How the DRX9000 Successfully Treats Bulging Lumbar Discs in Ocala

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with a bulging lumbar disc or other type of lumbar disc damage then you are probably researching different treatment options. No doubt you have discovered the vast benefits of non-surgical spinal decompression. Being a conservative therapy it does not involve the high risks associated with drugs and surgery and generally has a much higher success rate both short and long term. The key is to ensure that the equipment you are being treated with is FDA cleared to provide true non-surgical spinal decompression, such as the DRX9000.

Non-surgical spinal decompression is much different than old-fashioned traction in its ability to create negative pressure (think suction) inside the disc to draw in water and nutrients from the surrounding blood supply. This is what repairs and heals the disc from within and returns it to as much normal function as is possible considering the condition of the disc prior to injury. The ability to repair bulging, herniated, protruded, and degenerative lumbar discs with good long-term prognosis is virtually unique in the health care industry.

There are several things that must take place before true decompression is accomplished inside the disc (intra-discal). The lumbar musculature must be completely relaxed or it will involuntarily resist the stretching forces of the machine and negate any benefit. You may feel a lot of stretching around your spine with traction but true intra-discal decompression is not occurring. Once both the patient and the lumbar musculature are comfortable and relaxed, the next thing is to target the proper disc level to decompress it and not those adjacent. This level of specificity is imperative to create the proper forces in the right direction. These forces must also be applied in a logarithmic progression to cause a "pumping action" by gradually and comfortably pulling and releasing. The amount of pull is calculated by considering the patient weight and spinal condition.

The above paragraphs are a good description of the attributes of the DRX9000 and that is why the Spinal Decompression Institute in Ocala uses it exclusively. It has a high success rate and is very patient friendly, offering a comfortable and relaxing treatment experience.

What Is Spinal Decompression and How Can It Help My Back Pain and Neck Pain?

If you have herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and facet joint syndrome, the treatment that would probably be recommended to you is spinal decompression, a non surgical and non invasive treatment. VAX-D Therapy is one of the most popular and successful forms of spinal decompression. During this type of therapy, the spine is stretched gently, taking the pressure off of the compressed disc as well as the vertebrae, granting an enormous amount of relief from back pain.

Spinal decompression results in long term pain relief for many patients; although the treatment is used most often for patients with herniated discs. Compressed discs cause patients' pain because of the pressure that surrounds the nerves of the spine. With decompression therapy, the discs are brought closer together thereby removing the pressure on the nerves of the spine and alleviating the pain.

Another cause of nerve compression is degenerative disc disease which is a common cause of back pain. The use of spinal decompression therapy in degenerative disc disease also relieves pain.

Arthritic changes of the bones of the vertebrae will cause facet joint syndrome. Spinal decompression is used to treat facet joint syndrome but to date there are only a few results that this therapy option relieves pain permanently. Spinal decompression therapy does result in less pain because it does open more space between the vertebrae.

Doctors no longer recommend the old weight and pulley method of spinal decompression because they feel that this method does not work for back pain. They now recommend the new state-of-the-art machines which are far more beneficial for relieving back or neck pain than the old method.

Spinal decompression therapy as a form of treatment to relieve back and/or neck pain is favored by most doctors because it is non invasive and because surgery (which is invasive) may not always result in relief. Surgery has risks and can also have complications.

There is a time when this therapy method is used as a placebo, and that is when people suffering from degenerative disc disease and facet syndrome say that they feel certain types of pain. Although their condition is valid, the pain they say they feel may be psychosomatic, which makes them claim they feel pain. In such cases, this type of therapy is used as a form of placebo treatment.

Anyone suffering from degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, herniated discs, or any other form of back pain, should become fully informed about the latest methods that are being used to relieve the pain. You can get information from your health care provider or from the Spinal Decompression Association online. Being fully informed about the latest methods of spinal decompression may help relieve your pain, and depending on the type of back or neck pain you are suffering from, may give you permanent relief.

Bala Cynwyd near Philadelphia Pennsylvania has several clinics available to ask questions about the latest in this safe and beneficial method of therapy. Whether your back pain is new due to an accident or injury, or whether it has been with you for years, you can get the information and the help you need, regarding alleviating back pain.

Spine Surgery - Is It For Me?

Back pain is a common experience for many. This condition is also doubled because of some accident or naturally, due to old-age. Nonsurgical treatments such as anti-inflammatory medication, gentle massage and physical therapy can definitely help in improving the back. When conservative treatments don't help, back surgery may offer relief. Often conservative treatment like pain relief medication, massage, and physical therapy can provide relief. However, there are times when surgery is the only way to treat spinal issues.

If someone has degenerative disk disease - development of pain in a disk as a result of its normal wear and tear, spondylosis- general wear and tear causing cartilage to breakdown, eventually developing bone spurs on your spine; surgery can definitely help. Surgery can help if you have nerve damage. It is the forward slippage of a segment of the spine. If you have sustained an injury to your spine, your doctor may suggest that the affected areas be fused together. This may require the use of bone grafts, screws, rods, or metal plates. If you have broken bones (fractured vertebrae) or other damage to your spinal column from an injury that leaves your spine unstable, spine surgery may be required.

There is a condition is a curvature of your spine called "scoliosis". If you suffer from it and your nerves are being compressed, surgery may be a good option. Kyphosis is condition marked by a rounded, humpback formation. Spinal fusion may be the best way to correct it, if it is very painful or causing paralysis. It is more commonly known as the humpback deformity. Arthritis can often cause this narrowing of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the spinal cord. Spinal fusion can increase your spine's stability, and spinal decompression can relieve the pressure. This is called "spinal stenois".

Radiculopathy, the irritation and inflammation of a nerve caused by a herniated disk may also require ac surgery to get treated. If one of your spinal discs slips out of position and irritates a nerve, you can feel extreme pain. Conservative treatment can often be successful, but if it is not, disc repair may be the answer.

If you have a condition that compresses your spinal nerves, causing debilitating back pain or numbness along the back of your leg. In some instances when you have bulging or ruptured (herniated) disks - the rubbery cushions separating the bones in your spine. However, many people with bulging disks have no pain. If you have vertebral fractures and an unstable spine related to osteoporosis. If you've first tried conservative measures and they fail to relieve your back pain or other symptoms, spinal surgery may be the best option for you.

Spinal surgery is typically recommended when the patient's condition has become unbearable and all other conservative treatments have been exhausted. But now, endoscopic surgery has become a popular option for dealing with many of the causes of back pain and neck pain. One can get the lasting effects of an open back surgery with the help of these minimally invasive procedures without having to go through the pain and discomfort associated with the normal surgeries.

Get Rid of Sciatica a 3 Step Process

Sciatica and low back pain are quickly becoming the most common conditions for which people see their family doctors, physical therapist and especially chiropractors. Statistically it affects 8 out of 10 people.

The usual signs and symptoms consist of severe back pain that goes down into the buttocks and into the leg and foot. The pain can be so severe that it prevents you from getting out of bed, going to work and even enjoying social and recreational activities with your family and friends.

Sciatica is usually caused by three things. Those three things are: 1) disc herniations that cause pinched nerves, 2) a twisted or misaligned spine, including the hips and pelvis and 3) tight muscles, otherwise known as muscle spasm.

Process # 1:

Lumbar spine disc herniations and/or disc bulges can press upon and irritate the nerves that come out of the spine. The nerves that come out of the lumbar spine travel into your buttocks legs and feet.

When these nerves are pinched it causes pain to radiate throughout the entire course of the nerve. That is why you get pain from your back into your buttocks legs and feet.

To correct this you have to decompress the lumbar spine to help eliminate the disc herniation. When you take the pressure off of the pinched nerve your pain should go away.

Now, the most perfect type of spinal decompression can be found in most chiropractic offices that provide spinal decompression therapy with the Saunders 3-D active track spinal decompression table.

Now, if you're not lucky enough to live close enough to a chiropractor who provides spinal decompression therapy with the Saunders 3-D active track table there are many techniques of spinal decompression therapy that you can do at home.

Process # 2:

A twisted spine, hips and pelvis can also irritate your nerves and cause excruciating sciatica pain. If your spine is twisted and not correctly aligned the best way to fix this would be to see your chiropractor. Also, there are many exercises and stretches that you can do on your own at home to fix this problem.

Process # 3:

Now for process number three, we will be dealing with the tight muscles of the low back, buttocks and legs that are in spasm. The best way to handle these muscle spasms are to perform gentle stretching exercises at the end of the day before you go to bed.

So there you have it to three causes of most sciatica pain and the procedures to help fix each of them.

How Would You Like to Avoid Surgery With Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Your spine is one of the most important parts of your body. If you think about it, your spine is formed right after your central nervous system has begun. This should let you know how important the spine actually is. It is wonderful piece of workmanship, and can withstand a fair amount of weight, and still be flexible. The brain uses the spinal cord within the spine to keep all of the parts of the body working in harmony. If the spine happens to suffer from disease or damage, it can wreak havoc on all other parts of the body. For those individuals who have been injured or suffered from disease, spinal decompression therapy can help alleviate their pain and speed healing to the affected area.

The spine is composed of vertebrate which is separated by cushiony discs. If these discs were to suffer damage from disease or accident, it can cause problems within the spine and create pain. There are several different ways that they spine can be treated for discs which are misaligned or ruptured. Surgery used to be the main way back problems were corrected. Metal rods were inserted into either side of the damaged spine to hold it in position. In most instances, individuals try to avoid having surgery when they can. It is quite understandable that anyone would be hesitant about having back surgery considering the back is in use at all times.

Most individuals will try to find a treatment which does not include a surgical option. No matter what type of surgery you have, there is always a recovery period, and back surgery can take a considerable amount of time to heal properly. Most people think of chiropractic care when talking about treating spinal disorders. This is because chiropractors have been manipulating the spines of individuals for many years.

During spinal decompression, the vertebrae are slowly pulled against each other to allow everything to come into place. Herniated discs are one of the conditions which can be treated successfully using decompression. When the spine is put into traction, it will elongate which will take the strain and pressure off of injured areas. When the spine is put into negative pressure, it begins to elongate so that nutrients from the body can get into the damaged areas of the spine. This promotes healing to the damaged area. Injuries can heal much quicker in this manner.

Spinal decompression therapy has held many individuals find relief who have suffered with back pain for many years. The treatments are significantly less costly than the alternative of back surgery. Generally treatment is given multiple times in the beginning within one week. The treatments will then be spaced farther apart as the patient improves.

Treating Back and Neck Pain With Disc Decompression Therapy

Chronic back and neck pain affects millions of people. Most people resort to medications to handle their symptoms and if the pain and dysfunction are severe enough, they undergo surgery. Yet, medications only mask the symptoms and do nothing to address the cause of the pain; surgery comes at a big expense, both financially and physically, considering surgery-related risks and far from excellent success rates.

Disc decompression therapy is a nonsurgical therapy that has been shown to effectively reduce neck and back pain and associated radicular pain into the leg, buttock, or arms to name a few examples. A study in Neurological Research found that 92% of the study participants who received spinal decompression therapy showed improvement (Neurological Research; Volume 20, Number 3, April 1998).

Disc decompression therapy is an appropriate and effective therapy for patients suffering from chronic low back and neck pain including:

• Herniated or bulging discs


• Degenerative discs


• Sciatica


• Facet syndrome


• Spinal Stenosis

Chiropractic care with disc decompression therapy can help many people avoid surgery and return to pain-free, healthy functioning lives. Chiropractors focus on the biomechanics of the body as a whole and work to address and correct the root cause of a patient's pain. With disc decompression therapy, a specifically trained chiropractor can provide pain relief and also serve to prevent future problems from surfacing.

How does disc decompression therapy work? In a nutshell, discs are avascular structures, which means they do not receive new blood and oxygen with every heartbeat. Thus, a damaged disc needs extra help to restore nutrients and enhance healing. A spinal decompression table provides the precise motion and decompression needed to repair and heal damage to discs and surrounding nerves. The procedure requires a carefully timed cycle under the care of a licensed medical professional such as a chiropractor to create a vacuum effect within the spine. Ultimately this vacuum effect can pull a herniated or bulging disc back into alignment while at the same time stimulating the blood supply within the disc to promote healing.

A disc decompression program should be part of a comprehensive chiropractic plan of care for optimal results. Additional chiropractic care may include spinal manipulations, physiotherapies, and rehabilitative exercises. A single disc decompression session lasts about 15-25 minutes. On average, 12 to 24 treatment sessions are recommended to achieve maximum healing results. Sessions are generally scheduled two to three times a week until all objective have been completed.

If you have chronic low back or neck pain visit a chiropractor for an initial assessment to determine if disc decompression therapy is appropriate for you.

Do Inversion Tables Work?

If your back or your spine is hurting, and you have just recently come across the notion of an inversion table, you may be in the stage of asking yourself, "Do Inversion Tables Work"? You might have seen one at the chiropractic office, you might have been told about one by a friend, and you can't stop wondering about their efficacy, and, more importantly, whether one will work for you.

In this article we will explore the best, the average, and the worst possible scenario of getting an inversion therapy table for yourself. Based on all the possibilities, your decision about giving it a try should be easy.

What is an inversion table? It is a device that allows your body to be inverted 180 degrees from your normal standing position and allows you to "hang down" by your ankles. Because of the inversion, the important back muscles, and the spine itself, become stretched instead of compressed. A big difference.

How does the inversion therapy table work? You start by sitting down on the bench and attaching your feet and ankles firmly into the ankle holder. Then, you allow for the inversion bench to slowly invert to horizontal, then minus 30 degrees, and beyond. Initially, going slowly is recommended, to allow your head to get adjusted to higher blood pressure.

But how will you know whether inversion therapy table worked for you? Simple. New owners of back inversion tables are reporting significant reduction of back pain, spinal pain, sciatic (nerve) pain, and on top of that, they reported that they grew taller since they started using the inversion therapy table.

However, the medical community is still divided on whether doctors should recommend using inversion therapy tables. That is probably why you have not heard about it perhaps until after years and years into visiting doctors, taking pain medications, visiting physical therapists, and chiropractors. And after spending a fortune seeking pain relief.

So, can you even figure out what position to take? Should you give an inversion table a try? Or should you skip even the thought of it? Let's see the best, the worst and the average scenario. That should help you decide.

Worst case scenario: You purchase the inversion table, follow directions, and it doesn't work for you. You spend another month "hanging down", and, besides the new "bats" perspective on the world, the pain still remains. You're out hundred bucks.

Average case scenario: Based on the testimonials we have seen, the expected scenario is that you will experience some relief instantly, and with use, over a few weeks, you will see consistent improvement in pain reduction. Even if the pain does not go away completely, you will still be better off, and will need many fewer doctors visits, and pain medications.

Best case scenario: You checkout inversion table reviews and purchase the inversion table today. It arrives in a few days. You follow assembly directions, set it up, and start doing the inversion therapy. Your back pain or spinal pain disappears for good. You only use the table for a few minutes many days later only if the pain returns.

Can Disc Decompression Therapy Guarantee Results?

The answer is no. Due to complexity of the human body medical treatment can never guarantee a 100% result. Whether you have surgery, epidural injections, exercises, chiropractic adjustments, or disc decompression therapy (more commonly called spinal decompression), all treatments have successes and all treatments have failures. Disc decompression is "likely effective" to reduce lower back pain and/or leg pain and neck and/or arm pain and increase your activities of daily living without spinal injections, drugs, or surgery.

Not that long ago when a disc was injured it would die a slow death causing intermittent, ongoing episodes of pain, and hopefully you would out run the surgeons knife. Spinal decompression therapy is designed to help the disc rehydrate, repair the damage cartilage, and restore the function of the herniated disc. It is the best treatment to help an injured disc to heal.

The best way to assure a good result with spinal decompression is:

1) Find a doctor who is knowledgeable, experienced, and certified in spinal decompression.
2) Proper patient selection and exclusion of patients who would not respond well to treatment is essential for successful treatment.
3) Some research studies have success levels ranging from 80-90%. However, be aware treatment success can vary from doctor to doctor and the success levels an individual doctor may have can vary from time to time and patient to patient.

You can improve your chances of successful treatment with proper doctor and patient selection. Over all spinal decompression is safe and likely effective to help you resolve your disc injuries and regain the life you have been missing.

Don't suffer with neck pain, arm pain, lower back pain, and leg pain. Disc decompression therapy is extremely safe, non-surgical, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), likely effective, and affordable.

How To Fix A Herniated Disc?

So what is a herniated disc you may ask? Well, let's go back to a bit of anatomy about discs, specifically lumbar discs, because they are easier to understand.

Basically there are 2 parts to a lumbar disc. There is the inner jelly-like part called the nucleus and then there is the tough outer part called the annulus. The discs in the lumbar or lower back area are described in text books as a shock absorbers. They take the weight of the body because they are located in between the lumbar vertebral bodies, contribute to the height of the spine and are very important for the overall movement of the spine.

Because our lifestyles involve a lot of sitting and bending this means the posterior or back section of the annulus can develop fissures or small tears in it. This then creates an opening for the jelly-like nucleus to move into. Depending on the length of the fissure in the annulus, the nucleus can move a little or a lot.

Now the outer 1/3 of a lumbar disc has a nerve supply which means if the fissure in the annulus extends into this section it can become painful. If the nucleus moves down into this fissure it can then causes more pain...

So how can you relieve the stress and strain placed on the posterior section of the annulus and stop the fissures in the first place? Well, basically it is all about posture. The lower back has a natural curve or hollow. It is very important to sit tall and place a rolled towel or McKenzie lumbar roll in the small of the back. You need to place the roll basically at your belt or waist level. If you can use a roll most of the time this will take the stress and strain off the back section of the disc and prevent a tear or herniated disc developing in the first place.

Tilt Tables For Testing And Therapy - Offering Comfort, Strength And Support

A bed that enables you to stand without exerting much pressure on yourself, a bed that protects your back and any part of the body from excessive strain while shifting positions of relaxation from sleeping to standing, this bed is known as a tilt table. Tilt tables are popularly used in several hospitals, physical therapy centers as well as at homes wherever required.

You must have heard of a test known as the tilt table test which doctors use to diagnose patients who have a fainting sickness. Syncope is a condition where a person loses consciousness precisely due to a significant drop in blood pressure. This drop is mostly caused by a change in position, usually from a sitting or sleeping position to a standing one. A tilt table test is extremely helpful in identifying this condition effectively.

The patient sleeps in a relaxed manner on the tilt table which resembles a cozy bed. Velcro safety straps are then fixed firmly and securely on the patient. These do not hurt and are comfortable yet secure enough. The patient is then moved from a sleeping position to a standing position and they then test the blood pressure as well as the heart condition and compare the two to see changes taking place in the body due to this movement.

Movement on the tilt table is comfortable and secure. This is also used in physical therapy where patients suffering from vertebral accidents or injury or pain can experience a change in position at a comfortable level and forms a part of their therapy for improvement. These tables come in various forms and are popularly used in therapy and rehab because they are specifically designed for such purposes and available in the market.

A tilt table is available in both manual as well as electric forms. They are sturdy and strong enough to handle the weight of heavier patients and function without any hindrance. The straps and cushioning varies according to the product and you can choose one with most comfort and strength. Foot pads are also available and standing for longer durations are less of a discomfort if you buy the right one. The price ranges from $1500 to $5000 depending on other features offered as well as quality and purpose of use.

Tilt tables today offer improved comfort, motion and monitoring indicators that allow for a comfortable use as well as productive instruments for therapy. All you need to do is choose the right one suited to your particular requirements.

Spinal Disc Decompression - Effective Treatment For Your Back

Every adult living in the 21st century should recognize that almost everyone at some point in their lives suffers from back pain because of physical activity, old age, and sports or job related injuries. Traditional remedies like painkillers, expensive and risky back surgeries or just dealing and living with the pain are not the only available choices today. The latest medical advances improving the quality of life of many people is the painless, non-surgical, and less costly and FDA approved spinal disc decompression technology. Clinical research and discovery have revealed that this painless advanced treatment has an 86% success ratio.

What types of back pain and spinal diseases can be treated by Spinal Disc Decompression?

Ailments that can be treated using spinal decompression are herniated discs, degenerative spinal disc diseases, sciatica, protruding discs, posterior facet or joint syndrome and unsuccessful back and neck surgeries.

Discovery of the Vacuum Effect and History of Spinal Disc Decompression

How did the revolutionary idea of spinal disc decompression come about? NASA scientists found a common occurrences among their astronauts who were suffering from back pain. Everyone reported their circumstances to have improved after a space mission. After some investigation, the scientists concluded that the improvement in their conditions was due to the lack of pressure on the spine while in space. Instead there was a decompression or negative pressure that softly shifted or moved the herniated disc back in place which decreased the pain brought about by the pressure of the protruding discs on the spinal nerves. The vacuum effect also multiplied the flow of blood rich with nutrients, oxygen, and water from the outside of the spinal discs to go inside, thus allowing the spinal discs to recover by itself.

So how do you recreate this vacuum effect here on earth? Dr. Allen Dyer, the inventor of the cardiac defibrillator, that saves heart attack victims all over the world, also invented the spinal disc decompression treatment table in 1987. He developed a technology that superseded ineffective conventional traction tables which do not create any decompression or vacuum effect but just extends the muscles and spine. Dr. Dyers, engineering invention recreated the vacuum effect needed by the spinal discs to mend. In 1996, his design was acknowledged by the United States FDA as risk-free and effective.

How does Spinal Disc Decompression Therapy Work?

The patient is firmly strapped on a computer controlled spinal decompression table. The doctor enters personalized treatment dependent on his findings which may include verification from MRI results. The machine then places the body and applies force to create a spinal decompression that will release the pressure affecting the spinal discs and nerves. The negative pressure also enables the herniated disc to finally retract into its natural position. This negative pressure also forces the oxygen and nutrient rich blood to flow inside the spinal discs and facilitate natural healing.

Depending on the severity of the situation, an average of twenty to twenty-eight treatments are required over a period of one or two months to receive the full benefits of the therapy. Treatment only takes thirty to forty-five minutes. Spinal disc decompression therapy is also accompanied by hot or cold compresses to speed up the healing of the back injury. The patient is likewise advised to have re-hydration therapy or to drink lots of water, modify his diet and consider having nutrition and vitamin supplements, and execute recommended physical workouts to beef up the back and promote quicker healing.

Revolution in Spinal Disc Decompression Technology

The machine has been refined since the late 80s. In 2000, a machine was developed to also treat neck problems and to make the treatment process more comfortable for patients. Presently, the cutting-edge technological innovation in spinal disc decompression is the Articulating Spinal Decompression or Range-of-Motion (ROM) spinal decompression treatment table which allows the doctor to change or make adjustments to the spinal posture of the patient while the decompression process is ongoing. The increased ability to adjust or vary the position of the spine allows for the distraction or pulling forces of the decompression to get deeper into areas of the spinal discs and tissues, that previous versions of spinal decompression machines cannot reach.

As technology improves, many people suffering from back pain can be helped through a safe, non-invasive and less costly spinal disc decompression therapy. However, more intensive research needs to be carried out to ensure continued effectiveness on whether it does completely replace or just postpone back pain surgeries. However, for citizens of industrialized countries whose senior population are more active and are living longer nowadays, and any surgical operation is life threatening; the benefits of the innovations in spinal disc decompression technology can only be regarded as a genuinely positive medical innovation of the modern times.

The Basics Of Opioid Withdrawal

When one is dependent on opioids, withdrawal can start simply hours after taking one's last dose. One may experience diarrhea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessnes, or muscle and bone pain. In the majority of cases, the biggest withdrawal symptoms are worst by seventy two hours and eventually subside over the next 5 to 7 days.

Withdrawal mediated pain is when one's pain returns even more intensely as the opioids wear off. The opioids help with pain initially, then during withdrawal the effects of the medication not only wear off, but then go the other way.

For some individuals who take narcotics, they get a burst of energy. People may spend more time cleaning the house, car, completing chores. The pain is lessened by the narcotics, but the medications also have an effect on other neurotransmitters such as dopamine. After narcotics are stopped, a lowered energy level may result with substantial incapacitating fatigue.

In addition to relieving physical pain, opioids diminish emotional pain. One may find they are taking the prescriptions for anxiety, irritability, fear, or depression. Studies have shown that the rate of major depression is directly related to how much pain a person feels. The more pain experienced, the higher the depression symptoms.

Many patients on narcotics develop tolerance, which is a state of adaptation where exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a lessening of the drug's effects over time. So then it requires more of the medication to have the same initial effect.

Opioid induced hyperalgesia is a condition that can result from long term opioid use. It represents a heightened perception of pain and can make one feel worse with more pain sensation. The solution to this problem is a decrease or discontinuation of the medication which should be accomplished under medical supervision. The discontinuation can result in less pain than while on the medications.

Additional problems seen with opioid therapy may include a lessened immune system, disruption of one's sleep cycle, and sexual dysfunction.

Stopping narcotics will entail a withdrawal phase for one to two weeks, and one's energy level will be "off" for a while. Dysphoria may set in which can include irritability, low energy, and depressed mood.

The best way to get off of narcotics is typically a medically managed situation where it's a slow weaning. For many, heavy withdrawal symptoms last for 3 to 5 days. It will go away, die down, and disappear eventually.

Five Things To Know About RadioFrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is not performed under general anesthesia. An important advantage of RF current (over previously used low frequency AC or pulses of DC) is that it does not directly stimulate nerves and can therefore often be used without the need for general anaesthetic. Patients sometime receive IV sedation for pain relief during the procedure.

Here are 5 RFA facts.

1) It has nothing to do with listening to the radio - the current utilized is in the same wavelength as radio signals, however the current is focused into the specific problem area. Radiofrequency machines do not have FM radios attached to them.

2) It can actually hurt more right afterwards than before - Radiofrequency ablation procedures can provide pain relief for up to two years. However one thing commonly seen is pain exacerbation immediately after the procedure. Typically this will resolve over the ensuing weeks with the intended pain relief following. Patients need to be appraised of the potential exacerbation so when it happens they are ready for it and expect it.

3) Pain relief can last for over a year - Pain relief from an rhizotomy can be long lasting upwards of one to two years. The tiny nerve endings that are causing the pain in the facet joints are deadened with the procedure. These will eventually regenerate, and then the procedure may be repeated.

4) A diagnostic injection is necessary prior to proceeding with an RFA - In order to receive insurance approval for the procedure, it is necessary to show that an injection helped over 50% for pain relief. If it works and then wears off, an RF procedure is indicated.

5) It is the most modern treatment available for facet related pain - This is true. Nonsurgically RFA remains the newest, best option available for long term pain relief

Spinal Decompression Treatment Machine Or Inversion Therapy Tables

Spinal decompression treatment consists of several techniques. All treatment techniques utilize several methods and different equipments are used to decompress the spine, increase space between the vertebrae to allow enough blood and oxygen to get through continuously and to reduce the tension and pressure on the spine and disc. Spinal decompression is recommended to people suffering from sever back pain, nerve pain and all other spine and disc diseases which can be degenerative in nature or due to postural dysfunction.

Spine decompression techniques include the latest methods of using spinal decompression machine and inversion tables. The question would be: Which one would be the most effective method of treatment? And which one will you choose?

Using a spinal decompression machine like the DRX9000 can be the most accurate method of decompressing spine because the machine itself is computerized and could estimate the amount of traction needed to guarantee the best results. The treatment is called as spine decompression therapy. It is popular just like inversion therapy which utilizes an inversion table. An inversion table is used in inversion therapy which is also a method of treating spine decompression through inversion. Inversion or hanging upside down using the inversion table provides a certain amount of traction to the spine allowing it decompress. They are both great options for the treatment of spinal compressions however each one has its own disadvantages as well. Spinal decompression therapy and the machine used are very expensive. If you can get a 300 dollar inversion table, you will have to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars for DRX9000 or any other spinal decompression machine made. Of course, such a great computerized machine will surely cost much. An inversion table is cheaper but it is not computerized so it cannot determine the amount of pull that your condition need. With this, there is the risk that you might over do the traction which can be harmful and if you under do it, inversion might be less effective.

Your choice between these two will now depend on your needs and your budget. Reviews online will also help you determine which one is more effective however statements can be confusing so it will be much better to consult your doctor and ask him which therapy and therapy equipment is best for you.

Herniated Disc and Spinal Decompression - A Non Invasive Treatment Option

Herniated disc and spinal decompression therapy offers a non-invasive therapy for people suffering from debilitating back pain. Traditional traction devices that were used in the past to treat back pain have been replaced by technologically advanced herniated disc and spinal decompression tables.

What are the causes of a herniated disc?

In between the vertebrae in your spine can be found supple, spongy, spinal discs that are protected by a tougher outer layer. This layer surrounds the soft nucleus that allows for cushioning and the smooth movement of your spine, not unlike shock absorbers for your automobile. When one of the spinal discs becomes compressed between the bones in the spine, it can make the spongy material of the disc become herniated. This bulging of the disc causes friction from direct contact with nerve endings. Herniated disc is also commonly called slipped or ruptured disc.

As the body grows older, especially if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle without much activity to keep the spine limber and flexible, the discs can degenerate and become flattened. The spinal disc can become brittle if the degeneration is allowed to progress, which can make them more prone to injury.

A herniated disc can be caused by a strain from twisting the back rigorously. This injury can occur anywhere on the spine, but it most commonly happens in the lower spine or the neck. The patient will feel pain in the location where the disc has been ruptured.

Symptoms of herniated disc

There are several tell-tale signs of a herniated disc. The patient begins to feel shooting pains from the back down into the legs. There may also be tingling and numb sensations in the legs and feet from the nerves being pressed down. The pain can vary from mild to intense depending on the location of the injured disc and degree of injury.

Decompression: a safe, non-surgical treatment option

Spinal Decompression is a new technology that is safe, non-invasive, and approved by the FDA to treat spinal conditions such as herniated disc and other painful conditions effecting the spine. Designed to relieve the pressure from the herniated disc and compressed nerves by slowly and gently stretching the spine at a certain angle followed by cycles of partial relaxation. This pattern of distraction and relaxation creates a "vacuum effect" or negative intra-disc pressure.

Relieving the compression on the disc may cause the herniated or bulging disc to retract or get sucked back in the protective annulus thus removing the pressure from the nerve that was causing the pain and numbness.

The repetition of gently stretching and then relaxing the spinal discs over the course of several visits to the Chiropractor's office, allows oxygen and nutritious fluids to flow into the disc allowing the damaged discs to begin the healing process.

Spinal decompression therapy is a non-surgical treatment for specific back pain conditions, including:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet syndrome
• Herniated disc
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Neuralgia
• Pinched nerve
• Sciatica
• Spinal stenosis

Is decompression a painful procedure?

Spinal decompression is a painless, non-invasive therapy that relieves back pain. The patient will be strapped in to the machine and the straps are connected to the computer, which gently separates the vertebrae with a precise stretching force. The treatment is so comfortable that many patients actually fall asleep.

Spinal decompression machines are sensitive and can adjust the decompression rate in response to any pain the patient might experience during treatment.

Fibromyalgia - Chronic Fatigue, Pain & Insomnia

Are you sick and tired of taking those expensive medications that don't really work? Are you sick of feeling lazy, old and worthless? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Can't sleep at night? Want a solution to your chronic pain and fatigue? Over all, are you tired of hearing that it is all in your head, when you know that there is truly something physically wrong? Well what if I told you that it is probably not in your head? There is now an answer for what may be a physically, not psychologically, but a physically problem with your brain. Brain Based Therapy is breakthrough treatment that has been clinically proven to help beat chronic pain, fatigue and Fibromyalgia with no dangerous drugs or surgery. I have seen 20 or more years of pain melt away, night upon night of sleeplessness become restful and energizing again. We've watched debilitating fatigue and brain fog burn off into the past. But don't just take my word for it listen to what one patient writes: "Before I started Brain Base Therapy I could hardly get out of bed in the morning. If I did too much activity I would pay for it for 2-3 days. The treatments are just wonderful. I'm sleeping better. Even my husband noticed I'm feeling better. Now my pain is gone. I just feel wonderful. As a matter of fact next month my husband and I are going on vacation. We haven't taken a vacation in 8 years because I just didn't feel like going anywhere. I told my husband that I feel like travelling now."

Fibromyalgia is known for any combination of these symptoms: progressing worsening pain at any place in the body, fatigue (tired all the time, even tired when waking up in the morning, low energy level), insomnia (not getting to sleep easy and/or not staying asleep well), headaches or migraines (usually accompanied with pain around the eyes or face, inability to tolerate extremes in temperature ( can't stand to be in heat and humidity or in very cold weather), usually feels cold all the time but can have hot flashes during the day or night or both that can be over entire body or just a certain part of the body (I had a patient tell me recently that she has hot flashes just over the back of her head and neck, she can even feel the heat with her hands if she places them over her posterior head or neck), diarrhea or constipation, back and/or neck pain due to disc problems such as stenosis, bulges, herniations, arthritis, degeneration and spinal aging, can't think good (often referred to as brain fog, can't concentrate, poor short term memory). With this condition you may have a few or all of these symptoms.

This condition progressively get worse over a period of time. Stress may increase the rate of progression. Meaning, the more stress usually means the faster it progresses.

Fibromyalgia is real and reversible. Most researchers agree that fibromyalgia patients suffer from a disorder of central processing within the brain, more specifically the neuroendocrine/neurotransmitter dysregulation. Over the last couple years we've learned that these patients suffer from many deep brain reflex lesions and a decreased ability of their body to utilize oxygen at a much greater deficit than someone else of the same age and sex.
When I speak of deep brain reflex lesions I am not speaking about an anatomic problem like a brain infection or brain cancer. That type of problem is referred to as an ablative brain lesion. The type of problem I'm speaking of has to do with the deep brain reflexes and this would be classified as a non-ablative brain lesion. To put it in easier terms to understand, think about a computer. Has your computer ever frozen up? If so, what do you have to do to fix the problem? Usually it corrected by just restarting the computer. There is nothing "anatomically" wrong with it. It is just frozen up.

Your brain can do a similar thing. The reflexes just don't "work" right. Unfortunately there is no reset button to press for your brain. But the correction process (brain reprogramming) is an easy process but it does takes some time to correct.

As I mentioned earlier, when suffering from fibromyalgia, usually your body cannot utilize oxygen very well. It is important to know that everyone's ability to utilize oxygen decreases after the early to mid twenties. But a fibromyalgia patient has an increase rate of decline of oxygen utilization. But always keep in mind that fibromyalgia is REAL and fibromyalgia is REVERSIBLE.

I have been a practicing chiropractic doctor for over 22 years. In my early years, I didn't understand fibromyalgia and thought and was trained that "fibromyalgia" could just be a psychological problem. You know what I am talking about. If you suffer from fibromyalgia, then you've probably heard directly or more likely, behind your back someone say that "you just don't want to get better, you are just lazy, you enjoy the attention that 'fibromyalgia' brings to you, etc..." Over the years of practicing healthcare I have since changed my thoughts, partly due to seeing patients suffering from "fibromyalgia" gradually get worse year after year and partly due to new research and training in the field of neurology.

Here is the good news. If there ever is a good time to have it, now is the time. Over the last couple of years we have learned how to treat it effectively with a five front attack. We attack this problem on five fronts to get the best results.

The first point of attack is through brain based treatment. This helps "reprogram" the bad brain reflexes. This is accomplished by stimulating the nervous unilaterally.

The second point of attack is by non-surgical spinal decompression (NSSD). This helps two different issues. Usually the fibromyalgia patient suffers from neck and/or back problems such as stenosis, bulges, herniations, arthritis, degeneration and spinal aging. NSSD can actually help all of these conditions and sometimes reverse some of the wear and tear on the spine. Secondly NSSD helps stimulate the brain by the slow and steady stretch on the spine.

The next way to attack and treat fibromyalgia is by the administering high concentration of oxygen. I test patient oxygen levels through an Ohmeda TuffSat. This device tests both the SPO2 (specific oxygen level) and the PIr® (perfusion index). The former measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. Cardiologically we would like the SPO2 to be at 90% or above. Neurologically we like the SPO2 to be at 98% or above. The brain needs more oxygen then any other part of the body. The latter measures the amount of oxygen in the cells. We want this number to be at 3.0 or above. Every fibromyalgia patient I have ever checked has been low in one or usually both of these numbers. The oxygen treatment also helps with two different issues like the NSSD. It helps disc problems heal up faster and better. And NSSD also helps the brain optimize its function.

The fourth point of attack is nutritionally. It doesn't matter how good of a job we have done with reprogramming the brain and raising the oxygen availability to the brain if the body doesn't have the correct structural components to rebuild itself. I liken this process to a house that has been damaged due to a storm. You can hire the best contractor to rebuild your house and have the best architectural drawings to work from, but it you don't have the good quality building materials, you can't rebuild the house correctly.

The last point of attack is related to the fourth point. Lastly I sit down with the patient and explain some dietary guidelines to use. I again am more concerned with making sure they are receiving certain nutrients. I am not as concerned with avoiding specific things such as junk food, but the better you can eat, the better overall it is for your recovery process.

My fibromyalgia recovery program lasts six months. Initially I treat the patient three times per week. As they improve, I gradually reduce the frequency of treatment. It is very important to keep in mind that this condition comes on over a period of time and heals up over a period of time. The natural inclination is to try and heal this up as fast as possible. But just like any activity, if you do too much you will get worse. If we do too much treatment at a time you will also get worse. I tell all my patients that we are just going to take baby steps to get to the point of recovery.

Keep in mind, fibromyalgia is REAL and fibromyalgia is REVERSIBLE.

Spinal Decompression: Using Spinal Decompression For The Relief Of Back And Neck Pain

There are many different kinds of treatment offered by chiropractors in Atlanta. Most chiropractors are trained in numerous "techniques" of treatment. Each doctor will develop interests in different treatments, depending upon judgments (s)he makes about the relative merits of each treatment.

The evolution of my perspective on the cause and best treatments for neck and back pain was heavily influenced by my personal experience with intractable low back pain during my chiropractic education. Early in my schooling I injured my low back doing weight-training activity.

After about one year of unsuccessful, sporadic treatment I inferred I had a herniated disc. This occurred about the time that MRI scanners were being developed (1983). After six years of limping with sciatic pain I opted to have the least invasive surgery I could at that time- a percutaneous discectomy (done in Nashville,TN). That procedure has largely, fallen out of favor, in favor of microdiscectomies, which are excellent procedures for the right patient.

The point is, that the relative importance on the status of the spinal disc in the etiology of back pain was not lost on me. In fact, it continues to preoccupy me, professionally, to this day.

The story of your spine, my spine and your neighbor's spine, is the story of our spinal discs. This story proceeds differently in different people but, generally, it goes like this. Discs exist between the bones of your spinal column. They are made of tough, fibrous tissue and contain a hydrated tissue inside. Discs accumulate tears and may bulge or herniate, i.e. the hydrated tissue may escape the confines of the disc. The escaping material may put pressure on nerves, causing pain to radiate down the arm or leg.

As the discs wear out, they lose water and get thinner/dehydrate. The thinner they get, the less cushion they provide the bones. The bones may become bone-on-bone and become swollen and discolored on MRI scans (Modic changes). Bones become misshapen, what we call, "arthritis" or degeneration or spondylosis. These changes take decades to occur and lead to pain and disability.

It has been clear, for a long time, that the spinal disc status is, largely, determinative of a given spine's pain and disability. That is why we have become so interested in MRI scans. The most commonly sought after information on spinal MRI scans is the status of the spinal disc.

The question is, "Can anything be done about improving a spinal disc, and a patient's short and long-term prognosis?"

Some recent studies are very interesting in this regard. One recent study, using CT scans has shown that discs can increase their hydration and size/cushion after a series of treatments that decompresses the disc by pulling it apart. This phenomenon was previously documented, anecdotally, by a medical radiologist that conducted MRI scans before and after such treatments with patients. Most importantly, patients improve, clinically, from this treatment.

In several other studies, radioisotopes were used to quantify the number of molecules that are made/synthesized by cells inside spinal discs which were treated by decompression. And the results documented 3 to 7x the number of reparative molecules are made by discs treated such. Other studies have shown that discs treated with decompression, increase the number of cells in them too. And these cells, in turn, make more reparative molecules.

As a gross structure, the spinal disc does not seem to have much regenerative potential. But on a microscopic and physiologic level, spinal discs appear to have a regenerative potential and that has proven to be clinically important. In other words, patients who are treated with this spinal decompression, generally improve significantly.

My life's, and clinical, experiences has lead me to a preoccupation of the spinal disc in my assessment and treatment approach to spinal pain. There are other, uncommon, causes of spinal pain, of course. But the vast majority of spinal pain is caused by the influence of time, gravity and genetics on our spines. If you haven't tried spinal decompression for your neck or back pain, you should consider it.

What Can Go Wrong With The Spine?

The thumbnail sized facet joints are situated in the back of the spine on either side. These articulating joints are at each level and allow the spine a very significant range of motion in many directions. At various levels of the spinal cord, which is situated inside the back part of each vertebrae and protected by the bones, nerve branches provide connections to one's arms and legs.

Quite a few conditions represent things that can go wrong with one's spine. The soft cushions between the vertebral bodies are called spinal disks, and are like jelly-filled donuts. They may get little tears or disk bulges; sometimes these tears result in larger cervical or lumbar disk herniations, and are large enough to press on spinal nerves. This results in burning down one's legs, called sciatica. If the pain is in the arms, the fancy term is radiculopathy for the pain.

Another condition that can push pressure on spinal nerves is from arthritis and represents bony and soft tissue overgrowth. This occurs usually in older patients.

What are the options for spine pain? Medications include simple over-the-counter analgesics to opioid narcotics, and in-between are medications that are different than what is traditionally seen. One type of medication is gabapentin, a neuropathic pain medication, which is usually given for epilepsy but often used for pain. Some antidepressants are used for relief of neuropathic painful conditions.

Along with medications, physical therapy is a very beneficial treatment for neck and back pain. That involves core strengthening, strengthening the stomach and the back muscles, the bladder floor, and the diaphragm. Chiropractic treatment has plenty of research to back it up for neck pain along with acute low back pain. Other treatments include spinal decompression, which is a revolutionary intermittent traction designed to provide increased nutrients to the disc for healing. Electrical stimulation, laser, ice and heat, and acupuncture may also provide substantial relief.

Apart from physical therapy, medications, and alternative treatments, a few injection options are available which can help avoid surgery and can be quite effective for spine pain. There are some studies backing up the use of cortisone shots to these facet joint areas; if it works and then wears off a follow up procedure called radio frequency ablation may be used. This may provide relief for over a year.

Another form of injection involves epidural treatments. In pain patients, these procedures are done with the addition of x-ray fluoroscopy, which helps locate the needle for more accurate placement. The idea is to provide some cortisone along with numbing medicine to irritated nerve roots and help simmer down on the swelling and alleviate sciatic, or radicular pain. It is typically quite effective.

There are 3 ways epidural injections are usually done. One is an intra-laminar approach, which is how the injections were done when epidural injections were first started. Another is a transforaminal approach, or a selective nerve root approach, where the medication is injected into the exiting tunnel in a more precise fashion. A third injection is called the caudal approach, which is above the coccyx in a small tunnel at the base of the sacrum.

What Is the Consensus on Mechanical Spinal Decompression?

Is spinal decompression a valuable treatment for back pain? In theory, distractive force applied to the lumbar spine that is significant enough will create negative pressure to the center of intervertebral discs.

This negative pressure creates a vacuum that reduces pressure on sensitive nerves and allows for nutrients and water to enter the void. After the spinal decompression is completed, theory holds that replacing the void with liquid reduces the pain from vertebrae compression.

Because intervertebral discs are known to have poor circulation, the decompression increases the opportunity for it to take place. Theory holds that this can improve such problems as lower back pain, disc degeneration, sciatica, disc herniations, and disc bulges. It has been documented by patients who have tried other treatments unsuccessfully that it improved their condition.

Origination of Spinal Decompression Treatment

Dr. Allan Dyer who holds both a PhD and an MD is the creator of a table he devised in the 1980s for his own herniated disc problem. He claimed to be completely free of pain after using his invention and introduced the Vax-D prototype in 1991. The original table worked with a pneumatic pump that applied and released traction.

In 2004, the system was upgraded to include computer control of an electrically driven system, which replaced the pneumatic pump. Other doctors and inventors have come forth to created similar devices that follow the same general theory. IDD (intervertebral differential dynamics) is a similar product.

How Effective is Mechanical Spinal Decompression

As with anything that doesn't have a long history of use, there are conflicting views of how much good comes from the use of the Vax-D and other inventions of a similar type. One study shows better than a 68% success rate, but the results were on a very limited number of individuals. Other studies have not been nearly as conclusive.

In both 2004 and 2005, reviews of the Vax-D and other powered traction devices did not indicate that they were effective in treating lower back pain for any of the known causes.

Again in 2006, a cumulative study, which took into account the ones of the former years as well as other sources for the use of motorized traction extending back to 1975, concluded that nothing had been proven. The report called for better testing methods and better standards by which to rate results.

While some patients claim they have had vast improvements in their physical situations, the scientific community as a whole does not currently embrace this assumption. For those who have experienced an improved condition, it is promising that further studies will reveal more positive information.

Because testing remains inconclusive, the implementation of improved standards for measuring results is warranted since the success rate is reported to be so high among individuals who have undergone spinal decompression treatment.

The Bad Effects of Video Games on Children

Most of the negative effects of video games on children are blamed on the violence they contain. A lot of experts say that children who often play violent games are more likely to grow up with similar violent behaviors. They are said to develop increased aggressive thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. They are said to develop less social and interpersonal skills, as well. Plenty of researchers also believe that a child's frequent exposure to violent video games may lead to alcohol consumption, destruction of school property, arrogant actions, and other delinquent behaviors in the future.

Children who play too much video games are often alone, lonely, and isolated. Other worthwhile activities such as reading, sports, studying, playing wholesome games, and interacting with family and friends are frequently neglected. And when a child spends less time on focusing with his studies and other school activities, his grades and school performance becomes highly affected. This might result in much low self-esteem and much less self-confidence.

Video games also might teach children the improper values and improper ways of thinking. In most of these games, children are often rewarded for being more violent and aggressive. The violence is often done repeatedly. And children tend to think that these repetitive actions are the right things to do because these games may also cause children to confuse fantasy and reality; after all, repetition is a key in training and sharpening a small child's memory. In addition, they often portray women as weaker characters that are sexually provocative and always helpless. These games also indicate that proper negotiations and other non-violent methods are not the right solutions to problems.

Rude gestures, frequent yelling, and bad language may also be picked up by children when playing violet online video games. And many believe that these games can be very addictive; thus, leading to a child's physical and mental health problems. Spending problems and time displacement that leads to frequently missed school days are also common issues. Obesity, video-induced seizures, and muscular and skeletal disorders such as tendonitis, nerve compression, and carpal tunnel syndrome; as well as, psychological disorders are among the many physical and mental health disorders that a child might acquire from playing too much video game. Furthermore, many experts also believe that video games do not exercise a child's imaginative thinking. So, he does not develop creativity which is essential for growing children like him.

The Basics of an FDA Clinical Trial

When a company decides to sponsor an FDA clinical trial, there are a few phases prior to approval for a particular indication. After the FDA gives approval to conduct the human aspect of studying the medication or a procedure, there is a particular method performing the study to make it valid.

The studies are actually really expensive and have a high risk but high reward for a sponsoring company. They may not be high risk for the patients involved, what I am referring to is the expense weighted against whether or not there's going to show significant improvement in the disease process with what is being studied.

Let's use an example of a stem cell injections study for low back pain. This is actually a real example, as there is an Australian company performing a stem cell injection study for degenerative disc disease at multiple sites in the United States.

In order to show that the treatment works and gets approved by the FDA, the company needs to set up the study with comparison against another treatment. This may be the current gold standard for treatment of the condition, or it may be what is known as a placebo. In the case of the stem cell injection clinical trial, the regenerative medicine injection being studied is being compared versus a placebo. The placebo may simply be saline or a liquid with no medication whatsoever. This should not have a true affect on patients, but it is well-known that it does approximately 30% of the time.

When a patient meets the inclusion criteria for the FDA clinical trial, they will end up being randomized into one of the two groups. Sometimes this comes out of an envelope, or a computer generated sequence ends up telling which treatment the patient ends up receiving.

The usual method is that if 100 patients are being selected for a clinical trial, then 50 will be in the treatment group and the other 50 will end up being in the placebo group with randomization taking place to make sure there's no bias in selection.

For the stem cell treatment clinical trial, patients are then followed at regular intervals checking both objective information along with subjective information. This would mean looking to see how much pain medication the patients are requiring after the injection, and also checking to see what their pain scale scores are as the study moves along. Any adverse events from the injections are noted, and if there is a truly serious situation then the FDA would be notified immediately.

There are fairly strict criteria for who can qualify for an FDA clinical trial. For instance in the stem cell clinical trial, patients need to have degenerative disc disease at only one level. Along with this, patients need to have over 70% of their pain situated in the low back and not more than 30% down into their legs.

Once the enrollment is complete, usually the study is closed. There are times when patients can still be enrolled as a humanitarian exemption. The timeframe for follow up on an FDA clinical trial will vary somewhat, with medical devices the typical for timeframe is two years. With biological substances such as stem cell injections, the timeframe would be substantially less, maybe one year.

Once the study follow up is completed, it is up to the funding company to make sure that the proper reporting is in with the FDA. The results can be published in peer-reviewed journals, and often make for excellent publications because they are what it's called level one evidence studies. This means they are prospective and randomized. With a study such as the stem cell injections, there will also be double blinded. This means neither the pain management doctor nor the patient in study will not know exactly what is being injected.

The FDA clinical trial process is expensive and uses up a lot of resources, but it can pay off huge dividends for a company if the treatment works and the FDA approves the product.

Bulging Discs

Bulging discs are one of the most serious conditions a person could suffer with related to the spine. In fact, this condition can cause intense pain as well as disability. This article will discuss what a bulging disc is, what causes it, the most common symptoms associated with it, as well as the most effective treatments available.

In order for us to understand what bulging discs are, however, we must first discuss what a normal spinal disc is. The discs of the spine are cushions that separate each set of bones in the back. Each disc is composed of a strong outer covering called the annulus, as well as a soft jelly center called the nucleus.

When a person has a bulging disc, the outer covering tears for one reason or another (which we'll discuss in just a moment), and the jelly begins to shift away from the center of the disc toward the weaker part of the disc. This results in a "bulge" in the wall of the disc, which is why the condition is referred to as a bulging disc.

The cause of this can vary, but most often this condition is caused by an injury (such as a car accident, a fall, or lifting something heavy). It may also be caused by a genetic weakness in the wall of the disc, as well as toxins building up in the body. Toxins, believe it or not, will weaken the walls of the spinal discs, predisposing you to developing bulging discs.

These toxins typically build up in the system because of poor dietary choices, not drinking enough water, smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, etc. All of these things make a big difference in the health of your spinal discs.

One thing you may find interesting about the discs of the spine is that they are designed to not feel pain sensations. Now, this may sound odd at first, because this condition can cause quite a bit of pain. However, if you think about it, it makes sense - the main job of the spinal discs is to absorb shock, and if you were able to feel this, you would be in pain all day!

So, if this is the case, why is this condition so painful? Well, the spinal nerves are located directly behind the discs of the spine, so if you develop bulging discs, the bulge will typically apply pressure to these nerves, which can be very painful.

Not only that, disability is often associated with bulging discs as well, simply because the nerves of the spine control everything in the body. If there is pressure applied to these nerves, they will stop working properly, and other problems will develop.

For example, bulging discs in the cervical spine (neck) will not only cause neck pain, but you may also experience headaches, shoulder, arm and hand pain, numbness or weakness, chest pain, thyroid problems (which could lead to weight problems), as well as ringing in the ears and blurred vision.

You may not have thought that these symptoms could come from a problem in the neck, but this is very common because these parts of the body are controlled by the nerves in the neck.

In the thoracic area (middle back, between the shoulder blades), bulging discs can lead to middle back pain, pain radiating around the rib cage, chest pain, heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating very strongly and quickly in your chest), difficulty breathing, and headaches.

And finally, bulging discs in the lumbar region of the spine (the low back) can lead to low back pain, pain traveling down the leg (this may also be experienced as a burning sensation or numbness), pain in the feet, bowel and bladder problems (constipation, diarrhea, problems controlling your bladder), as well as sexual organ dysfunction.

So, the question is, how do you deal with this condition? Unfortunately, the traditional treatment methods available are usually not very effective for this problem.

Most doctors will recommend medications (such as pain relievers and muscle relaxers), pain injections (such as cortisone or epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (usually as a last resort, because the success rate of surgery for the spine is very low).

The reason these treatments are not very effective is because they are all designed for one thing - their goal is to numb the aggravated nerve and reduce the inflammation in the area (which is also primarily affecting the nerve).

While this goal sounds good since the source of the pain is the aggravated nerve, any relief you experience from these treatments is usually temporary because they do not heal the cause of the problem, which is the injured disc.

The problem with bulging discs is that the spinal discs do not receive very good blood flow. Blood is responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues for faster healing, and because the discs do not receive this blood supply, they tend to be very problematic when it comes to healing.

What are your options, then? There are alternative methods that are usually more effective for getting to the source of the problem, and actually encouraging the disc to heal which leads to longer-term relief.

For example, chiropractic is usually very helpful, as well as massage therapy, acupuncture, axial decompression therapy, and cold laser therapy.

However, after working with thousands of patients with this condition over the past 8 years, I can tell you from experience that it usually requires a specific combination of these treatments in order to achieve the best results.

If you would like to learn more about the combination of treatments that are most effective for healing bulging discs, please visit http://www.HealYourBulgingDisc.com.

Discitis - Symptoms and Treatments

Our spine is made up of a number of vertebrae stacked on top of each other. There are discs, plate like structures made up of cartilage, between vertebrae. They separate the vertebrae from each other and also act as shock absorbing cushions.

Discitis is a disease that occurs in children as well as in adults. It causes inflammation of the intervertebral discs. It may happen when there is an infection in any other part of the body, especially the pelvic region but spreads to the spine via the blood stream. The infection may then spread from the disc to the vertebral bones.

Signs and Symptoms

The first indication of discitis may be too much pain in the back, especially the lower back. Children may refuse to even walk because of the pain. Patients might also show signs like leaning and supporting the back while walking. It might be difficult for them to get up from the floor.

Other signs include mild fever, depending upon the type and degree of infection. Patients find it difficult to raise a leg up while lying on their back. They also feel tired and can experience sudden sweats or chills. Loss of appetite is also common. The pain may spread from the back to the abdomen, hip, leg or groin.

If the infection spreads to a considerable extent, the spine may suffer chronic inflammation. In some cases, the infection may cause the vertebrae to fuse together. If this occurs in a young child, the fused vertebrae grow together. So when the spine grows, it tilts forward. This is known as Kyphosis.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Discitis is not simple. Blood tests showing infection are not enough to indicate the disease. The abnormalities of the vertebrae or constriction of disc space may be visible in an X-ray but not before 2- 3 weeks have passed since the disease sets in. Bone scans and MRI are helpful in identifying the spread of infection.

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the infection, the treatment may comprise of medicines or surgery. If the infection is because of some bacteria, oral and intravenous antibiotics for a month or so may be prescribed by the doctor.

Rest is very important. Only when there is no pain should you try moving around slowly at first. You may also need a brace or a cast to support the spine. Acupuncture is also an option to ease the pain.

Disc Surgery, though rarely suggested, is needed to clean out severe infections. A fusion plug or metallic insertions can help in movement.

Discitis is not contagious. Also there is no specific diet that helps improve the condition of the patients.

With time, too much of antibiotics can cause diarrhea or allergies. It is important to keep a check on pain levels and temperature. Periodic x-rays and scans must be carried out. Continuous negative cultures might indicate tuberculosis.

Worsening of pain or any new symptoms must be reported to the doctor. Any other infection in any part of the body must be promptly treated.

Lumbar Herniated Disc - What You Can Do to Fix Your Herniated Disc and Remove the Lumbar Pain

Fixing a lumbar herniated disc does not always mean precisely the same to everyone. Generally it either would mean either help me get rid of the back pain, or help me treat the herniated disc. Often the result at first may be the very same but the outlook is without a doubt critical.

Getting Rid of Back Pain vs. Fixing the Lumbar Herniated Disc

In case you purely wish to cover up the back pain you can actually just take one of the several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, get regular cortisone injections, or maybe beg your physician for another pharmaceutical drug substitute. Even though you could quite possibly hit the goal of stopping back pain, you certainly have not addressed the actual problem.

On the other hand, if you ever choose to repair a herniated disc by really looking at the root problem as well as the warning signs you'll have a higher likelihood of both reducing the pain and preventing its recurrence.

Before anything else, understand that besides occasions involving shock a disc herniation doesn't show up promptly. It might just seem as if you "threw your back out" suddenly, but it absolutely was a longer process of getting weaker gradually which let your disc to suddenly get significantly problematic. The thing you may find astonishing is many have a herniated disc without having pain. It's when the disc or inside substance from your herniated disc press against a nerve that pain results.

What causes a lumbar herniated disc?

To put it simply, disc herniations are mainly attributable to uneven pressure. Visualize driving a car that is misaligned. Imagine its tires move irregularly due to more pressure being situated on one edge. Keep on driving while not correcting the actual problem and in the end you will get a blowout at the worn out edge.

The impact on spinal discs is actually similar. Unequal pressure because of muscle imbalances cause the less-pressured side of the disc to herniate or rupture, forcing the jellylike interior through the fibrous disc membrane into the spinal column.

There can be of course various other contributing aspects like hydration, nutritional imbalances and excess anxiety and negative beliefs to name a few.

How to fix a lumbar herniated disc

The primary task to fixing a lumbar herniated disc is clearly to eliminate this unequal pressure. A highly useful procedure for removing spine pressure you can do without difficulty is known as spinal decompression.

Through the use of an exercise ball as well as different equipment, negative pressure is used to drag your spinal vertebrae in the direction of your top instead of towards the feet. Probably the most helpful instruments for obtaining such outcome is with the help of an inversion table, which uses gravity to carefully ease disc pressure. This negative pressure has been known to help a lumbar herniated disc to come back to a natural posture on it's own.

As soon as you will have relieved the initial pressure you will still need to take care of the root cause of compression: muscle imbalances. Using a muscle balance therapy self evaluation as well as seeing a provider versed with this course of treatment you'll find certain muscle imbalances leading to unequal spinal pressure. Next you will work with workout routines targeted to strengthen weakened musculature as well as exercises for overused and tight muscles to be able to reverse those imbalances.

Through relieving the pressure to the herniated disc as well as repairing the actual muscle imbalances you will have either repaired the herniated disc or moved on considerably in direction of bettering the problem.

And keep in mind, you can't ignore the other causes talked about before. In order to get true long-term relief you have to find the mixture of treatments that deal with all your fundamental causes.

Is My Pain From My Hip Joint Or From a Low Back Spine Problem?

Pain that is in or around one's hip joint may or may not be present secondary to a hip issue. The pain can also be coming from a low back spinal problem.

The potential generators of the pain can be:

1) Hip joint arthritis or a soft tissue problem inside the hip joint (labrum)

2) Intervertebral disc herniation

3) Spinal Stenosis

4) Soft tissue problem around the hip

5) Fracture in the spine

6) Hip Fracture

Hip arthritis pain or a labral tear may cause significant pain in the groin area on the affected side. Physical examination and x-rays will typically confirm the culprit as degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the hip. If the patient receives a hip injection as treatment and the pain is eliminated even for an hour, one can be certain the hip is in fact the problem with further treatments confined to the hip.

Groin pain can also be a result of a disc herniation. It's not something typically seen in a textbook and it is an atypical presentation, but an L5-S1 disc herniation can in fact cause groin pain on the affected side. So if the exam and radiologic studies of the hip are not definitive for a hip problem, potentially obtain and MRI of the lumbar spine for the answer.

Pain that is around the hip joint may be coming from the spine. It is called radiating pain if it emanates from a spinal problem and then travels down into the buttock area or hip region. One such problem is called spinal stenosis, which represents nerve root compression at one or multiple levels from an arthritic process.

Spinal stenosis typically occurs in older individuals that may also be experiencing pain in the hip from arthritis. So the hip pain can be a combination of radiating pain from spinal stenosis along with the direct pain from the DJD in the hip. How is the diagnosis then made.

The combination of a good history, physical examination, and imaging studies often elucidates the source of the pain. If there's still a question mark, injections can give the answer. Here's an example. Betty is 74 years old and experiences pain on the outside and front of her right hip area on a daily basis. Activity makes it worse, and at times it wakes her up at night. Also it radiates down the front of her thigh a bit.

She is convinced the pain is coming from her hip since she has no back pain at all. On physical examination while moving her right hip all over the place, however, she has minimal provocation of her pain. X-rays show moderate arthritis in her right hip, with the same degenerative joint disease existing on her left side as well.

The physician orders x-rays and an MRI of Betty's lumbar spine which shows numerous nerve roots being compressed as they are trying to get out from the spine on the right side. So she has spinal stenosis.

As a diagnostic test, the physician performs a right hip injection under x-ray guidance. Betty's pain only decreased 20% over the next three days. So the physician sent Betty to a pain doctor the following week who performed an interventional pain management procedure called an epidural injection.

And you know what happened? Betty's pain decreased another 50% after the first injection and another 20% with the second injection, adding up to a 90% pain reduction with the epidural injections. Both the spinal injections and the hip injection therefore served both a diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.

It is important to keep in mind that pain in and around the hip may in fact be coming either partly or completely from a problem in the spine. This can be the difference between a frustrated patient still in pain versus one who shows dramatic improvement.

How Does an Epidural Steroid Injection Relieve Sciatica Pain From a Herniated Lumbar Disc?

Sciatica pain from a pinched nerve can be exceptionally painful. Pain Management treatments available to help the pain from a lumbar herniated disk include physical therapy, pain medication, spinal decompression treatment, chiropractic treatment, and epidural steroid injections.

When a nerve is pinched from a piece of disc that has herniated (slipped disc), the pressure from the disc is not painful by itself. The pressure sparks up an inflammation process, which produces mediators including interleukins, prostaglandins, and cytokines which surround the nerve root and that is what causes pain.

So the theory behind an epidural steroid injection for a lumbar disc herniation is to provide the anti-inflammatory substance to alleviate pain. Pain doctors typically inject a steroid medication under fluoroscopy (x-ray) guidance. The steroid medication is place around the pinched nerve root, bathing the area with an extremely potent anti-inflammatory material. The steroid medication is cortisone, and comes in various brand names such as Kenalog, Depo-Medrol, Celestone, and others.

The various types of steroids have different qualities with respect to what's called particulate matter. the larger the particulate matter, the longer the steroid bathes the nerve root as it takes longer to dissolve.

Injecting steroids around the pinched nerve root can be very effective for sciatica pain, but it does not correct the herniated disc. It does not dissolve the lumbar disc herniation, it merely provides temporary pain relief for a few days, weeks, or months. The hope is that pain relief will be provided while one's own body dissolves the piece of disc herniation that is pressing on the nerve root. If that does not happen before the relief from the epidural steroid injection wears off, then the spinal injection can be repeated.

Some Amazing Facts on Prescription Opioid Painkillers

Opiate pain relievers are a significant factor in overdose deaths and now exceed fatalities from cocaine and heroin combined. In 2008, approximately 15,000 fatalities occurred from prescription drug overdoses. This is 3 times the amount from 10 years ago.

The study from the CDC showed that 12 million Americans have reported using prescription painkillers for non-medical use. Five percent of those in this country over the age of 12 used prescription opiate pain medication for non-medical use in 2010. This was simply to get high.

When Americans use prescription opiates for non-medical use, it costs the health insurance companies over $72 billion a year in direct costs. The amount of opiate painkillers sold in the first decade of the 21st century quadrupled. There were enough amounts sold in 2010 to treat every American adult for a month with standard hydrocodone medication.

Secondary to marijuana, prescription drugs are the second most abused drug category in America. The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that almost one third of those over the age of 12 who used illicit drugs for the first time started with non-medical usage of prescription drugs. The Department of Defense research has showed that one in 9 active duty personnel misuses prescription drugs.

In the 5 years between 2004 and 2009, emergency department visits due to non-medical prescription painkiller use doubled. If you thought that the older age group was immune to these types of problems, consider that about 2 million adults over the age of 50 have used opiate painkillers non-medically in the past year.

Statistics show that more men than women die of opiate prescription drug overdoses. The highest prescription painkiller overdosing occurs in middle-aged adults with people living in rural counties. The highest incidence of narcotic painkiller use for non-medical reasons occurs in American Indians or Alaska natives. The incidence is double that of the white population and triple that of the black population.

In the United States, sales of prescription aquatics are 3 times higher in the state of Florida then in the state of Illinois. Illinois actually has the lowest rate of narcotic sales of the prescription variety. In line with what she would think, those states who sell more narcotics and medications per person tend to have more fatalities from overdoses.

Admissions to receive substance abuse treatment doubled between 1992 and 2008. Amazingly, the amount of emissions for older individuals abusing prescription drugs increased fourfold over that same time period. These facts are simply amazing and scary. Prescription drug abuse in the United States is an epidemic, and continues to worsen every year.

Knowing the Difference Between a Bulging and Herniated Disc

Do you know the difference between a bugling and a herniated spinal disc? Knowing the difference can save you a lot of trouble in choosing the correct treatment methods.

First, allow me to tell you what the disc does for your spine. The disc is a spongy donut shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a spacer between the bones of your spine. It also acts as a shock absorber. The most important job the disc does, however, is allow room for the spinal nerves to exit the spine.

Now, with that said, what is the difference between these two disc conditions? Well it is fairly simple. A "bulging" disc has a weakness and this weakness is allowing the disc to change shapes. This shape change may contact the spinal nerve next to the disc (and this is when the pain starts). A "herniated" disc has an actual tear in the wall of the disc and is leaking out the material inside the disc. Think of it as a jelly donut leaking out the jelly.

Now that you know the difference between the two conditions, what are the treatment options? Well, for starters, bulging discs are easier to treat and generally have a better prognosis. Herniated discs often require longer treatments and or surgery.

Remember, bulging discs only become a problem once the disc itself contacts the spinal nerve. I often tell my patients that many people go to the grave with a bulging disc (or multiple bulging discs) that never caused them pain once in their life. Again, it takes the disc to contact the spinal nerve to cause all the drama.

Bulging disc treatment options include the traditional medical treatments of anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. Cortisone shots are also used. Surgery should be used as a last resort.

Many people are turning to a new technology called Spinal Decompression Therapy, which combines targeted traction to the specific disc in a computerized pattern type of pull. The idea here is to "sneak" the traction in so that your body does not detect the pull (thus allowing your muscles to not fight the treatment).

Herniated discs as stated before have a worse prognosis because your body has much more inflammation from the leaking material. Controlling the inflammatory process and not reinjuring the disc by incorrect movements is concentrated on. With that said, however, we have heard of patients heal without surgery.

Each patient is different. MRI studies are often used to classify the problem and see how severe it is.

Medications For Pain Management With A Herniated Disc

At any one point in time, over 1% of the US population suffers from a disc herniation. Having sciatica from a herniated disc can be exceptionally painful. What are the medications that can help?

Initially, a Medrol Dose Pak may be very helpful. It involves a daily series of Prednisone pills to be taken for 5 days. Prednisone is a dramatic anti-inflammatory medication and since sciatica occurs from inflammation sparked up with a pinched nerve, it may relieve this inflammation. The subsequent pain relief may be dramatic. A Medrol Dose Pak should only be given once and then rarely again as there is concern over adrenal gland suppression or the very rare instance of osteonecrosis.

Additional medications that are commonly utilized include NSAID's which stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. They can be very effective for pain, just make sure not to take more than manufacturer's recommendations. Same for Tylenol, it can be very helpful. If a person is on a Medrol Dose Pak and also taking NSAIDS one can end up with an ulcer because both medications knock out some of the protective lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients should take some sort of H2 blocker like Prilosec or Zantac to help protect this lining while taking these medications. All of these medications including the NSAIDS, Tylenol, Zantac, and Prilosec are available over the counter. Medrol Dose Pak's need a prescription.

In addition to these medications, taking a neuropathic medication such as Neurontin or Lyrica may help. These need a prescription as well. They are not addictive like narcotics, but should be taken only under the advice of a physician who will monitor your response and side effects.

Muscle relaxers such as Valium and Skelaxin may all pain relief and the ability to increase function and activity.

There is a non-narcotic medication available called Ultram (Tramadol) which can be very effective in the realm of pain management for a herniate disc. The beauty of Ultram is that it is not a narcotic and therefore non-addictive. It does need a prescription however.

One of the most effective medications available to help with the pain from a herniated disc is narcotics which may include Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, Darvocet, Dilaudid, among others. These can be very addictive and should be monitored appropriately with pain doctors utilizing pain agreements and random urine drug screening. The theory is to prescribe enough medication to be able to allow the patient to alleviate his or her pain, not to get the patient high.

These medications should only be obtained from one doctor and only taken according to the prescribed dosage. As you can see there are numerous pharmacological methods of pain control for a herniated disc sciatica that are available. Most need a prescription and some have addictive tendencies therefore care should be taken to avoid abuse.

Relief For Spinal Stenosis With Spinal Decompression

Spinal stenosis is a condition associated with advancing age. As people grow older, if they do not take care of their spine and are not leading an active and healthy lifestyle, their bones can begin to deteriorate and problems such as spinal stenosis can begin to show up. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the inter-vertebral spaces in the spinal cord, which puts pressure on the nerves that branch outward from the spine and causes pain.

One of the major causes of this condition is advancing age. It is more common in men and women who are over the age of 50. Older people are also more likely to develop arthritis, which is a degenerative disease that wears away joints and cartilage. It can cause bone spurs and is a contributing factor to spinal stenosis.

What is spinal decompression?

Spinal decompression is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment that gently stretches taking pressure off the compressed nerves and areas affected by spinal stenosis. The patient is strapped in and the straps are attached to a computer-guided machine that gently and precisely stretches out the bones in the spine to decompress the vertebrae. This pulling and separating of the bones in the spine allows oxygen and nutrients to flood into the once-compressed area, allowing it to begin the healing process.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Symptoms sometimes appear slowly and worsen over time. They can include:

• Back or neck pain


• Numbness, weakness or pain in the arms and legs


• Shooting pain down the leg


• Foot pain

What are the treatment options?

Non-surgical treatment options include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications


• Pain relievers


• Rest


• Physical Therapy


• Back brace to stabilize and protect the lower back


• Acupuncture


• Chiropractic treatments including spinal decompression


• Exercise

What can be done to prevent further chiropractic issues?

Leading a more active, healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, lots of water and consistent exercise can help prevent many back problems.

Certain exercises, such as Yoga and Pilates, focus on strengthening the body's core strength and are good for keeping the spine limber and flexible. Moving and stretching keeps the spine mobile and helps prevent arthritis and spinal stenosis from developing. Swimming, bicycle riding, vigorous walking with swinging arms and moderate weight training will protect the spine by building up the muscles and supporting structures of the spine.

After a series of spinal decompression sessions, your Chiropractor may give you a series of exercises to do at home so that your back will continue to heal. You will want to maintain a consistent exercise routine to keep your back and the rest of your body in the best shape possible. Before you find a Chiropractor in Springfield, VA, do your research. Don't be afraid to ask for patient references or the amount of experience the chiropractor has.

Spinal Stenosis Laser Surgery

For those people that suffer from spinal stenosis, yet are unfortunate in that non-invasive methods such as physical therapy and medications do not work, the last option to consider is surgery. Decompressive spinal surgery can make room in the vertebraes, relieving pressure and pain on the nerves. There are three common types of surgeries that can treat spinal stenosis - a foraminotomy, laminotomy and laminectomy.

These surgeries act to open up or remove specific parts of the vertebrae where spinal stenosis sets in. The foramen are openings on the sides of each vertebrae when they all line up to form the spine. There are nerves that extend from the spinal cord (in the spinal canal) and pass through the foramen to other parts of the body, such as the arms and legs. If these openings narrow, the nerves will essentially become pinched. The lamina are the bony walls on the sides of the vertebrae that form and protect the spinal canal. If the lamina grow in size or are pushed inward, they will also put extra pressure on the spinal cord.

The suffix otomy means "to cut or make an incision". A foraminotomy is the process of cutting open the foramen, to give more room for the nerves to freely pass inside the spine to other extremities. This can help people who suffer from degenerating discs in their vertebraes which reduces the size of the foramen. Other problems include bulging and herniated discs, which encroach on the foramen.

A laminotomy is the process of cutting away part of the lamina. It also acts to increase space and to release trapped nerves. In more severe cases, a laminectomy may be required, which requires the complete removal of the lamina (the suffix ectomy means "to remove.") Compared to a laminotomy, a laminectomy is usually an open surgery, while the former is minimally invasive.

There are other non surgical treatment options to consider as well. Generally, before surgery is even mentioned, physical therapy and pain medications are the first way to deal with spinal stenosis. While these are simple options for simple cases of spinal stenosis, they may only mitigate the pain as opposed to relieving it all together. More intense treatments include steroid injections, which are not a long term solution, and can possibly have adverse effects. Though surgery may seem like an extreme option, it is an easy operation that can potentially abate all pain and other symptoms.