Atlantic Ave Magazine October 2016 Issue

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health & beauty ║ pain relief
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Non-Surgical Approach
to a Herniated Disc
By Dr. John Conde
The medical phrase “herniated disc” is widely used to describe
injury to the spine. It refers to the incidence of derangement
within the spinal column in which there is injury to the spongy
cushions (discs) between the individual bones (vertebrae).
Herniated discs are most common when a
person is in their thirties or forties, however
it can affect any age group especially when the
aging population is active. It is most notably associated
with the lumbar region (lower back)
but can also affect the cervical region (neck)
and thoracic (mid back) region with less prevalence.
Quite often herniated discs in the lumbar
region will produce sciatica (leg pain) and
in the cervical region will produce arm pain.
Dysesthesias (numbness and tingling) in the
arms and legs are also associated with lesions
involving the spinal discs.
The disc itself lies between two adjacent vertebrae
and is composed of a hard outer shell
called the annulus and a gelatinous substance
on the inside called the nucleus. The nucleus
provides key structural support elements for
the spine as it acts as a “shock absorber” for the
spine so that the vertebrae do not touch each
other. The cushion also creates a space between
the vertebrae so that the spinal nerves
can exit unharmed. However, the nucleus also
contains certain chemical irritants such as tumor
necrosis factor-alpha which can be toxic
for nerves. Therefore, it is of paramount importance
that it remains within its shell. The
annulus acts as the outer shell or barrier and is
a resilient tissue made up of fibrocartilage.
A herniated disc occurs when fissures (tears)
form in the annulus or outer shell which allows
for the nucleus to escape and get into dangerously
close contact with the spinal nerves. The
most offensive posture for the lumbar disc is sitting.
This provides the greatest load on the disc
and increases probability of herniation. Therefore,
sedentary lifestyles and jobs requiring
prolonged sitting are deleterious for the discs.
Other activities such as bending and twisting
are also very damaging to the discs, especially
if repetitive. Lastly, acute events such as lifting
something very heavy without proper support
can injure the spinal discs.
The “gold standard” for conservative, noninvasive
treatment of disc herniations is nonsurgical
spinal decompression therapy. This
treatment acts to create a negative pressure
or vacuum within the spinal canal essentially
retracting some of the disc material back into
the annulus and away from the sensitive
spinal nerves. In-fact the pressure within
the disc can get to minus 150 mm/
HG. The most recent clinical study
of 219 patients has showed that
spinal decompression therapy
provided an immediate resolution
of symptoms for
86% of the participants
while 84% remained
pain free 90 days posttreatment.
In combination
with a revolutionary
modality
termed class IV high
power laser therapy
which accelerates tissue healing
by tenfold through “kick-starting” the cellular
machinery in the injured tissue, the outcomes
are even more staggering. Core strengthening
specifically designed for a disc herniation
(which differs from other lumbar spine injuries)
should not be ignored and should be a
part of any protocol for injured discs.
The Conde Center For Chiropractic Neurology
401 West Atlantic Avenue, Suite #014
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561-330-6096
www.thecondecenter.com
44 October 2016 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com