Why do back surgeries fail?
All spine surgery carries with it a significant degree of patient risk but when the resulting surgery does not alleviate the problem, or creates even greater problems for the patient, the situation is referred to as a “failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Read More….
Don’t Cut Herniated Discs!
Does your neck or back feel tight or stiff when you wake up in the morning or get up from sitting in the same position for an extended period of time? Have you ever felt slight discomfort when bending over to tie your shoes or pick something up from the floor? Do you feel pain or hear “clicking and popping” when turning or stretching your neck? If you answered yes to any of these questions heed this warning! What you’re experiencing are signs that you are at risk for even simple everyday tasks to cause serious debilitating conditions, such as a herniated disc.
Millions suffer with disc problems every day. Many just suffer with the problem or take a medication to cover up the pain and agony that associates the problem - low back pain, sciatic pain, and numbness and tingling. A herniated disc is a disc in the spine that pushes out and puts pressure on the nerves coming out of the spine. The question almost never solved nor uncovered is what caused the disc herniation in the first place! The accident or fall or injury forces the disc to herniate, but what physically happens to cause this?
If you were to look at your spine from the side it should have three 45 degree curves in it: one in the neck, one in the mid-back, and one in the low back. The three perfectly symmetrical curves help to support and hold up your body and to absorb the impact of everyday life. Without these curves, your spine becomes unstable. The most common area of disc herniations, the low back, should have a 45 degree curve. If that curve starts to straighten out it is like straightening out a banana with it’s peel on. What happens to the banana? It smashes. That is exactly what happens to the discs, which are in between every vertebrae in your spine. A slip or fall, or constant bad posture, or too much improper lifting, etc. cause that curve in the low back to decrease and straighten out. As the curve straightens, more and more pressure is put on the discs. Eventually the discs cannot take it anymore and finally one will give. The discs bulges out like a squeezed balloon. This bulging presses into the near by nerve and makes it extremely irritated, hence all the pain.
A surgeon will go in, scrape off the bulging disc so it stops irritating the nerve. But, does that fix the problem? No, the banana is still mashed, you just cleaned up the banana mush that was spilling out of the peel. This quick fix type of patchwork is why up to 50-90% of back surgeries fail within 5 years, and then new patchwork needs to be done!1 If you constantly patch the holes in your car’s tires and never realign them, what happens? A blow out! Now that’s a dangerous way to live.
Too many people in agony from herniated disc pain learn about this condition the hard way: after the suffering has already began. The pain is so debilitating at times that many feel the only pathway to relief is to cut. But surgery is not the answer. The majority of back surgeries fail.2 The return of the pain after back surgery is so common it has a special name: Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). FBSS often entails chronic pain, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, and de-conditioning.3 In addition it also increases one’s risk of developing peripheral artery disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. These people are left with a further damaged spine, additional pain, and the original unresolved problem. Most devastating of all, if not properly addressed, disc herniations keep people from doing the things they love to do with the people they love to do them with.
It’s the New Year, and we’ve probably all made our resolutions for things we want to change in our lives. It might be a habit you want to stop. It might be a goal you want to achieve. But for some, the resolution might reflect more of a hope for the future, and if you are someone who suffers with severe pain, you probably know what I mean. You’d give anything to feel like yourself again. At Vancouver Spinal Decompression Center, that’s our job - helping people live better lives and find relief - and every one of us works hard at it.
Among the worst types of chronic and severe pain is the pain of a herniated disc in the low back, and scitica. It can be nightmarish when they don’t get resolved; it’s common to find patients who have had pain for years, some off and on, some always on. The major effect it can have on how you live your life is unreal - a complete halt to physical activities is sometimes warranted. At the very least, sufferers aren’t able to do the things they used to enjoy. Even sitting, standing, and lying down can be a problem. And so for the new year, a sort of prayer for relief is understandable.
At the Vancouver Spinal Decompression Center, We use the spinal decompression therapy as the main form of treatment for the herniated disc in the low back. This treatment is safe, non-invasive and effective*. It is a great alternative to injections,drugs and low back surgery.
So why start off the New Year on a bad note? If your pain is wearing you down and changing the way you live your life, take action. Give us a call at 604-984-4601 and learn more about what Vancouver Spinal Decompression Center can do for you. Happy New Year to all!
*As with all medical treatments, results vary from person to person
It is not surprising that many people suffer from muscle fatigue, low back strain, vertebral disc damage and even spinal fractures during the winter season. Some of these injuries result from excessive stress to spinal structures and others by slip and fall accidents.
A study published by Brad Coffiner at Cornell University’s ergonomic department indicated “…when handling heavy snow with a shovel, the L5/S1 disc has been identified as the weakest link in the body segment chain. The most severe injuries and pain are likely to occur in the back region.” Recognizing the low back is especially susceptible to strain or injury, it would be prudent to review steps to prevent injury.
The Basics
Snow shoveling can be compared to weight lifting and in some cases the aerobic aspect of this activity is similar to a workout on a treadmill! So to help your body function on demand consider the following tips:
· Be heart smart! Don’t eat or smoke before shoveling snow. Avoid caffeinated beverages. These are stimulants and may increase heart rate and cause blood vessels to constrict.
· If you experience pain of any kind, stop immediately and seek assistance.
· Pace yourself during shoveling activities. Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water. Snow shoveling is strenuous work and it is important to re-hydrate your body often.
· If the ground is icy or slick, spread sand or salt over the area to help create foot traction. Be aware that some areas may be uneven and could cause you to slip, trip, or fall.
Dress for Success!
· Consider the weather when choosing outerwear. Dress in layers. Wear clothing that is easy to move in.
· Wear a hat—a great deal of body heat is lost through the head.
· If it’s icy cold, consider breathing through a scarf, but don’t let it obstruct your view.
· Proper boots are essential for keeping feet warm and dry while appropriate soles provide traction. Good boots can help you maintain your balance!
· Choose gloves that will keep your hands warm, dry, and blister free—consider thicker gloves, which allow for a good grip on the shovel’s handle.
Select a Shovel That’s Right for You
Shovels are made from different materials and come in many shapes and sizes.
· Choose a shovel that is ergonomically correct—a shovel with a curved handle. Many hardware stores and home centers stock ergonomically designed snow shovels. These shovels help you to keep your back straighter reducing spinal stress.
· Consider a shovel with a plastic blade instead of metal—plastic is lightweight—isn’t the snow heavy enough?
· Sometimes a smaller blade is better. You will not be able to shovel as much snow per shovel load, but the load will weigh less, which puts less strain on the spine.
· Get a shovel made to push snow. It is far easier to push snow than to lift it. There are shovels made expressly for pushing snow. See what is available at your hardware or home center store.
Once you have your shovel, you might want to consider spraying a bit of silicon lubricant on the blade. This can help keep the snow from sticking to the shovel. The snow will slide off the shovel blade.
Technique. Technique. Technique
· Warm muscles work better. Take some time to stretch to prepare your body for activity.
· Just like with a golf club, hand placement on the shovel handle is very important! Don’t put your hands (grip) close to one another. Create some distance between the hands. This will give you more leverage and make it easier to lift snow.
· Think about good posture and maintaining the natural curve of your spine.
· Address your task directly. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart to maintain balance. Try to keep the shovel close to your body. Bend at the knees—not the waist or back. Tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the snow. Lift with your legs—not your back. Do not twist your body. Dump the snow in front of you. If you need to move the snow to the side, move your feet—do not twist!
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, “If you must lift the snow, lift it properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist. Scoop small amounts of snow into the shovel and walk to where you want to dump it. Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine. Never remove deep snow all at once; do it piecemeal. Shovel and inch or two; then take another inch off. Rest and repeat if necessary.”
· Don’t throw snow over your shoulder! Go forward with the snow.
· Fresh snow is lighter in weight—so clear snow as soon as it has fallen. Snow becomes dense as it compacts on the ground. Wet snow is very heavy. One shovelful can weigh 20 pounds or more!
· Pace yourself. Take frequent breaks to stretch your back and extremities.
And lastly get adjusted regularly to prevent any injuries.
Chiropractic adjustment is a manipulation of the spine to treat and improve the joints by restoring their proper motion. The procedure is gentle and controlled to direct pressure to the spine in order to relieve the nerve from obstruction. The realignment retrains the muscles to help hold the spine in the correct position.
This process needs to be conducted over several sessions to take effect. The number of required sessions depends on the amount of blockage that needs to be corrected. With proper maintenance of chiropractic adjustment, you will have a faster road to full recovery.
If you have recently undergone a chiropractic adjustment, or if you are about to undergo one, below are some guidelines to help you maintain the alignment of your spine.
