Question
Dear Sir, I had a horse riding accident about fifteen years ago, I now suffer a great deal of pain in my neck. I have been told I have two buldging discs and bone spurs.  Recently my right lower leg and foot have gone numb. I can't make my foot move up at all. Please tell me what I should do, I have no insurance and I'm very scared.  Thankyou Cynthia Aube

Answer
Hi Cynthia,

You have 'foot drop' which is common in advanced cases of L5/S1 disc herniatations. At this point you don't have a choice, you need to see a doctor. The good news is a Chiropractor with flexion/distraction tables should be able to decompress the disc in a few weeks inexpensively. This would be less than a thousand dollars. If you go the MD route, multiply that by 50 and expect little results.

That is if you live in the USA, if you live in certain contries, surgery can be as little as 8 thousand, but it still causes scar tissue and complications a year later. I strongly recommend that you find a DC that has F/D tables and get an appointment.

Here is a site that can guild you to a physician and explains what it is. It is fully researched and proven effective.

http://www.coxtechnic.com/homepage.asp



Flexion-Distraction Therapy - What is it?


Flexion-Distraction, (F/D) is a gentle, chiropractic treatment procedure utilized for back and neck pain. Flexion-Distraction is a safe alternative to back surgery for those 95% of patients whose conditions do not demand surgical intervention. The doctor is in control of the treatment movements at all times.

Flexion-Distraction is utilized for many conditions such as:

Failed Back surgical Syndromes
Disc Herniation/Ruptured Disc / Bulging Disc / Herniated Disc
Sciatica / Leg pain
"Whiplash" injuries
Stenosis
Arm Pain
Neck Pain
Failed course of Steroid Injections
Chemical Radiculitis
Spondylolisthesis
Headache
Transitional segment
Many more conditions?
How does Flexion-Distraction Work?

For Disc related conditions:

Increases the intervertebral disc height to remove annular tension on the annular fibers and nerve by making more room and improving circulation.
Allows the nucleus pulposus, the center of the disc, to assume its central position within the annular fibers and relieves irritation of the spinal nerve.
Restores vertebral joints to their physiological relationships of motion.
Improves posture and locomotion while relieving pain, improving body functions, and creating a state of well-being.
For Non-Disc related conditions:

Patients with other conditions causing back pain (facet syndrome, spondylolisthesis, sprain/strain, scoliosis, transitional vertebra, sacroiliac restrictions and misalignment, certain types of spinal stenosis), Flexion/Distraction provides all of the above benefits plus the ability to place the spinal joints into normal, painless movements so as to restore spinal motion without pain:

The posterior disc space increases in height.
F/D decreases disc protrusion and reduces stenosis.
Flexion stretches the ligamentum flavum to reduce stenosis.
Flexion opens the vertebral canal by 2 mm (16%) or 3.5 to 6mm more than extension.
Flexion increases metabolite transport into the disc.
Flexion opens the apophyseal joints and reduces posterior disc stress
The nucleus pulposus does not move on flexion. Intradiscal pressure drops under distraction to below 100mm Hg. On extension the nucleus or annulus is seen to protrude posterior into the vertebral canal.
Intervertebral foraminal openings enlarge giving patency to the nerve.

Reference: Cox JM, Feller JA, Cox-Cid JA: Topics in clinical Chiropractic 1996; 3(3):45-59

You can call around the local area and ask if the DC has F/D tables. These are usually reduced in a few weeks. No way surgery is the first option, besides, scar tissue grows rapidly after surgery necessitating more surgeries. They usually fail anyway, get the F/D!

Massage and epidurals won't solve the problem either.


Thank you for your question Cynthia and good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com