Page 8 - The Connection Bridgewater Somerville Edition, September 2012

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THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION

SEPTEMBER 2012

(908) 647-4000

millingtonsb.com

Locations in Morris and Somerset Counties

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BACK PAIN BOTHERING YOU?

NON-SURGICAL HERNIATED DISC TREATMENT

A conservative “team” approach often yields excellent results.

By: Dr. Ron Spiaggia, D.C.

Non-surgical herniated disc treatment is a wide-

ly used and accepted means of practice within

the medical community. A recent trend in medi-

cine is utilizing a multi-specialty or “team”

approach for safer, faster and more effective

treatment outcomes for acute or chronic spinal

pain. A typical multi-specialty team includes a

medical physician (physiatrist, pain management

physician, orthopedist or neurosurgeon), chiro-

practic physician and physical therapist. True

multi-specialty care allows the patient to conve-

niently access a wide range of services that may

be used individually or collectively to successfully

treat their condition in a single facility.

Performance Rehabilitation & Integrated

Medicine affords this benefit to all of our

patients thus eliminating the back and forth of

seeing different doctors in different offices.

Many patients with herniated discs will present

with neck or back pain and radiating pain into

the arms or legs. It is common for the patient to

complain of weakness in the extremity, as well as

electric shock pain, burning or numbness. A

spinal disc is a soft cushion that exists between

spinal joints. The disc acts as the “shock

absorber” of the spine. It provides for many

complicated ranges of motion by allowing the

spine to bend, twist and turn in various direc-

tions. Any impairment or loss of structural

integrity of the disc, from spinal trauma, poor

posture, weak spinal core muscles or obesity can

weaken the disc and eventually cause the disc to

fail. When the disc fails the inner component of

the disc (nucleus) migrates through the outer

component of the disc (annulus) and exerts pres-

sure on the spinal nerve. This increase in disc

pressure is commonly called “slipped disc” or

more accurately a herniated disc. When the her-

niated material presses on a spinal nerve it is

commonly called a “pinched nerve” or radicu-

To truly appreciate the benefits of multi-specialty

care in the treatment of herniated discs, it is

important to understand how the patient is

simultaneously experiencing multiple conditions.

First, there is an acute inflammatory reaction that

is occurring at the site of the herniated disc,

which is creating an irritant to the affected nerve

resulting in pain and/or numbness and tingling.

Physicians will commonly prescribe anti-inflam-

matory medication to mediate this reaction and

decrease the patient’s discomfort levels. For less

severe cases, a short-term application of oral

anti-inflammatory medications, such as a Medrol

Dose Pack (Methylprednisolone) or Naproxen will

help reduce inflammation and pain around the

disc and nerve. More severe cases may require a

local injection of Cortisone to the damaged

structures. This is commonly called an Epidural

Injection. Spinal injections are usually quite effec-

tive in reducing the acute pain, however the

results may be temporary unless the underlying

structural problems in the discs and muscles are

identified and treated.

Second, to obtain long term relief from herniat-

ed discs, the healthcare provider must address

the increased disc pressure which is causing the

migration of the inner nucleus of the disc onto

the nerve root, as discussed above. Spinal

Decompression Therapy (DRX) has been proven

to be the most effective non-surgical means to

reduce disc pressure. DRX incorporates advanced

computer technology to calculate and apply log-

arithmic decompressive forces to elongate the

spine. It is this technology which drastically

reduces disc pressure without causing muscle

spasm. The overall goal of Spinal Decompression

Therapy is to create and sustain an environment

of negative disc pressure, thus “vacuuming” the

herniated nucleus back into the annuals of the

disc. Traditional traction does not utilize this

technology and thus has not been proven to

reduce disc pressure.

Lastly, a comprehensive, non-surgical protocol

must include a regimen of physical therapy to

address the aberrant muscular and biomechani-

cal components of the herniated disc syndromes.

It is widely accepted in physical medicine that

weak “core” postural muscles or spinal instabili-

ty is a major cause of herniated disc syndromes.

Instability in the spine results in unwanted exces-

sive movements which lead to tissue and struc-

tural damage to both the muscles and spinal

discs. A skilled therapist will asses each patient’s

problematic region and create a therapy pro-

gram that is unique to his or her own physical

tolerance and capacity in order for the patient to

develop proper joint stability and flexibility.

Strong, stable and flexible spinal structures are

much less likely to develop problems.

It is imperative that the patient understand that

a true comprehensive treatment plan must

address each area of spinal dysfunction, as

described above. The real advantage to a

“team” approach for non-surgical treatment is

the synergistic benefit each specialist provides to

the patient. Simply stated, since most patients

present with multiple components to their prob-

lem, it makes the most sense to address each

issue concurrently in order to achieve fast, effec-

tive and long standing relief for the patient.

Some of our most successful cases have included

patients who have previously failed individual

therapies, even including spinal surgery.

Performance Rehabilitation & Integrated

Medicine is a premier, comprehensive and multi-

disciplinary office dedicated to treating acute

and chronic spinal pain through non-surgical

procedures. We have invested in the most inno-

vative and cutting-edge technology and com-

bined it with the best physicians available.

Recently, three of Performance Rehabilitation’s

physicians have been named to the prestigious

‘America’s Top Physicians’ list by Consumer’s

Research Council of America, for their related

specialties. Performance Rehabilitation &

Integrated Medicine allows you to consult with

medical and chiropractic physicians, pain man-

agement specialists, physical therapists, massage

therapists, spinal decompression specialists, and

more - all under one roof. To learn more about

our state-of-the-art facility, please visit us on-line

at www.performancerehabnj.com or call for

more information at (908)756-2424.

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