Back Pain Doctor

posted by Dr. Ron Nusbaum, Back Clinics of Canada

This week a patient asked about the connection between neck pain and arm pain.

I am receiving care from Dr. Nusbaum at Back Clinics of Canada for neck pain, but I also have numbness and tingling in my arms. Do I have to see another doctor for that?

There is often a direct connection between neck pain and arm pain/discomfort. When the primary cause of neck pain is healed, the secondary symptoms often reduce or disappear.

The Connection: Neck pain may be caused by vertebrae (bones) that are out of alignment, muscle spasms, or injured spinal discs.

Misaligned vertebrae or injured spinal discs can put unnatural pressure on nerves. If the nerves that branch from the neck and go down the arms are compressed or compromised, then there can be symptoms of tingling, numbness, burning, achiness, weakness and heaviness in the arms down to the hands and fingers.

Often, when the root cause of neck pain is healed, pressure on the nerves is also alleviated and healing of nerve tissue can begin. The nerves become healthy again, and secondary symptoms felt in the arms can disappear on their own. This is a common experience of many patients at Back Clinics of Canada.

In particular, patients who suffer from bulging or herniated discs, or degenerative disc disease causing stenosis, can have this kind of nerve pressure and resultant described symptoms. Back Clinics of Canada’s High Performance Healing System^TM has offered excellent results with the majority of these patients.

Added note: It’s a great idea for patients suffering with neck pain to sleep with either a contoured cervical pillow or a cervical water pillow for best neck support.

posted by Dr. Ron Nusbaum, Back Clinics of Canada 

posted by Dr. Ron Nusbaum, Back Clinics of Canada

Here is the Back Clinics Question of the Week

This week a patient requested clarity about the cause of their severe low back pain.

What is the difference between a Bulging Disc and a Herniated Disc? And how did I get it?

It’s important to understand what is causing your back pain or neck pain. It adds to your understanding that you can heal, and that the treatment you are receiving is designed for your condition.

Both diagnoses indicate that a spinal disc has been injured.

Bulging Disc: In the case of a bulging disc, the tough outer fibrous layers of the spinal disc, called the annulus, have a weak spot. The inner contents of the disc (a gelatinous protein substance called the nucleus pulposa), which are held under great pressure, move toward this weak spot and press against it. This causes a bulge in the disc. The bulge itself may be asymptomatic or painful. If the bulge presses against an adjacent nerve, the nerve will become irritated. This may result in additional symptoms of pain or illness depending upon which nerve is affected, where it leads to and what purpose it serves.

Herniated Disc: In the case of a herniated disc, the tough outer fibrous layers of the spinal disc may have a tear. As a result of this tear, the inner gelatinous contents of the disc move against the tear (which is now a very weak spot in the outer wall) and may push through. So the central gel-like part of the disc protrudes beyond the disc wall. As with a bulge, there are a number of possible symptoms if the protrusion presses against adjacent nerves. This may include severe pain, numbness, tingling, burning, radiculitis (pain down a limb) and even weakness.

Cause of Disc Bulge or Herniation: Spinal discs, which are like cushions, have three main purposes. They are designed to keep each pair of vertebrae separate. They allow for movement in all planes including flexion, extension and rotation. They absorb pressure from compression and torsion. A disc bulge or herniation can be caused by a traumatic injury or accident that causes extreme pressure on the fibrous disc layers, from sports or heavy lifting while rotating, or from natural degeneration that comes with age.

Treatment: In some cases discs can heal. When a person suffers a disc injury, they should see a back expert. In the meantime they should get a lot of rest, especially lying on their back or side if the injury is to a lower back (lumbar) disc. Many people prefer to have pillows under their knees if they lay on their back, or between the knees if they lay on their side. Avoid forward flexion. It’s also helpful to change your position often, especially if you must sit. Avoid any heavy lifting. Proper nutrition rich with omega fatty aids and other important nutrients can support disc healing. Since surgery is not always the right option, a doctor can provide care with non-invasive therapies like non-surgical spinal decompression and Class IV K-laser therapy.

Dr. Ron Nusbaum, founder of Back Clinics of Canada, offers safe, non-invasive treatment that treats the very spinal discs requiring care. The High Performance Healing System^TM combines advanced technology, proprietary nutrition supplementation and precision treatment that delivers targeted healing at the cellular level for remarkable success.