Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Yet Another Positive Study for Chiropractic Care!

Recent June 2010 survey review in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine shows chiropractic to be a great help for low back pain. Seventy-four of the surveyees used chiropractic for back pain and “66% reported significant benefit.”

The analysis looked at six CAM therapies. CAM stands for Complimentary Alternative Modalities and includes chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, herbs, yoga, and relaxation techniques.

There is no denying it- chiropractic is one of the best and safest options for low back pain. Technically, your chiropractor isn’t really an alternative care provider anymore; he or she is main stream. It is clear from not only this survey review, but all of the continuous positive studies that for back pain your doctor of chiropractic should be your first choice.


The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut- CT Spine and Disc Center specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call our chiropractic office at 860-633-8756 to schedule an appointment and to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

-How to Find the Best Mattress and Pillow for You-

So many of us are affected by difficulty sleeping, inability to fall asleep or waking frequently throughout the night. Aside from sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, a major cause for problems with sleeping comes from the mattress and pillow you are using.

You should get a new mattress every 10-15 years. I’ve had friends who’ve kept their mattress well over 20 years, and complain often of back and neck pain. By simply switching to a mattress that is not worn out they could easily do wonders for their ability to sleep and to wake up without pain or tightness.

So how do you know which is the right mattress for you? By trying it out! Picking a mattress that you will use for the next decade is a big investment, and not a decision to be made quickly. Pick a mattress that has a trial period (most of the good ones do). Trial periods can be anywhere from three months to a few years. This way you can sleep on the mattress and judge after time whether it is helping your sleep or hindering it. As for hard or soft mattresses, it depends on the person. Just make sure you have adequate support for your neck, shoulders, and back. Also, keep in mind that the majority tend to sleep on something too soft.

Once you have a new mattress, it’s time to take a look at your sleeping position. The best position for your spine is to sleep on your back with a pillow under your bent knees, to take pressure off your lower back. Another good position is on your side with a pillow between your legs, keeping them hip-width apart. Unfortunately, sleeping on your stomach is the worst position, and a favorite of a lot of people. It strains your neck as you have to turn your neck to breathe. It’s a tough habit to kick, but it’s worth it to wake up with no back, shoulder or neck pain. Try falling asleep on your back by putting pillows on both sides of your body to help prevent rolling over. Also our “V” pillow helps hold you on your back by holding your neck in place.

Your pillow is the final element in a good night’s sleep. If you prefer sleeping on your back, choose a pillow that won’t thrust your neck forward (avoid multiple pillows). If you are a side-sleeper you’ll need a thicker pillow for more neck support. The best thing to do is to take your current pillow in to your next chiropractic visit. Show your chiropractor, and if he or she doesn’t seem to think the pillow is providing enough support, ask them for suggestions.


The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut- CT Spine and Disc Center specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call our chiropractic office at 860-633-8756 to schedule an appointment and to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Why Does Spinal Decompression Really Work?

drx9000 glastonbury

Over the years now, I’ve seen so many copy cats, others who claim the use decompression but don’t, and people who claim they can get the effects of decompression with simple exercises.

My feeling is that anything that can help your back is great, but for lasting back pain relief DRX 9000 decompression has been the best overall tool.

I’ve used traction, flexion distraction, exercises and more to help disc pain patients. They often help, but give only temporary relief. I will note, however, that after someone has completed a course of the non-surgical spinal decompression, those prior noted treatments will often work very well to maintain the low back. The reason is because once we finally get some good healing in the disc with the DRX, then other treatments, treatments that didn’t work well in the past, may actually work.

To answer the question above: spinal decompression works because when it decompre
sses the spine it actually creates a suction effect pulling disc material back into place. Once we do this regularly we can get the disc to stay and heal.

So, I often have patients do certain exercises or follow up with traction, inversion, or chiropractic care, but for a patient with a chronic disc problem or severe back pain the DRX 9000 treatment cannot be matched.


The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut- CT Spine and Disc Center specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call our chiropractic office at 860-633-8756 to schedule an appointment and to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Do You Suffer From Back or Neck Pain as a Result of Your Computer or Phone?

'text neck'
I thought this was funny when I had first heard it but it's really not that funny for those who have neck or back pain due to it...

What I'm refering to to is "laptop-itis" and/or "text-neck"! More and more people are presenting these days with neck pains or back pains from curling over a laptop for hours on end, or constantly looking down at their phone or doing everything they can to hold it by their ear while trying to do 10 other things.

I actually see this all the time too. It's no wonder people come to see us because of a neck or back strain from texting or typing or searching the web on their little phone.

Here's what you want to do to avoid back or neck pain in this case:
When using a laptop, just like a desktop computer, try keeping your elbows and knees at 90 degree angles and keeping your eyes even with the top half of the monitor or screen. In some cases this will be impossible since your laptop may be on your lap, so just make sure you take periodic breaks and stretch your neck and back.

The same goes for texting or using your phone, try to take breaks and stretch out. I like simple half rolls for the neck and periodic head retraction exercise. For the lower body, simple trunk twisters to loosen up the lumbar spine and pelvis.

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

What to Ask when your Doctor Suggests Surgery...


If you go to your doctor for back pain and he or she suggests surgery, it can be an overwhelming feeling. There is a lot to think about, and it’s important to remember to take your time and go over all your concerns with your doctor before heading into surgery.

It’s important to know what the risks are for the surgery being suggested. Ask your doctor to go over these with you before making your decision. Ask your doctor for research and statistics to read on the suggested surgery for more information. If it seems your doctor isn’t taking your questions seriously, or not providing enough information, get another opinion from a different doctor or surgeon.

You also want to ask for other options. A good surgeon will be familiar with alternative treatment options and willing to discuss them with you. Also keep in mind that spinal surgery is rarely needed immediately, so take your time to learn about these other treatments, and give them a chance to work.

Surgery is a big step, and a very important decision for you to make. Your doctor’s opinion is important, but keep in mind that it’s your body and your health in question here. Weigh your options and get all the information first, before you make the decision for surgery.


CT Spine and Disc Center is located in Glastonbury, Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

Thursday, August 5, 2010

What To Do Immediately, If You Throw Your Back Out!



Typically when an initial injury like this happens, there will be inflammation. By the way, it won’t always be on the surface with redness and swelling, but it may be more internal. Ice is a natural anti-inflammatory and it will also dull the pain. A great thing to use is a gel-pack. These are nice because you can sit against it comfortably because it’s soft. You can also thaw it out a few days later and microwave it to make it a hot-pack.

Next, we recommend rest. This also helps the injury relax and inflammation to reduce. You may also want to keep hydrated- drinking lots of water helps hydrate your discs and flush inflammatory agents and toxins out of your system. Sleeping with a pillow under your knees helps to put your back in better position. After a couple days of rest we do, however, recommend moving around more.

Of course, something else that’s important is to call our office. This goes especially for the individuals where the pain persists after a couple days or gets worse.


CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- Specializing in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression.
Additional Reading Resources:

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Natural Treatment Options for Women with Osteoporosis



Studies have shown that for people affected with osteoporosis, the risk of fractures increases. In fact, for women who are over age 40, 40% will have a fracture if they have osteoporosis. The fractures often occur in the wrist, hip or the spine. These fractures can lead to a decrease quality of life because of a decrease in range of motion, decrease in mobility and chronic pain.

Researchers looking to understand the effect of osteoporosis and fractures on numerous conditions of health have discovered that women who previously sustained fractures a major decrease in health associated quality in life was alike or worse than endured by patients with diabetes, arthritis, lung disease and other types of chronic illness. This current study Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW), which is located at the Center for Outcomes Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and published online in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

An article published in May 2010, in the issue of Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (JAAOS) had stated that one in every two women in the United States will have a fracture associated to osteoporosis in their lifetime. It continues that only a couple of those women will be diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis. If osteoporosis is discovered and treated it would greatly reduce the amounts of fractures.

Current estimates show that 10 million persons in the United States have osteoporosis. Women should be educated about bone health as they get older.

What about natural treatments for osteoporosis to prevent falls and fractures?




  • Nutrition- Vitamin D, Vitamin K and Magnesium and are important. Green leafy vegetables should also be incorporated into your diet.

  • Acupuncture - Both acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be helpful in treating osteoporosis. Studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective in preventing osteoporosis in women after menapause (study reported in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. Another study found that acupuncture may improve bone mass (American Journal of Chinese Medicine).

  • Chiropractic Treatment- proper alignment will help with function. Chiropractic adjustments can also ease the pain associated with osteoporosis. Your chiropractor can also recommend exercises and using a simple tens unit at home for pain relief.

  • Weight Bearing Exercise- These type of exercises are key to building muscle and bone mass. Weight bearing exercises include walking, jogging, and dancing. You can also get a great weight bearing workout at the gym by using the elliptical machine, stair stepper and weights.

  • Exercise for Balance, Posture and Functioning- Try Yoga, Qi Chong or Tai Chi for improving balance and coordination.


Source: Women Osteoporosis And Fractures Decline Life's Quality

CT Spine and Disc Center is located in central Connecticut- We specialize in treating patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. If you have lower back pain or leg pain, call our office. Call us at 860-633-8756 to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression or to come in for chiropractic treatment

Additional Reading Resources:


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