Some patients are not good candidates for some types of chiropractic care treatments. For example, if you have cauda equina syndrome (a condition in which you lose control of your bowel/bladder with an accompanying intervertebral disc injury), then you will need immediate medical care as this is something that cannot be treated by your chiropractor.

In addition, if your chiropractor finds that you have advanced loss of strength, sensation, reflexes, and other unusual neurological findings, then he or she will refer you to a spine surgeon.

A chiropractor can help address back pain and other herniated disc symptoms. At your initial appointment, your chiropractor will go through your medical history, do a physical exam, and perform orthopaedic and neurological tests.

Your chiropractor will look for several things. These are important questions the orthopaedic and neurological exams can help your chiropractor answer.

Are the reflexes intact? That is, are your nerves sending messages correctly? (The classic reflex test is when the doctor taps your knee with a small hammer and your leg kicks up.)

Chiropractic care is a non-surgical treatment option for herniated discs. But what is a chiropractor’s approach to treating a herniated disc? Before we get to that, we need a quick review of what a herniated disc is.

What Is a ‘Slipped’ disc? Is it the same as a herniated disc?

With the exception of the first two vertebrae in the neck—the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2)—there is an intervertebral disc between each vertebra of the spine. Discs act as a shock absorber and a shock distributor, and provide flexibility.

Many patients live with low back pain that radiates to the buttock, groin, thigh, and even knees. The challenge for patients, and often their doctors, is determining the origin of the pain — the hip, the spine, or both. A new article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) outlines the identical symptoms associated with hip and spine pain and discusses the diagnostic steps and tests required to treat them appropriately.

The term “chiropractic” combines the greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (practice) to describe a treatment done by hand. Hands-on therapy — especially adjustment of the spine — is central to chiropractic care. Chiropractic is based on the premise that the relationship between the body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function (as coordinated by the nervous system) affects health.

A recent study determined that chiropractic has been proven superior in helping patients overcome back pain when compared to Tylenol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and opioid drugs. The research spotlights the complexity of back pain and the vast number of affected people. Over 80% of people experience back pain at some point in their life, with hundreds of millions suffering daily. Most back-pain sufferers receive a recommendation to ingest over-the-counter or prescription pills to relieve the pain.

Winter is well upon us and with it comes the unpleasant but necessary job of clearing snow from porches, walks and driveways. Shoveling snow is not something to be undertaken lightly. First of all, you should have an okay from your primary care physician that you’re up to the activity. Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Winter recreational activities can pose painful problems for the outdoor enthusiast who is not in the best condition. Preparing your body before participating in winter sports such as snowboarding, skiing or ice-skating decreases the potential for spasms, strains and sprains, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

Injury Prevention

To prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:
• If possible, leave unnecessary books at home or school.
• If carrying a water bottle, choose a smaller bottle that will not be as heavy when it is full.
• If bringing sports gear to school, pack it in a separate bag that can be stored in a locker during the school day.
• consider using a crossbody bag as a good alternative for carrying books and supplies.

Tips for Parents

Healthy Habits for Backpack Wearing: Bend at the hips and knees when lifting a backpack. Pick the backpack up before threading the shoulders through the straps. when possible, place the backpack on a desk or whatever is near you, then turn around and thread the shoulders through the straps. Always wear both straps. Fill up water bottles at school rather than at home to reduce the weight of the backpack. Take breaks from carrying by removing the backpack when waiting at the bus stop or in the hallway. monitor contents nightly and remove what isn’t needed. organize contents for school-day rotation and unload unneeded items into a locker when possible.