What is a "Pinched Nerve"?

What is a "Pinched Nerve"? This is a condition where there is nerve pressure, typically from spinal degeneration or a disc herniation, or both.

When a disc herniates, or protudes (disk protrusion) it travels into the area occupied by the nerves or nerve roots. This then creates the "pinching" effect. This pinching can also be created by a buged disc, as well as bone spurring or arthritis. In fact, someone asked me which pillow might work best for a person with arthritis and osteophytes in the neck. My response- The Cervical Traction Neck Pillow.

The traction pillow can help to open up the nerve holes slightly more giving relief from osteophyte, bone spurs, or deteriorating spinal bones. With this particular pillow you also have the option to use the slightly softer Linear Gravity side if that gives more comfort (just rotate the pillow 180 degrees).

As you may have guessed osteophytes is the medical term for boe spurring. As breakdown or arthritis occurs the bone starts wearing down and the discs often flatten and therefore bulge out. Any one of these thing can then cause a pinched nerve. This can not only happen in the neck, but anywhere in the back. When it is in the neck you may have shoulder or arm pain; in the low back, you may have leg pain or sciatica.

Keeping the spine healthy and in a healthy position is paramount to preventing pinched nerves.

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.


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Part II: Are you a candidate for non surgical spinal decompression?

For patients who are looking for an alternative to lower back surgery such as a laminectomy or a spinal fusion, a new computerized treatment called Non Surgical Spinal Decompression is now available.

What are the indications for spinal decompression? Non surgical spinal decompression works for patients suffering from:

• lumbar herniated disc
  
• lumbar bulging disc
  
• sciatica
  
• severe lower back pain
  
• degenerative disc disease
  
• numbness and tingling into one or both legs
  
• weakness in the legs due to a pinched nerve
  
• post back sugery pain
  
• posterior facet syndrome
  
• foraminal stenosis

Non surgical spinal decompression is a treatment option for those patients who have tried all forms of conservative treatment such as injections, acupuncture, chiropractic, medications and physical therapy, and even some that have had a surgery.

What are some of the contraindications for spinal decompression? Patients who have hardware in their back from surgery such as metal rods or screws, spinal fractures, surgical repair of an aortic aneurysm, infection of the spine, or severe osteoporosis.

As we discussed in the previous post introducing spinal decompression, the doctor will determine what the treatment will focus on. So for example if a patient’s MRI shows a herniated disc at the L4 disc, and the exam findings support that the L4 disc is affected, treatment will occur at the level of the L4 disc.

Spinal Decompression works by creating a negative pressure or a vacuum effect inside the disc. This effect causes the disc to pull in the herniation and the increase in negative pressure. This in turn causes the flow of blood and nutrients back into the disc allowing the body's natural fibroblastic response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disc.

In our Part III of this special series, we will have a discussion with Dr. Matthew Bellinger, of CT Spine and Disc Center, and ask him specific questions about how spinal decompression works for his patients.

Please email me if you have specific questions about non surgical spinal decompression for lower back pain, sciatica and lumbar disc herniation.

Here are a partial Listing of Doctors that specialize in Non Surgical Decompression:

CT Spine and Disc Center- Dr. Matthew Bellinger, located in Glastonbury, Connecticut 860-633-8756

Spinal Decompression with the Drx9000- Understand how non surgical spinal decompression works

Lower Back Pain Relief Blog- A discussion of alternative non surgical treatments for lower back pain.


Additional Reading Resources:
Part I: A Non Surgical Way to Treat Moderate-Severe Lower Back Pain
How to Properly Wear a Lower Back Support Belt for Moderate to Severe Lower Back Pain

Visit Low Back Pain Relief - Arc4ife carries low back supports and rest as well as lumbar belt for low back and sciatica pain relief

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