real cure. I was not about to have a risky epidural or back surgery. 

I came across Legacy Clinic and heard great things about the non-invasive decompression therapy. After just a few treatments I was able to sleep through the night for the first time in over 4 months. And after going through the full treatment I feel better than ever.

I would highly recommend Legacy Clinic’s decompression therapy to anyone having back pain. It saved my life.”

-Daniel J The Villages, FL

About the doctor

John Theeck, DC attended Palmer College in Port Orange, FL, where he was distinguished as a presidential scholar. He attended Eastern Michigan University for his undergraduate studies. Dr. John has been nominated for numerous national awards in the chiropractic field. 

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call or visit his office in The Villages at 1950 Laurel Manor Dr. Suite 204 (352) 259-0024