Question
The end of March 2007, my daughter fell on some wet marble tile.  She landed on her right elbow and right hip.  At the time we were very concerned about the elbow as it was exhibiting the most pain.  After a couple of days the elbow was better, only badly bruised, but then the lower back started hurting.  She is only 16 years old and has been a fastpitch softball pitcher since she was 8, so she is in relatively good physical condition.  Since the accident she has seen a chiropractor, our family doctor and is now under the care of a neurologist. The pain is in her lower back (where the dimples are) and it when it gets bad it will radiate down into her buttock and left leg.  We were told with the first mri that she had a slight disk bulge at the L5-S1.  The doctor has her taking 200 mg of Celebrex per day along with a muscle relaxer.  She had a cortisone injection in her SI joint two months ago, which didn't seem to do anything for her.  She took six weeks of physical therapy, which to me was a joke!  They would put her in a pool with a noodle wrapped around her back and have her hang in the water for 30 minutes. Last week she had a bone scan, full spine mri and and an EMG done.  The doctor says the emg was negative with no pinched nerves.  The report for the mri shows "prominent central protrusion causing indentation of the thecal sac anteriorly" "L5-S1 intervertebral disks w/prominent central protrusions.  The doc is telling us it will heal in time.  I honestly don't know what all of that means and I'd like someone to explain it to me.  The way she acts it reminds me of when my sciatic nerve flared up when I was pregnant, but the doctor assures me her nerves are just fine.  I am getting ready to find another doctor to take her to, but if someone could explain to me what the mri results mean, I would grealy appreciate it.  This injury has completely crushed her spirits, she was very active before the injury and is now reduced to sitting around, or laying around.
She wants desperately to get back into softball, but her back will not allow it.  Please help!"

Answer
Hi April,

Your doctor is an idiot. She has a slipped disc, it won't 'just get better'. She needs flexion/distraction.

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, (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 April and good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com