QuestionI was told my MRI show that I have DDD(Degenerative Disc Disease)the doctor said I had it for quite sometime so who do I need to see the county's hospital PT(Physical therapy)I have no health insurance or a DC.the MRI was taken 3wks ago an I had no pain as of yet,the pain I have now comes from my bad mattress bed a deep bruise some how turn into what I think is a contusion, my back(the middle),ribs(rightside)and feels like my stomach also,but I'm not sure I've taken an x-ray,but I'm told to call a PT.so WHAT'S UP??????
AnswerDegenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Joint Disease, OsteoArthritis, OsteoArthritic degeneration, long term deterioration, Back Pain, Lower Back Pain, Sciatica, Arthritis, Subluxation, improper movement pattern, poor posture habits, poor movement, repetitive motion,
Hello clinton.henry,
I am sorry to hear of your pain.
DDD, Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Joint Disease, OsteoArthritis, OsteoArthritic degeneration, long term deterioration, Back Pain, Lower Back Pain, Sciatica, Arthritis, Subluxation, improper movement pattern, poor posture habits, poor movement, repetitive motion,
these things are all the same or very similar.
For my Staten Island Arthritis patients I have an informational handout which may be helpful to you:
Degenerative Disk Disease
DDD = Degenerative Disc Disease; OsteoArthritis- THE most common Arthritis- the 憌ear and tear disease?. DJD = Degenerative Joint Disease; = similar/ same OsteoArthritis.
Degenerative Disc Disease (old term = DJD) is actually a quite common condition.
However, the course of the condition is highly variable. Some patients with DJD literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar X-ray/ MRI findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights.
Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months.
Although the course is highly variable, there are certain steps that are always helpful to follow: Ice the area when painful- 10/ 15minutes on, 30/ 45 minutes off; avoid certain postures and movements; bend the knees when coughing or sneezing; bend the knees when lifting anything; do not extend legs straight out when sitting, laying down, lifting, or driving. Avoiding certain movements and postures will prevent aggravation of the condition. Practicing good postures and movement patterns will help the condition heal and be less painful. DDD, DJD, OsteoArthritis, - deteriorating discs (disk) is/ are often caused by, or often concurrent with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
VSC is a misalignment which hastens deterioration of the joints involved. Misalignment/ improper motion patterns CAUSE/ HASTEN OsteoArthritic degeneration.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of joints, and can cause osteo-arthritic degeneration, Degenerative Disk Disease, degenerative joint disease, etc.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
Subluxation is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Inflammed Discs can easily bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may also suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration. Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, Disk Degeneration, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
I hope that starts to explain about your spinal joint degeneration.
"Arthritis", osteo-arthritis, the 'wear and tear disease' is quite common; however- it is NOT 'normal'.
I have patients well into their 80's that have little or NO osteoarthritic degeneration!, I also have patients in their 30's that have advanced osteo-arthritic degeneration. What is the difference???
One big BIO-mechanical difference is that those people without degeneration have kept their joints properly aligned, moving properly; I have patients well into their 80's who have literally gone to the Doctor of Chiropractic for PREVENTATIVE care for 50- 60 years. These people have kept their joints moving properly, hence- little or no deterioration.
The younger people WITH degeneration have had poor posture, an injury, poor movement patterns, have had an ache or pain,,, and instead of addressing the cause, just covered up the problems with chemicals: see this handout for my Staten Island Pain patients:
Be careful of medications:
PAIN
Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard?
Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.
That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car-
-- do you ignore it until the car breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain,
pain in your body-
-- do you ignore it until your body breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain,
do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller?
Take a painkiller,
mask the pain,
and allow a problem to progress in your body?
NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS:
Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ;
The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).
NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse. These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation ( 慥SC?, 憇ubluxation? )
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for 慡ubluxation? Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this). VSC- 慡ubluxation??can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.
Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC, as well as other pathology.
The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
You ALREADY HAVE degeneration, deterioration in your spine. This degeneration shows long standing misalignments, long standing movement aberrations. This is not something that comes suddenly.
"....I was told my MRI show that I have DDD(Degenerative Disc Disease)...."- I hope I have explained this above.
"...the doctor said I had it for quite sometime..."- you have probably had it for quite some time, and it definitely takes years for it to develop. Longstanding misalignment, longstanding movement aberration (vertebral subluxation) is often the cause for this.
"....so who do I need to see the county's hospital PT(Physical therapy)I have no health insurance or a DC....."- who do you need to see?- I would recommend the Doctor of Chiropractic.
The PT will help you symptomatically treat the current aches and pains, but not get to the cause of the problem. I think most DCs will work on getting you out of your current pain, but also realign (adjust) the spinal joints so that they are in better alignment and move better.
You must have had some back pain in the past, and- or some back stiffness, and or poor posture, and or trauma in the past. Usually this progressive disease does let you know of it's progress, even if not giving severe pain, it will give stiffness and/or mild pain and/or episodic pain/ stiffness.
"....the MRI was taken 3wks ago an I had no pain as of yet,...."- The MRI was taken 3 weeks ago- BEFORE you had pain?, what was your complaint that necessitated the MRI a month or more ago?
AFTER the MRI you developed pain?= "...the MRI was taken 3wks ago an I had no pain as of yet,the pain I have now comes from my bad mattress bed a deep bruise some how turn into what I think is a contusion, my back(the middle),ribs(rightside)and feels like my stomach also,but I'm not sure I've taken an x-ray,but I'm told to call a PT....".
You had the MRI (no pain), AFTER the MRI you slept on a different bed and got back and rib pain, and now you have been told to go to the PT?- let me be sure I understand the chronology.
"....but I'm told to call a PT.so WHAT'S UP??...", I would recommend a Doctor of Chiropractic for this type of finding, for this type of complaint. "What's up?"- if you are in pain, you want pain relief. If you are stiff, you want better movement. If there is no pain/ stiffness, perhaps your MD wants you to see a PT or DC so that certain exercises, postures, movement patterns can be discussed, taught to you to slow/ stop the progression of the DDD.
Why I recommend the Doctor of Chiropractic:
慥SC? the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (aka: the 揝ubluxation?
Many times a patient will come to the Doctor of Chiropractic ?憛as a last resort厭, often after 憛.everything else has been tried?? This is frustrating to the Doctor (the DC), yet also satisfying. Frustrating?, Satisfying?, ,,,why?- Many times a symptom, an ache a pain, a condition can be caused by the 慡ubluxation??the 慍hiropractic Lesion? Just as germs, the Virus or Bacteria- is the 憁edical lesion?(- the MD looks for germs, the DC looks for subluxation). Many times an unexplained condition, after exam after exam, blood tests, Xray, MRI, EKG, EMG, etc., etc., --- Chiropractic can help the patient. Why- because only a Doctor of Chiropractic will check for subluxation- as well as run the 憈raditional?tests.
Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC, as well as other pathology.
The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
Subluxation is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology: This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology: Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology: Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology: A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology: The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration. Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
In addition to Chiropractic, I would certainly recommend an anti-arthritic nutritional regime:
do not smoke, stay active, swim, walk, activities as tolerated; glucosamine- chondroitin- MSM- SAMe- Calcium, magnesium, Vitamin D, Vitamin C. Your local Doctor of Chiropractic could be a wealth of information here also.
I hope this information helps you.
If you need further information, please do not hesitate to re-contact me here at
AllExperts.com
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm
Thank you for the question. Good Luck in returning to full, Good Health!
Your Staten Island Chiropractic Expert,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
Email newsletter: . . . . http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com
