Lower Back Herniated Disc (Bulging Disc) Treatment: Cox Technic

Lower back pain due to herniated disc (aka, bulging disc or disc protrusion) can be the most problematic of pain syndromes.  Some people with herniated disc have grudgingly accepted having to live with it long term or for the rest of their lives.  Most rely on pain medication and ongoing pain management.  Some are contemplating surgery.  Unfortunately, a lot of them are not aware that there is a chiropractic treatment method that is extremely effective in not only decreasing the pain of acute and chronic disc protrusions, but most importantly, in getting the herniated disc to heal. Furthermore, this is a natural and non-surgical solution to resolving your bulging disc.

The chiropractic method I am referring to is called Cox Flexion Distraction. Statistics show the success rate of the use of Cox Flexion Distraction for eliminating the lower back pain and resolving the following causes of lower back pain is between 89% and 95% within about 8 to 10 weeks of treatment:

  • disc protrusions, disc bulge, herniated disc
  • stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
  • lateral recess stenosis (narrowing of the canal where the spinal nerves exit)
  • lower back facet syndrome (lumbar facet syndrome)

It is so effective for treatment of the above conditions that many patients were saved from having surgery.  Surgeries are not only expensive, they come with great risks.  Having used this method for over 18 years, I’ve saved my patients from the discomfort, temporary disability and expense of low back surgery.  One patient I am currently treating using Cox Flexion Distraction shared with me that her primary care doctor recommended that she stop her treatments with me and see a neurologist for the stenosis.  She responded by saying, “Why would I do that?  I’m getting better with this treatment.  The pain is decreasing…”

Cox Flexion Distraction is performed by using a specially designed chiropractic table.  To perform the procedure the patient lays either face down, or even on their side if in extreme pain. The doctor then gently and slowly moves a section of the table below the patients waist, which has the effect of “suctioning” the bulging disc material away from the nerve being irritated.  The term “suctioning” might lead you to believe that this is a painful procedure.  It is actually a gentle and safe procedure.    It gently opens up space in the irritated segment.  It gently provides controlled motion so that any inflammatory byproducts can be mobilized from the area.  I’ve used this on patients with severe acute pain and frail osteoporotic women with excellent results.

For additional information on this particular chiropractic procedure visit our chiropractic techniques page. 

Let me know what you think by posting a comment below.  If you have any questions regarding lower back pain, herniated disc or disc protrusion, you can post it as a comment or contact me through our contact form above.

To get notified of my future blog posts Follow Dr Husbands on Twitter or Like San Carlos Chiropractic on Facebook

Copyright © 2010 Dr Douglas Husbands. All rights reserved

Faster Healing of Muscle Tears, Sprains or Strains

Recently, while performing a chiropractic adjustment on a patient, I felt an immediate pain in my elbow. From my body building background and many years in health care, I knew exactly what had happened. I had a significant strain of the long head of the triceps tendon where it inserts at the elbow.

“Wait, this can’t happen now!”, I thought to myself. “I’ve got more people to treat today, tomorrow, next week…”

When a sprain or strain occurs blood vessels in the area get leaky and inflammatory cells come to the area. This causes the pain, swelling and bruising. My recent injury brought to mind a solution I have been using for myself and my patients. I will share this solution here about how to speed up healing of most musculoskeletal injuries.

I immediately started taking proteolytic enzymes within an hour after the injury occured. Proteolytic enzymes are a category of enzymes which helps to break down the formation of inflammatory cells that aggragate to an area after an injury. Enzymes are protein based molecules that speed up reactions. Some specific names of proteolytic enzymes are protease (derived from the fungi group Aspergillus), papain (from papaya), and bromelain (from pineapple). Immediately using proteolytic enzymes after a muscle, tendon, ligament or cartilage injury is very important. Numerous research studies performed over the last 70 years repeatedly show a significant improvement in pain relief, controlled inflammatory response, minimal or no brusing in the affected area, and rapidly accelerated connective tissue repair.

This reminds me of a more drastic experience of the efficacy of this that occured last year when I injured the lateral meniscus of my right knee at the gym. I was doing squats with 225 pounds, and on the 12th repetition I felt a sharp sudden pain in my right knee. I examined it and determined that I had a slight partial tear of the lateral meniscus. I stopped working out, showered, and went back to the office and started talking proteolytic enzymes, 2 each hour without food. I did that for the next 10 days. I also performed some physical therapy on myself using a cross-friction massage technique to the edge of the lateral meniscus. I had another doctor in the office perform cold laser therapy twice within that 10 day period. The meniscus was healed up to the point that I could go back to squats with 225 pounds in the gym by the 11th day post-injury without pain!

An even more drastic experience occured in November 2007. I fell and injured my left knee. My quadriceps muscle tore off where it attached to my left knee. While lying on the floor in excruciating pain, right after it happened, I asked my wife to get me the proteolytic enzymes and I took 3 right away. I took 3 every hour or two up until I had surgery to repair the muscle tear a few days later. The serious injury never had any bruise the whole time up to the surgery which surprised the surgeon. In addition, I didn’t need any pharmaceutical painkillers either before or after the surgery!

Proteolytic enzymes enhance normal tissue repair, while anti-inflammatory medications inhibit normal tissue repair. Proteolytic enzymes also inhibit scar tissue formation which is the cause of much of the residual pain and muscle or joint stiffness.

Skeptics may say this is anecdotal, and these are cases of one individual, but over the last 20 years, I have had many patients experience the benefits of proteolytic enzymes. As I mentioned earlier, there are 70 years of research literature supporting this. This is a great solution for anyone from the average person to the professional athlete. I highly recommend this solution for most muskuloskeletal injuries, unless you are taking blood thinner medications, in which case consult your doctor.

So how is my injured elbow? Well, the pain is minimal and I expect to only miss 1 scheduled training cycle for working my chest and triceps.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment below.  If you have any questions, you can post it as a comment or contact me through our contact form above.

To get notified of my future blog posts Follow Dr Husbands on Twitter or Like San Carlos Chiropractic on Facebook

Copyright © 2010 Dr Douglas Husbands. All rights reserved

Neck Herniated Disc Treatment

Neck pain due to herniated disc, which is called bulging disc or disc protrusion, can be one of the most debilitating causes of chronic pain.  Though not as common as low back disc protrusion, it can interfere with all daily activities, including being able to sleep.  Of course, when a person does not get enough sleep at night, it affects his or her performance at home or at work during the day.  Unfortunately many people with a herniated disc in the neck think they have to live with it, or have had risky surgery which is very often unnecessary.  Most rely on pain medication and ongoing pain management.  Moreover, a lot of them are not aware of a chiropractic method that is extremely effective in not only decreasing the pain of acute and chronic herniated disc in the neck, but most importantly, in getting the herniated disc healed.

The chiropractic method I am referring to is called Cox Flexion Distraction.  

The success rate of the use of Cox Flexion Distraction for eliminating neck pain due to bulging disc and significantly reducing neck pain from degenerative disorders of the neck within about 8 to 10 weeks of treatment is impressive.  It is so effective for treatment of the neck or back herniated disc that many patients were saved from having surgery.  Surgeries are not only expensive, they come with great risks.  Having used this method for over 18 years, I’ve saved my patients from the discomfort, temporary disability and expense of neck surgery. 

Cox Flexion Distraction is performed by using a specially designed chiropractic table.  To perform the procedure for the neck, the patient lays face down.  The doctor then gently and slowly moves a section of the table that bends at the front of the patient’s neck.  This has the effect of “suctioning” the herniated disc material away from the nerve being irritated.  An alternative method is to gently move the part of the table below the patients waist, with the doctor’s hand on the patients neck, providing a gentle and comfortable tractioning effect concentrated in the neck.  The term “suctioning” might lead you to believe that this is a painful procedure.  It is actually a gentle and safe procedure.    It gently opens up space in the irritated segment.  It gently provides controlled motion so that any inflammatory byproducts can be mobilized from the area.  I’ve used this on patients with severe acute pain, including frail, older people with osteoporosis with excellent results. 

Not all chiropractors are trained in Cox Flexion Distraction.  For additional information on Cox Flexion Distration, go here.  If you have questions regarding this procedure, or to schedule an appointment at our office, contact us.  If you are outside the San Francisco Bay Area, ask your local chiropractic clinic if they use the Cox Technic. You can also find a chiropractor through the Cox Technic website. Note that not all chiropractors with Cox training are listed in the Cox Technic website.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment below.  If you have any questions regarding neck herniated disc or disc protrusion, you can post it as a comment or contact me through our contact form above.

To get notified of my future blog posts Follow Dr Husbands on Twitter or Like San Carlos Chiropractic on Facebook

Copyright © 2010 Dr Douglas Husbands. All rights reserved

Disc Pain: A Common Source of Back Pain

What is Disc Pain?

The discs lie between the round-shaped weight-bearing parts of the lower back vertebrae. They are called intervertebral discs. Disc pain results from small tears in the ligaments surrounding the gelatinous center of the intervertebral disc. The gelatinous center is called the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus pulposus leaks out of the small tears and compresses the spinal nerves in the lower back. This is what occurs when people refer to a herniated disc, disc protrusion, “slipped disc” or bulging disc, though not all these terms are technically correct. There are intervertebral discs in all three regions of the spinal column. The discs key function is for weight-bearing cushioning. The lower back or lumbar spine discs have the most weight bearing, therefore the lumbar discs are the most commonly injured. Proper body mechanics, balanced strong muscles and adequate water intake is necessary to keep the intervertebral discs healthy. The spinal nerves coming off the spinal cord exit off to each side and behind the discs. Therefore, when there is a disc injury, the spinal nerves are often irritated.

Causes of Disc Pain

The discs often become injured from trauma, such from auto accidents, sports injuries, incorrectly bending lifting and twisting while trying to pick up something, sitting for long periods with a sudden twisting upon standing, and even just sneezing vigorously. The ligaments surrounding the gelatinous center tear; the gelatinous fluid of the nucleus pulposus leaks out through these tears, and this irritates the spinal nerves.

Disc Pain/Injury Characteristics and Location

Intervertebral disc pain is often a sharp, shooting pain, and can cause numbness and tingling. Disc injury can also cause muscle weakness and muscle atrophy. It can be localized and is often referred to other areas. The more the nucleus pulposus protrudes out, the more it compresses and irritates the nerves. In the less frequent, most severe cases, a disc protrusion can compress the spinal cord causing various unusual symptoms such as inability to urinate or constipation. The more the nerve is irritated, the farther away from the local disc protrusion the pain will be referred to. Referred pain from lower back disc protrusions, which are the most common, can refer pain into the buttocks, groin, hips, front, back and side of the thighs, and even into the calves and feet. Lower back disc protrusions are often the most debilitating of the three spinal regions.

Diagnosis of Intervertebral Disc Pain

In office orthopedic tests performed by a properly trained and experienced clinician can help differentiate lower back intervertebral disc pain from other origins of pain, including facet joint pain. Diagnostic imaging with X-rays, CT-scans or MRI can help diagnose disc origin pain.

Copyright © 2010 Douglas Husbands, DC. All rights reserved.

Facet Joint Pain: A Common Source of Back Pain

What is Facet Joint Pain?

Facet joint pain results from lack of free motion from the gliding joints at the back of the spinal bones (vertebrae). There are facet joints in all three regions of the spinal column: the cervical region (neck), the thoracic (mid-back) and lumber region (lower back). The facets key function is to guide motion. Smooth, unrestricted motion is necessary to keep the facet joints healthy. Restricted motion for any reason will cause facet joint degeneration and pain. The facet joints are small joints, when compared with the larger joints like the knee, hip and shoulder, but they are similar to these larger joints in that they are lined with cartilage and coated with a lining of joint fluid, called synovial fluid. These joints are supplied by nerves, thus, when the joint is damaged or inflamed, it can produce pain.

Causes of Facet Joint Pain

The facet joints often become injured from trauma, such as falls, auto accidents, sports injuries and even “catching” yourself from slipping. The cartilage in the joints becomes damaged, and if not allowed to heal properly, chronic pain and joint degeneration can occur. Healing involves restoring proper motion, providing key nutrients, and strengthening the surrounding muscles.

Facet Pain Characteristics and Location

Facet pain is often a deep, dull ache. Facet joint pain can be localized or referred to other areas. Lumbar facets can refer pain into the buttocks, groin, hips, and thighs. Lumbar facets don’t often refer pain into the lower legs like lumbar disc pain can, but it can happen.

Diagnosis of Facet Joint Pain

In office orthopedic tests performed by a properly trained and experienced clinician can help differentiate facet pain from other origins of pain, including disc pain. Diagnostic imaging using X-rays, CT-scans or MRI can help diagnose facet joint pain origin.

Copyright © 2010 Douglas Husbands, DC. All rights reserved.

Lower Back Pain Causes and Relief

back pain preventionLower back pain decreases enjoyment of activities, such as gatherings with friends and family on Christmas and other holidays.

Most people take a pain pill for their lower back pain and try to continue their activities while thinking of getting professional help later at a more convenient time. They are unaware that, in many cases, they could get pain relief or decreased pain from just a few chiropractic adjustments. In some cases, a significant decrease of pain on the first visit to a chiropractor occurs. I know this because I’ve had new patients say, “wow!” after experiencing their first chiropractic adjustment for their lower back pain.

It is not surprising that many are unaware of this. Statistically, most people go to their family doctor (often specializing in general practice or internal medicine). For lower back pain syndromes, family doctors typically do not delve deeply into diagnosing the underlying origin of musculoskeletal pain. A prescription for a pain reliever or a muscle relaxant is typical. This only covers up the problem temporarily. Often, the lower back pain cause is not identified. When the problem is not resolved, it could lead to complications, and in some cases, disability.

Two of the most common lower back pain causes are facet joint pain and disc pain. To find out more click the following links:
Facet Joint Pain
Disc Pain

Lower Back Facet Joint Pain Treatment

Restoring smooth unrestricted motion is key to resolving facet origin lower back pain. In cases where restoring smooth unrestricted motion is unattainable, such as in significant arthritis, restoring normal motion to the greatest extent possible will often provide significant relief. For best results, decreasing intra-joint inflammation and supplying the joints with the necessary nutrients for repair and maintenance are required. In my chiropractic clinic in the San Carlos – Redwood City area, I use some or all of the following “tools”:

  • Chiropractic spinal manipulation, aka chiropractic adjustments, to decrease nerve irritation and restore motion
  • Therapeutic exercise to restore motion, strengthen muscles and relax hypertonic muscles
  • Postural alignment such as use of special pillows for sleep positioning
  • Activity modification such as altering your work or home environment to avoid excessive twisting or slouching
  • Use of anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrient compounds such as Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), Willow bark (Salix species), Boswellia (Boswellia serrata), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), proteolytic enzymes and essential fatty acids
  • Use of cartilage-nourishing nutrients such as glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), and essential fatty acids

With the use of some or all of these methods, you can often experience facet-origin lower back pain relief after the first treatment or within a day or two. Some or all of these tools are used depending on the extent of the pain or injury. Medical management of facet joint pain includes injecting anti-inflammatory medicines into the facet joints with a needle, which is often unneccessary. Sometimes surgical treatment of facet joint pain is recommended, but this is very rarely necessary.

Lower Back Disc Pain Treatment

The primary goal of effective disc pain treatment is to decrease the nucleus pulposus from bulging out through the slight ligament tears, thereby taking the pressure off the nerves, and allow the tears to heal. In cases where restoring the nucleus pulposus to the center of the disc is unattainable, such as when a piece of the nucleus pulposus has seperated from the disc and moved up or down the spinal cord (termed a disc extrusion or free fragment), then more invasive surgical procedures may be required. Disc extrusions are not as common as disc protrusions however. For best results, decreasing localized disc inflammation and supplying the discs with the necessary nutrients for repair and maintenance are required. In my chiropractic clinic in the San Carlos – Redwood City area, I use some or all of the following “tools”:

  • Chiropractic spinal manipulation, aka chiropractic adjustments, using the Cox Flexion-Distraction procedure to resolve the lower back disc protrusion
  • Therapeutic exercise to decrease the disc bulge, and decrease pain and inflammation
  • Temporary, short-term use of orthopedic supports (such as a removable lower back support) to maintain the reduction of disc protrusion after a treatment
  • Postural alignment such as use of special pillows for sleep positioning
  • Activity modification such as altering your work or home environment to avoid lower back disc irritation or reinjury
  • Use of anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrient compounds such as Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), Willow bark (Salix species), Boswellia (Boswellia serrata), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), proteolytic enzymes and essential fatty acids
  • Use of cartilage-nourishing nutrients such as glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), and essential fatty acids

Using some or all of these methods, you can often expect significant lower back disc pain relief after the first treatment. There is between an 89 to 95% success rate for complete resolution of disc protrusions within 8 to 10 weeks using the Cox Technic.

Best Options for Lower Back Pain Treatment

Rather than just try to cover-up the lower back pain and/or not identifying the lower back pain cause, seek help from a chiropractor and nutritionist! You will save yourself a great deal of pain and inconvenience, and may even save your ability to participate and enjoy this season’s festivities! By the way, not all chiropractors have extensive training and experience in nutrition as I have, so they may not provide a comprehensive nutrition program to help decrease inflammation and support healing as I have outlined above. If you live or work near San Carlos, Redwood City, San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont and Redwood Shores, contact us to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your condition first, take advantage of our free 10-minute consultation.

Copyright © 2010 Douglas Husbands, DC. All rights reserved.

Chiropractic Care For Your Back Pain, Neck Pain…

Is a chiropractor the best professional to help you resolve most back pain, neck pain, or pain going down your arm or leg? Absolutely! A chiropractor will work towards getting rid of the pain, instead of just helping you cope with it or mask it with medications. He will determine the underlying cause of the pain, and as much as possible, restore normal function to the affected area.

Many people consult their family doctor, instead of a chiropractor for neck or back pain, and headaches associated with an injury. This is not the best way to get rid of the pain. Typically, your family doctor will prescribe pain medication and will not find the underlying cause of your pain. Often, at a much later time, they might refer you for physical therapy, or orthopedic consult.

Some people just take over-the-counter pain pills for days, weeks or even months, instead of seeking help from a chiropractor. While there is pain relief, the problem is not getting addressed.

A better way to address these pain syndromes is to consult and get treatment from a chiropractor. A chiropractor looks for abnormal function and subluxations. Subluxations are areas in the spine that hinder the proper flow of nerve energy to and from whatever structures, organs or tissues the nerve connects with. An even better way is to go to a chiropractor who has advanced training in nutrition and functional medicine. The chiropractor with advanced nutrition training can recommend nutrients in therapeutic amounts to enhance your body’s healing abilities. The chiropractor with the Functional Medicine training is able to positively influence the underlying processes involved in the development of various diseases. He or she can not only perform chiropractic adjustments to correct the problem, but also include a nutrition program, lifestyle changes and environmental considerations that decrease stress on the body and balance immune system function.

Copyright © 2010 Douglas Husbands, DC. All rights reserved.

Low Back Pain / Neck Pain Treatment Using Cox Flexion Distraction

For low back pain and neck pain due to disc protrusions and other back pain syndromes, I use the Cox Flexion Distraction in my chiropractic clinic in San Carlos. It is a gentle, effective treatment for both acute and chronic low back and neck pain. It is also a safe and effective method of treatment for back pain during pregnancy, as well as treatment of back pain for the elderly and frail. This treatment method is also known as Cox Technic. If you are unfamiliar with this low back treatment method, view this video. I recorded this video from my chiropractic clinic in San Carlos with a patient while I was giving her a real treatment for her low back pain.

Read more about low back and neck pain chiropractic treatments in my chiropractic blog.  If you have a low back problem, I recommend the lower back blog post, and if you have a neck pain problem, I recommend the neck pain blog post.

Do you have questions specific to your low back or neck pain condition? Don’t hesitate to call the number or fill out our contact form above. Your first 10-minute consultation is FREE.

Dr Husbands is a chiropractor in San Carlos, CA. He is also a Functional Medicine doctor, clinical nutritionist and anti-aging health practitioner.

Pregnancy Back Pain

Pregnancy back pain is very common. However, most pregnant women do not know that it is something they do not have to live with until childbirth. Specialized gentle chiropractic manipulation methods can safely and effectively provide significant relief of pregnancy-associated back pain.

Pregnancy Back Pain Statistics

According to the American Pregnancy Association, 50 to 70 percent of all pregnant women have back pain. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, back pain during pregnancy is one of the most common discomforts of pregnancy.

In a February 2007 cross-sectional study reported in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics [1.  Skaggs C, Prather H, Gross G, et.al., Back and pelvic pain in an underserved United States pregnant population: A preliminary descriptive survey. J Manipulative Physiol Theraputics, 2007;30:130-134.], 67% of the 599 women reported musculoskeletal pain in the second trimester of pregnancy.  80% of those women with pain slept less than 4 hours per night. 75% of these women took pain medications. 85% of these women felt they had not been offered effective treatment options for their pregnancy back pain.

Unfortunately, many women are not aware of effective, safe, non-pharmaceutical options for back pain relief. This is partly because many obstetricians and gynecologists are not aware of the safety and efficacy of chiropractic manipulation for pregnancy-related back pain.

Some Causes of Pregnancy Back Pain

  • Changing Hormones:  The hormonal changes during pregnancy allow the ligaments to soften in preparation for childbirth.  Ligaments connect bones to bones via the joints.  The joints can more easily get out of proper alignment, causing pain. Restoring proper alignment with specific chiropractic techniques for pregnancy can decrease pain.
  • Increased Spinal Curvature: As the baby grows in the womb, a woman’s center of gravity shifts forward.  This causes the low back curvature to increase.  The mid-back and neck curves also increase as a result.  This can cause jamming of the joints of the spine, specifically the facet joints.
  • Sacroiliac Joint and Pubic Symphasis Laxity: The pelvic joints in particular become more relaxed in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.  This allows the joints to very easily become misaligned.  The misalignment causes pain and restoring proper alignment via chiropractic care often provides significant relief.
  • Stress: With the postural and structural changes in pregnancy stress often finds the weak spots, and during stressful times you may find an increase in back pain during stressful periods in pregnancy.

Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy-Related Back Pain

A review of previous studies on the effectiveness of chiropractic for pregnant women with lower back pain was published in the July 2008 edition of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics [2.  Stuber K, Smith D. Chiropractic treatment of pregnancy-related low back pain: A systematic review of the evidence. J Manipulative Physiol Theraputics, 2008;31:447-454.].  This study reviewed the previously published journal articles between January 1982 to July 2007.  Six studies met the criteria for inclusion in this review.  Interestingly, the authors noted that 68% to 85% of pregnant women with pregnancy back pain do not look for any care for their lower back pain. The authors theorize that this is because most pregnant women consider back pain to be a normal part of the pregnancy.

In one study, 100% of the 103 women receiving chiropractic treatment attained greater than 50% relief of back pain.  In another study, 84% of the 25 subjects reported lower back pain relief with chiropractic manipulation.  None of the studies reviewed indicated any adverse effects or evidence of harm to either the pregnant woman or unborn child from the chiropractic care.

My Clinical Experience Treating Women with Pregnancy Back Pain

Over the last 19 years, I have treated many women with back pain from pregnancy.  Chiropractic treatments are modified to consider the biomechanical changes and hormonal alterations on a woman’s body for safe and effective treatment, for the mother and the in-utero infant. There are many techniques to safely and effectively perform chiropractic manipulation on pregnant women.

In my experience, one of the most comfortable and effective chiropractic treatment methods that pregnant women seem to prefer is the use of Cox Flexion-Distraction while lying on their side.  I have written about the Cox Flexion method in other articles, such as on herniated neck disc treatment.  With this method during and after treatment, I consistently have women who have had previously had other chiropractic techniques performed by other doctors telling me that they have never felt so good since becoming pregnant.  They often sleep significantly better and are more emotionally stable.

Unfortunately, not all chiropractors have training and advanced experience using Cox Flexion-Distraction.  It is an elective technique taught in some chiropractic schools and offered as a continuing education course to chiropractors.   An article that I wrote in 1991 on this technique was published in the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association.   To my knowledge, on the San Francisco Peninsula where I’m located, I’m one of the few who utilize this method.  I offer this pregnancy back pain treatment in my chiropractic clinic in San Carlos.

Copyright © 2010 Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN. All rights reserved.

http://www.drhusbands.com/blog/ Chiropractic / Pregnancy Back Pain

Disc Treatment for Herniated or Bulging Disc: A Natural And Non-surgical Solution

back pain natural solutionDisc treatment for herniated disc or bulging disc without surgery is achievable using Cox Technique (aka, Cox Flexion Distraction), a chiropractic treatment method. This treatment is highly effective in healing the herniated disc of your back or neck. Many patients experience decreasing intensity and frequency of pain as the disc treatment progresses. This healing method works for both chronic and acute herniated discs. More importantly, it is a non-surgical and natural solution.

Cox Flexion Distraction involves the use of a specifically designed chiropractic table. The patient would typically lay face down on this table. In cases of extreme pain, the patient would lay on his side. The doctor would move the section of the table below the patient’s waist. This has a “suctioning” effect such that the herniated disc or bulging disc is slowly moved back in its normal place. The “suctioning” effect is not painful, but rather safe and gentle. I have performed this disc treatment for people with severe acute pain, as well as, frail women with osteoporosis. All with excellent outcomes.

The typical disc treatment duration is 8 to 10 weeks. Most patients that chose this healing method no longer need surgery. Besides the associated risks, surgery is more expensive. Furthermore, patients avoid the temporary disability and discomfort that comes with surgery.

The rate of success of the Cox Technique is about 84% to 96% for the elimination of lower back pain and the resolution of the following lower back pain problems:

  • herniated discs / disc protrusions / bulging disc
  • stenosis
  • lateral recess stenosis
  • lower back facet syndrome (aka, lumbar facet syndrome)

I can attest to this in my over 18 years of practicing chiropractic. Recently, a patient I was treating using this technique told me that her primary care physician advised her to stop her chiropractic visits, and instead, consult a neurologist for the stenosis shown on her MRI result. Her response to her physician was “Why? The pain is decreasing and I feel the herniated disc is being corrected.”

Herniated disc treatment for your back or neck using the Cox method is your best option. Once healing occurs, pain goes away and the affected body region typically goes back to normal function. Read more about this is my chiropractic page, which has the link to the Cox website. Contact us if you have any questions, or to schedule an appointment. We are located in San Carlos in the San Francisco bay area peninsula. Our location is midway between San Francisco and San Jose, near Redwood City, Redwood Shores, Belmont, San Mateo, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Woodside, Burlingame, Mountain View, Los Altos, Pacifica, Daly City, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN. All rights reserved.

http://www.drhusbands.com/blog > Chiropractic > Herniated Disc Treatment

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »

Name:

Email:

Question or Message: