QuestionI am a 20 yr old female and have been having lower back pain for about 5 years now. It started when I was involved in powerlifting in high school. My senior year I was squating 350 lbs in the 114lbs weight class... so I had a lot or pressure on my spine for the 3 years I was involved in powerlifting. I recently went to a chiropractor. He took xrays and these were my results: my cervical vertebrae stairstep forward, my thoracic and lumbar have no curve, and at the bottom of my lumbar the curve is more than it should be. He said I have degenerative disk disease and that with treatment I can regain the normal curve of the spine. Is this really possible? or is this something that I should see a medical doctor about? He wants me to get treatment 3x a wk for month 1, then 2xWK for month 2, and once a week for month 3. Will getting this treatment @ the chiropractor just ease my pain for a little bit or will it actually fix my problem?
AnswerDegenerative Disc Disease, DDD, DJD, Degenerative Joint Disease, OA, Osteoarthritis, Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Vertebral Subluxation Complex, sprain, strain, spasm, pinched nerve,
Hello Krista,
Sorry to hear of your problems. Twenty years old,,, so young,,, FIVE YEARS of back pain ! ? ! , just recently went to the chiropractor....
Why so long (5 Years) to go to the Doctor? Five years of deterioration going on, 5 years of aches and pains?
What evaluation, examination, tests, treatment were you doing for 5 years? Did you go to any health professional at all?
I hope you did NOT just 'kill the pain' and take painkillers (aspirin, tylenol, advil, nsaids) to cover up the problem, mask the pain, and NOT get to the cause of the pain.
Pain is the 'red light on the dashboard'. If you drive a car, and see a red light on the dash board- indicating a problem- would you ignore the red light? would you cover up the red light with a piece of tape- so you could not see the red light? Agreed,,,, some people might ignore the red light until the car breaks down; but most people will have the car looked at, and the problem fixed.
Same with pain. You initially hurt yourself 5 YEARS ago. Perhaps you covered up the problem by taking pain medications. Well,,, while on pain medications the problem slowly, insidiously progressed.
Your problem is deep rooted, with a lot of momentum on it's side.
I have informational handouts that I utilize in my Staten Island Chiropractic office that may be of help:
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Degenerative Disk Disease
DDD = Degenerative Disc Disease; DJD = Degenerative Joint Disease; = similar/ same OsteoArthritis.
Degenerative Disc Disease (old term = DJD) is actually a quite common condition. However, the course of the condition is highly variable. Some patients with DJD literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar X-ray/ MRI findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Although the course is highly variable, there are certain steps that are always helpful to follow: Ice the area when painful- 10/ 15minutes on, 30/ 45 minutes off; avoid certain postures and movements; bend the knees when coughing or sneezing; bend the knees when lifting anything; do not extend legs straight out when sitting, laying down, lifting, or driving. Avoiding certain movements and postures will prevent aggravation of the condition. Practicing good postures and movement patterns will help the condition heal and be less painful. DDD, DJD, OsteoArthritis, - deteriorating discs (disk) is/ are often caused by, or often concurrent with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. VSC is a misalignment which hastens deterioration of the joints involved.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of joints, and can cause osteo-arthritic degeneration, Degenerative Disk Disease, degenerative joint disease, etc.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
Subluxation is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Inflammed Discs can easily bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may also suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration. Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, Disk Degeneration, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
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Concerning a recommended treatment regimen:
Treatment Regimen
Why do I need to have treatment __________________ ? ! ??
( TWICE A DAY, EVERY DAY, 3- 4x/week, 2- 3x/week, 1- 2x/week ) Depending upon your specific condition, your specific case, you may need to be seen many times in a short period. If your condition is severe, complicated, particularly painful; you may need close, frequent attention. Similar to medicine, usually the more severe the case the more often medicine is taken with larger doses. The Doctor of Chiropractic works with hands and therapy in person to accomplish the goal, the MD can treat 憀ong distance?via medicine without actually seeing the patient for treatment.
Why do I need to have treatment for (weeks, months, years!?! ) ? Compare for a moment: chiropractic treatment, medical treatment, dental treatment: very similar !!!
Again, the Doctor using chiropractic techniques needs to get 慼ands on?in person. An MD can treat a patient without actually physically seeing the patient every day through medicine; i.e.: 搮Here are 60 pills, take one a day every day, and I will see you in two months厰. The dentist can say- 搮here, wear these braces 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the next two- three years. I will see you every two weeks, but I抣l be treating you every day, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for the next few years厰 .
People can wear braces and retainers for YEARS. It can take YEARS to move the bones (known as teeth) into their proper position. It can take years and years, and thousands of dollars ! But, those teeth (bones) have to be properly aligned to have a nice smile. BUT you do not have to keep wearing the brace or retainer, you can take the brace off any time,,,, and let the teeth go back to their misaligned positions (habit). You can do as you wish. On/ off, go for treatment, not go; listen to the Doc or not.
Some people with certain conditions have to take a medicine every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year; 搮..for the rest of their life??. Sometimes someone can have a damaged heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas; and they have to take a medicine, sometimes a FEW medicines, every day, sometimes for years, sometimes 搮for the rest of their life厰 . Similarly, a damaged neck or back, a damaged spine, a damaged nervous system can sometimes use treatment ?..for the rest of their life厰 .
Most people who go to the Doctor of Chiropractic feel a difference in their pain in as little as two or three weeks. Instead of taking years (like braces and the teeth) to make changes, the dynamic spine can start to feel better very quickly. To maintain the proper position and movement of the vertebrae (bones) it can take a continued regimen of care (of course not as frequent as the initial schedule, but to maintain gains, maintenance has to be performed). BUT you do not have to keep up with treatment, you can stop any time you want,,,, and let the vertebrae go back to their misaligned positions (habit).
It is a joke amongst Chiropractors that the DC is a magician- first Chiropractic makes the pain disappear, and then the patient disappears as well !!, BUT- pain is the last thing that comes in a problem, and the first thing that disappears under treatment,,,, but the disappearance of pain does NOT mean correction of the underlying health problem.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Chiropractic, usually working on a neuro-musculo-skeletal condition is similar to other physical medicine approaches. Physical therapists, 'body workers', often see patients 2, 3, 4, times per week to start, then taper down, sometimes over weeks or months.
You also ask if you should see a medical doctor. I do not think you HAVE to see an MD. But if you would like a second opinion, you are certainly welcome to do so. Medical Doctors treat patients in different ways then Chiropractic Doctors do, I do not think medicine or surgery is necessary at this time, but- again- you are welcome to a second opinion. Doctors of Chiropractic often refer to MD's; sometimes, some MD's do not seem to want to refer to Chiropractors.
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WARNING ON PAIN MEDICATION:
PAIN Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard? Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong. That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car- -- do you ignore it until the car breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem? Pain, pain in your body- -- do you ignore it until your body breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem? Pain, do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller? Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body? NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS: Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ; The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation ( 慥SC?, 憇ubluxation? )
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for 慡ubluxation? Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this). Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC. The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
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Krista, I wish you luck with your problems. If a dentist told you that you had to wear braces for the next few years,,, I would say- listen to the dentist IF you want to fix your problem.
The Chiropractor is designing a regimen of care for you. Given a FIVE year history of back pain, it does not seem unreaonable that you need a treatment regimen. I would say- listen to the chiropractor IF you want to fix your problem.
Good luck, I wish you Good Health Naturally, your Staten Island Chiropractor friend signing off,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
http://www.GoodHealthNatually.info
http://www.DocDolan.net
