How to treat herniations and degenerative discs: Recovering from chronic back pain without surgery

By: Dr. Robert Patterson

Disc problems such as herniations and degenerative discs are fairly common. People often ask if there is anything that can be done for disc herniations besides surgery. The answer is yes. Disc herniation recovery rate for conservative care alone is 90-95%. There are different methods of conservative care. No single method is a cure-all for disc herniations and often the combination of two or more methods gives a patient the best outcome.

When a disc is herniated, it can cause pain from pressure being applied to a nerve (pinched nerve) or from fluid leaking out of the disc and producing chemical irritation. Patients will commonly experience leg symptoms and not even have low back pain.

Because compression is one of the main causes, it only makes sense that we need to do something to decompress the spine. To accomplish this, I use a specialized adjusting technique called Cox Flexion Distraction manipulation. This uses a unique table to decompress the spine, pulls fluid back into the discs and it opens the holes where the nerves come out of the spine to go into the arms and legs. Unlike other decompression tables, the Flexion Distraction table allows me to very specifically decompress the individual joints, constantly comparing how one joint moves in relation to the others. The table also allows me to gently move the joints through all of their normal ranges of motion, instead of decompressing in only one direction. Patients with recurrent disc herniations, fusions or failed back surgery can usually be treated with this table.

In addition to Cox decompression manipulation, we instruct patients in home exercises to assist in flexibility and strengthening of their core. Therapy modalities to reduce pain, inflammation and to increase circulation may also be used to aid in progress.

Dr. Patterson is currently 1 of only 3 certified Cox practitioners in the state of Kansas. For more information on Cox Flexion Distraction you can go to coxtechnic.org. To find a certified doctor in your area go to www.coxtechnic.com/coxphysicians.html.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 1:34 pm and is filed under Alternative Medicine, Extremity Adjusting, Injury and Treatment following motor vehicle accidents, Mechanisms and Treatment of Low Back Pain, Rehabilitation Exercises and Protocols, Stress Reduction, back pain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.