Question
Hi! I'm 31 year old female and was involed in a rear end rta. Fractured collarbone,back and neck problems with loss of power in my left hand and pins and needles in both. I limp on my left leg. Had cervical and lumbar mris. They said there was damag to the lumbar discs but didn't say the extent. Have disc protrusion at c5/c6 with nerve damage. They say I'm fine and in perfect health! I sleep very little and am in constant pain and have severe headaches. Please help as I am at a loss. Many thanks.

Answer
Hi Deb,

This sort of thing comes up often because ER reads on plain film and MRI's are brief and rule out life threatening issues. They really are impartial when it comes to pain.

What you need to do is find a DC that has F/D tables and uses towel traction for the cervical spine. This will solve everything and it's non-invasive, inexpensive and painless.

No way you need surgery or even a consult for a herniated disc. It is expensive, dangerous and unnecessary 95% of the time. For decades flexion/distraction has decompressed discs without invasive cutting.

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 (herniated discs) are usually reduced in a few weeks. No way surgery should ever be a consideration, besides, scar tissue grows rapidly after surgery necessitating more surgeries. They usually fail anyway, get the F/D!

Massage and won't hurt but it won't solve the problem either. Epidurals only mask symptoms while destroying the connective tissue and liver. I only mention this because it will be only a matter of time before someone brings it up.

If you can't find anyone near you, I can be of help in this area as well. I am pretty sure you'll find a DC that does these techniques but on the outside chance you don't, I will.

I ask only that you take a few seconds to rate my response. Your feedback helps me refine my expertise and helps to guide future questioners.

Thank you for your question Deborah and good Luck!