Disc Injury Treatment Oklahoma City OK

Disc Injury Treatment

Disc Injury Treatment: An Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas Perspective

At Venturis Clinic, Dr. Alvin Philipose treats disc injuries almost every day. Lower back pain is perhaps the most common reason that people come into our office looking for help. After all, lower back pain is the #1 cause of disability in America, affecting more than 80% of people at some point during their lives. There are many different causes of lower back pain such as a muscle strain or vertebral subluxation, but one of the causes of more severe lower back pain is an injury to an intervertebral disc.

Before discussing what causes disc injuries and what kinds of treatments can be effective, it is important to understand exactly what is happening in the disc when it becomes injured. Intervertebral discs are made of fibrocartilage and rest between each vertebra in the spine. They act as shock absorbers in the spine, absorbing the stress and pressure that everyday life places on our spine. The disc itself is made of a jelly-like center called the nucleus that is surrounded by several rings of cartilage. The nucleus moves with our movements to provide continued balance and force absorption to keep our spine healthy and strong.

Due to prolonged causes such as repetitive movements, or more immediate causes such as trauma, the rings of cartilage can be damaged. When this happens, the nucleus of the disc takes the path of least resistance and pushes into the damaged space. This is typically not symptomatic, so the individual would not know at this time that a disc injury was occurring. As this condition progresses and damage is sustained to the last ring of cartilage, the disc material pushes out from the disc into the spinal canal where the spinal cord and nerves are. This can be an extremely painful occurrence in the lower back and can even cause pain to travel down the legs as well (sciatica). At this time, immediate intervention is required if you want to have the best prognosis going forward.

Traditional medicine usually treats disc herniation using opioid medications for pain or steroid injections, but some discs require surgical intervention if less invasive treatments are unsuccessful. However, there are more conservative treatments available that are effective at treating the root cause of the problem, thus helping the symptoms to dissipate. Dr. Alvin Philipose treats people with disc injuries on a daily basis, and they are ready to help you, too.

How We Treat Disc Injuries in Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas

Comprehensive Consultation and Exam

Yes, it is very important to begin treatment as quickly as possible for a disc injury, but before that happens a detailed consultation and exam must be performed. Dr. Alvin Philipose must understand your condition and what the situation is for him to determine if proceeding with treatment is the appropriate action to take. Dr. Alvin Philipose wants to understand your history and how this injury came to be. This information is helpful in figuring out what kind of recommendations for care need to be made.

After the consultation, Dr. Alvin Philipose will perform an examination to further determine the cause of your condition. He will perform orthopedic, neurologic, and functional movement tests to assess the problem and rule in/rule out other possible causes. The consultation and exam are designed to give our provider the clearest picture of what is happening and what needs to be done. The sooner this process starts, the sooner they can get you on the path to healing and back to the life you want to live.

Specific Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is one of the best ways to naturally treat disc injuries because it goes straight to the source of the problem and seeks to correct it. With disc injuries, subluxation of the adjacent vertebrae is also present. The chiropractic adjustment not only corrects the subluxation but also promotes movement of the disc material back to its correct position between the 2 vertebrae.

Bear in mind that these subluxations were likely present long before the disc injury occurred, so they are not used to being in correct alignment. Over time, the body gets used to the correct alignment, and this is what helps to prevent pain from coming back in the future. Chiropractic adjustments are both quick and gentle. It does not take a lot of force to adjust somebody’s spine, especially with the right technique. This is important because people with disc injuries are typically in a lot of pain.

Custom Stretching Plan

Muscle weakness or imbalance is a very common reason why discs are susceptible to injury over time. The muscles that surround and support the spine are supposed to keep the spine stable, and that includes the discs. When these muscles are weak, however, the instability in the spine makes it more likely that injury can occur to the discs. At Venturis Clinic, we utilize stretching to help build a solid foundation for the spine in order to improve both mobility and stability, as well as protect the spine from future injury.

Our trainers work closely with Dr. Alvin Philipose and use their expertise to create a custom exercise plan for you to follow as part of your recovery. Not only will you perform stretches at our facility, but you will also be given stretches to work on outside the office. This helps to ensure you get the best results in a timely manner. It’s great to get rid of pain, but it’s even better when you can keep it from coming back. That is exactly what our stretching program is designed to do.

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Spinal Decompression | Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas

When it comes to disc injuries one of the most crucial elements of our treatment process is spinal decompression. When the disc is herniated or bulged, there is a great amount of pressure being applied to that disc, which contributes to the pain you experience. Also, the nerves get pinched and choked when there is disc material taking up space in the spinal canal, which furthers the pain problem. Decompressing the spine helps to alleviate this pressure.

When your spine is decompressed, it creates negative pressure inside the disc. This negative pressure works to pull the disc material out of the spinal canal and back into its correct position between the 2 vertebrae. Decompression also increases joint spacing, which gives the nerves more room to breathe and function properly. When combined with chiropractic adjustments and exercise, spinal decompression is an extremely effective solution for lower back and sciatic pain related to disc injuries in the lumbar spine.

Common Causes of Disc Injury in Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas

Bulged Disc

Spinal discs wear and tear with age. Over time, discs will dehydrate, and the outer layer of cartilage will stiffen. These changes can cause the outer layer of the disc to bulge out. Some protruding discs can be painless, but if the disc bulges out enough it can irritate nearby nerves leading to numbness, tingling, weakness, cramping, spasms, and shooting pain.

Age is the biggest risk factor for a bulged disc, making it more common in older people than in younger people. Improper lifting techniques, accumulated trauma from poor posture, obesity, genetics, or acute trauma can also lead to a bulged disc.

Herniated Disc

Bulged discs can worsen to the point of rupture and cause serious symptoms. A disc herniation is more likely to cause pain than a bulged disc. A disc herniates when the outer layer of cartilage tears and the softer, inner, gelatinous material protrudes out of the disc. The disc’s nucleus will irritate nerve roots causing painful inflammation that could affect your ability to walk or change your bowel and bladder function.

Degenerative Disc Disease

One of the most common types of disc injuries isn’t generally considered to be an acute onset problem. Degenerative disc disease is an age-related condition in which the discs of the spine wear down over time and get smaller. When this happens, the holes on the side of the spine through which nerves exit get smaller, which can put pressure on these nerves and cause symptoms. Besides repetitive motion and wear and tear, other risk factors that accelerate its progression include being overweight/obese and smoking. Common symptoms include lower back pain but radiating pain down into the hips and legs can also be felt depending on how much the nerves are being affected.

It’s important to understand that Degenerative Disc Disease cannot be reversed. It can, however, be managed and its progression can be slowed down. Chiropractic, spinal decompression, and stretching are three fantastic treatment options that can improve range of motion, decrease pain, and increase your overall function. Since the condition cannot be fully corrected, the goal then becomes both achieving and maintaining the highest quality of life possible. A chiropractic lifestyle can help make that a reality for you or someone you know who suffers from degenerative disc disease.

Slipped Disc

A herniated disc is often referred to as a slipped disc. When the outer cartilage becomes weak and tears allowing the inner gelatinous center of the disc to “slip” out. Age is a primary factor in this condition because of general wear and tear on the disc, but certain repetitive motions or improper lifting techniques increase the risk of a slipped disc. An untreated herniated or slipped disc can lead to permanent nerve damage, that’s why it’s so important to have any discomfort examined by a chiropractor who can perform imaging if necessary to get to the root cause of any symptomatic pain.

Repetitive Motion/Stress

As was mentioned earlier, disc injuries are commonly the result of a gradual process of wear and tear on the cartilage rings surrounding the nucleus. It isn’t so much the incident when you felt pain that is the cause, but rather the thousands of movements prior to that which slowly caused damage over time. For this reason, certain fields of work tend to have more disc injuries than others. One such example of this is hard labor jobs, such as a roofer, mechanics, and laborers.

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405.848.7246

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is prolotherapy good for?

Many conditions respond well to prolotherapy, such as facet syndrome (back and neck arthritis), whiplash, joint sprains, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, sprains, chronic tendonitis, Ehler’s-Danlos Disease, Bulging disc, knee pain, shoulder pain Vagus nerve inflammation and more.

What are the risks of prolotherapy?

Theoretical risks of prolotherapy injections include soreness, infection or neurological (nerve) damage. Injections should be performed by trained physicians using universal precautions diagnostics examinations and tproper examinations. This results in very minimal side effects.

What is the average cost of prolotherapy?

Costs vary quite a bit from $150-$1500 dependent on type and contents of injections.

Is prolotherapy a permanent fix?

Prolotherapy is an all-natural, permanent treatment, as it relies on the body repairing itself to reduce pain. In contrast, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications only provide temporary relief. Booster shots as well has wellness therapies including stretching, massage, chiropractic, dry-needling and strengthening will help maintain progress.

Who is a good candidate for prolotherapy?

More specifically, prolotherapy may be right for you if you experience any of the following: Damaged or lost tissue, especially surrounding the joints. If patients have tried various traditional treatments including prescription drugs, physical therapy, or steroids but seen minimal to no results, prolotherapy may be right for you.

Why does prolotherapy hurt so much?

A patient is generally sore for a couple of days after Prolotherapy. This is because the injections have to go through some muscles to get to the ligaments and tendons. To help the muscle soreness resolve itself sooner, dry needling and moist heat applied to the area is recommended.

Is prolotherapy better than cortisone?

Cortisone can cause tendon rupture, particularly of the achilles tendon. Prolotherapy is a proven orthopedic treatment to reduce pain and strengthen weakened joints without the negative side effects of cortisone.

What are the pros and cons of prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is great for strengthening weak joints and creating heightened muscle functionality, such as increased movement and flexibility. However, there are some risks involved, for example it is a shot like any other so there could be pain or tenderness to the injection site.

What should you not do after prolotherapy?

Due to the numbness we ask that you refrain from any strenuous activities but to stay mobile. Continue to move affected area to decrease soreness and stiffness. You should avoid strenuous physical activity for 2 days following injections. You will experience some pain and soreness 2-5 days after your treatment. Do not take any anti-inflammatories, pain medications or steroids during treatments. This may inhibit your body’s ability to heal the affected tissue.

How long does prolotherapy take to heal?

Most ligaments and tendons heal within a period of 3 months; however, the majority of healing after a prolotherapy session occurs in the first two weeks.

How many prolotherapy sessions will I need?

Prolotherapy treatments vary from person to person and from injury to injury. Many patients have experienced some relief of their pain with only one session. The average person requires anywhere from 3-12 treatment sessions spaced about 3-6 weeks apart from each other.

How long does a prolotherapy injection last?

On average, patients experience one year of improvement and relief from prolotherapy. However, there is a huge variation and sometimes improvement lasts from three months to 15 years.

What is injected during prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy involves injections of a mild irritant into the injured part of your body. Most of the time the injection contains saline, dextrose (a type of sugar), and lidocaine, which is a numbing agent. Dr. Philipose custom tailors the injection, so the exact composition depends on your needs. These injections may include natural collagen, minerals, amino acids and other natural substances to accelerate healing compared to traditional prolotherapy.

Is prolotherapy better than surgery?

Prolotherapy is considered a viable alternative to surgery, and as an option to pain medications, cortisone and other steroidal injections. The Prolotherapy procedure is considered a safe, affordable option that allows the patient to keep working and/or training during treatment.

Can prolotherapy reverse arthritis?

One study with 90 adults with knee osteoarthritis involved some participants getting monthly prolotherapy injections of dextrose for 3 to 5 months. Those who received prolotherapy saw a significant improvement in pain, function, and stiffness scores.

Does prolotherapy regrow cartilage?

Prolotherapy is an injection of a non-biologic substance with localized effects for repairing connective tissue injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Recent studies in humans show that prolotherapy stimulates cartilage regeneration.

Are you sedated for prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a safe, cost effective injection technique used for treating musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain in various parts of the body. It is noninvasive, has limited side effects and does not require sedation.

What does dry needling actually do?

Dry needling treats muscle tissue, and its goal is to reduce pain, inactivate trigger points and restore function. It rarely is a standalone procedure. Rather, it often is part of a broader physical therapy approach incorporating other traditional physical therapy interventions into treatment.

What is dry needling and does it hurt?

We use very thin filament needles. The initial feeling of the needle entering through the skin is very minimal; much less than a vaccination or having blood drawn. Once the needle reaches the muscle, the twitch sensation feels more like a deep cramp and doesn't last long (15-30 seconds).

How long does dry needling results last?

After dry needling, experiencing some slight soreness is normal, and you will typically note an improvement in your symptoms within one to two days. How long the benefits will last will vary per individual. The first few treatments will usually have a short length of relief spanning over several days.

How many sessions of dry needling do you need?

If treatment zones are found and the correct muscle groups are targeted, sub-acute conditions will improve after three – four consecutive sessions, with chronic injuries requiring five – six consecutive needling sessions.

Does dry needling remove knots?

Dry needle therapy resolves muscle knots by inserting a very thin needle directly into the trigger point. The knot responds to the interruption and relaxes immediately. Most patients agree that dry needling doesn't hurt in the way that you might think!

How deep do dry needles go?

Superficial dry needling involves inserting a needle at a depth up to 10 mm or into the subcutaneous tissue and may be combined with manipulation of the needle while in situ.

Does dry needling reduce inflammation?

The micro tears caused by the needle prompts the body's natural defenses to get to work, bringing nutrient-rich blood to the site and boosting tissue repair. Dry needling also helps to dissipate inflammatory mediators, those substances that gather in an area of inflammation.

Is dry needling good for arthritis?

Dry needling is an effective treatment in reducing pain from osteoarthritis because it increases blood circulation around the joint, thereby providing natural relief.

What exactly does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is trained to make sure your body is functioning as optimally as possible by using spinal manipulations and other therapies to relieve pain in your joints and muscles. These spinal adjustments will increase blood flow and nerve conductivity to the joints and muscles that are experiencing pain. They are taught philosophically to find and treat the cause rather than just the symptoms.

Is it healthy to go to the chiropractor?

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care are generally considered safe, effective treatments for acute low back pain, the type of sudden injury that results from acute or chronic conditions such as strains, arthritis or disc injuries.

What are the benefits of chiropractic care?

• Improves neck pain.
• Reduces reliance on opioid pain relievers.
• Eases back pain.
• Possible reduction of osteoarthritis symptoms.
• Eases headache symptoms.
• More affordable treatment for chronic back pain.
• High satisfaction.
• Reduces scoliosis symptoms.

What are the cons of seeing a chiropractor?

Spinal and joint manipulation has a chance to go wrong and may cause unwanted injuries. So it is important that you only have an appointment with an experienced chiropractor that performs the necessary examinations and diagnostics to ensure safe treatments. DO NOT ALLOW a physical therapist or any other untrained person try a manipulation especially without X-rays.

When should you go to a chiropractor?

Chiropractors are most sought after to treat neck and low back pain due to acute or chronic pain. If you experience back pain that lasts for more than a few days, consult a chiropractor for an assessment.

What cracks when you see a chiropractor?

During a back adjustment, your back undergoes quick, gentle stretching of the spinal facet joint, so you may hear a cracking or popping noise. This is caused by small pockets of air or bubbles, which are in the fluid that surrounds your joints.

Why do chiropractors want you to keep coming back?

Changing your posture, changing your spine's ability to move, changing your muscle health and structure take time. Months in fact. All muscles have memory and your body wants to go back to its old patterns instead of creating new healthy ones. That is why adjustments need to be repeated again and again

Is chiropractic care is ineffective?

Critics are skeptical mainly due to the fact that chiropractic care does not involve medications or any invasive surgeries. Some have associated this practice with some side effects and fatal complications in some cases resulting in death or stroke. It also goes against the medical philosophy of not prescribing medications. In recent years there has been a comparison that shows not only Chiropractic to be safe, but healthier and more successful than taking steroids and medications. There are also various techniques now that prevent any type of injuries due the gentleness of the adjustment.

Why do some chiropractors crack and others don't?

The noises you hear during chiropractic treatment depend on the technique used. For example, some techniques cause a cracking sound, and others don't, but both can be highly effective, depending on your needs. So, whether you hear an abundance of pops or none at all, you don't need to worry.