Question
Hello,
My name is Grace I'm 18 with DDD, Moderate Stenosis, and 3 herniated
disc(L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1) and i leave for college next saturday. I've been
dealing with sciatica for the second time since early July, and now i can't
stand up straight, I stand crooked off to the right, my good side, and
hunched over. I've been seeing a chiropractor since early July, and it hasn't
really helped. i went to my family doctor and got an anti-inflammatory and
muscle relaxer that didn't really help, i went again yesterday and got ibuprofen 800mg and a stronger muscle relaxer. I can't lay down and relax
my back in any position, is seeing a neurologist a good idea? What can i do to
get better by next saturday?

Answer
18y/o with DDD, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis; moderate stenosis, spinal canal narrowing, HNP, herniated disc, sciatica, stand crooked, antalgic posture, antalgia, muscle relaxant, neurologist, better in 7 days,

Hello Grace,

Sorry to hear of your pain, antalgia, condition.

So young, with so many problems. People 3 and 4 times your age do not present with such a complicated picture.  How did all this happen?  Please do not hesitate to write again.

Get better in a week?, I am not trying to be funny, better in a week?, pray, hope, pray, - go for intensive (twice per day) chiropractic adjustment therapy.

All of the conditions/ problems/ complaints that you list are handled well by chiropractic.  When you see your Doctor for Chiropractic, do you feel even a little better for a little while?  Since you started going to the chiropractor a couple/ few weeks ago, has you condition improved, stayed the same or worsened?  With all of these problems, why did you wait so long to get to a Doctor of Chiropractic?

To accumulate all of these problems at such a young age,,,, do you have any underlying metabolic or organic conditions?  Have you had a lot of trauma and injury in your life?

Chiropractic usually works very well for these conditions.  Chiropractic works WITH you body to aid recovery, restoration, regeneration; and this takes time.  Unfortunately I know of no treatment to 'fix' you in just a few days.  

A neurologist is a good idea.  A second or third opinion in complicated cases is always a good idea.  The neurologist may be able to prescribe some drug approach to help with the pain and inflammation.  Your underlying conditions will not be cured by this approach, but at least you may be able to function better.

In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I have seen some tough, acute cases twice per day for a week or two.  Usually people make tremendous and quick progress under this treatment regimen. You should be making some progress under your chiropractic care, if you are not making progress in the correct direction -  discuss this with your doctor,,, or switch to a different doctor for a different chiropractic treatment.

I utilize various informational handouts in my Staten Island chiropractic office, these may be helpful to you:
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Disk Herniation

Herniated disk is actually a quite common condition. However, the
course of the condition is highly variable. Some patients with a herniated disk literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar 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. Disk Herniation is often caused by, or often concurrent with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.

Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. "subluxation")
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.

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; 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
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Lower Back Pain (LBP): Low Back Pain can be caused by many
different things. Big, BAD, catastrophic things like a tumor or a cancer can cause low back pain (only a proper exam by a licensed doctor, like your Doctor of Chiropractic, or your family Doctor of Medicine, can evaluate your signs and symptoms, and perhaps refer for testing). Big, bad things like a Herniated Disc, sciatica, possible fracture or dislocation can cause LBP (again, best evaluated by your DC or MD, and perhaps referral). Bad things, like - Sprains,
Strains, contusion, or Vertebral Subluxation Complex (all very efficiently diagnosed and treated by your Doctor Of Chiropractic). LBP can come from a motor vehicle accident, sport injury, slip, trip, fall, arthritis, lifting  improperly, or even bad posture in standing, sitting or sleeping. All of these things often have a Lumbar (Low Back) Vertebral Subluxation involved.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 'subluxation')
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.

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.

This 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:
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.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol,
emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the
Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
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.

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Why so many treatment visits ?, Why so many different therapies ??

Many people do not come to the Doctor of Chiropractic first. Many people take an over the counter medication (otc) (covers up the pain, does not treat the cause of the pain), see a medical doctor for a prescription medication (covers up the pain, does not treat the cause of the pain, stronger then OTC drugs, increased possibility of side effects and complications), or just wait and hope the pain goes away.

Then, after the pain continues, FINALLY they go to the
Doctor of Chiropractic. Studies show that while Chiropractic is often the last Doctor people will go see, they expect immediate results- i.e.; a couple of weeks of treatments are expected to cure the problem. It is a paradox that people WAIT to go to the Doctor of Chiropractic, but expect immediate results, on conditions that have been building for months or years; yet when they go to a
medical doctor- they accept invasive surgeries and/ or a long treatment  protocol of physical therapy- weeks, often months.

Spinal pain, like many other conditions, often builds
for years and years until the pain becomes strong enough to send someone for treatment. It is well known that heart conditions build for years and years, yet in 40% of cases, the first pain someone feels with their heart,,,, is the last pain someone feels with their heart (a fatal heart attack in 'asymptomatic' patients). Sad that they waited for pain to be a gauge of health. Pain is the LAST thing that comes in a problem, and often the FIRST symptom to go away. If there is a problem, isn't it better to treat BEFORE the
pain, or if pain has started, isn't it better to take care of the problem, prevent future pain and progression of the condition?

Why so many treatment visits to start?, Well the
problem, the condition, has momentum on it's side. Irritation, inflammation and damage has taken place and then the pain comes. Pain is the last thing that comes in the condition, and Pain is the first thing that disappears during treatment; but the underlying irritation, inflammation and damage has to be repaired. Initial treatment schedules, depending upon the severity of the
complaint could be as often as twice per day, or once per day for two- three weeks, followed by a gradual reduction in treatment visits.

This is similar to surgery! When a patient has an invasive surgery, often there is followup rehab treatment of daily, then every other day, then weekly visits for a prolonged period (i.e.; shoulders- up to a year of treatment AFTER invasive surgery).

Chiropractic works with your body. Chiropractic helps
your body to heal itself. Chiropractic restores Homeostasis, balance in the body. Chiropractic corrects the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. You cannot be 'healthy' if you have a Subluxation. You MAY feel it, with a pain, stiffness, or a 'kink' in your neck/ back. You may NOT even feel it- just as people often do not feel the cavity growing in their tooth,,,, until it hits
the nerve; or you may not feel it at all, like people do not feel high blood pressure or diabetes until AFTER damage has been done!!

The vertebral subluxation complex can be the underlying cause of many healthcare problems. 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. This
(Subluxation) is a serious condition identified by its five parts:

Spinal Kinesiopathology, Neuropathophysiology, Myopathology, Histopathology,  Pathophysiology. Chiropractic corrects this 憇ilent?condition, works WITH your body, and like other health approaches requires a certain treatment regimen.


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Be careful of certain medications. In the 12- 19- 2006 Associated Press: "The FDA announced proposed changes for over-the-counter
pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06). Later the American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending 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).

Along those lines, as a joint support, anti-inflammatory approach, you might consider: Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, SAMe, Vitamin C, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, calcium, magnesium.

I hope this helps.

This is your Staten Island Chiropractor signing off, wishing you good luck and
Good Health Naturally,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://www.DocDolan.net
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info