The intervertebral disc is like a shock-absorber located between each vertebra in our spine extending from the tail bone to the upper neck. When healthy, your discs truly do function as shock absorbers. There are two parts to the disc – the inner part (called the nucleus) which is the liquid-like center and the outer part (the annulus), which is tough, laminated and rubber-like whose job is to hold the nucleus in the center of the disc. The annulus has concentric rings which look similar to the rings of an oak tree trunk and the strength of these laminated rings is due to the fibers crisscrossing, creating a self-sealing, secure border for the nucleus center. In spite of this great anatomical structure, our discs degenerate and can crack or tear allowing the more liquid-like nucleus to leak out of the annulus creating the classic “slipped disc” (technically referred to as a herniated or ruptured disc).

When the herniated disc presses into the nerve that goes down the leg, pain is felt along its course and can radiate all the way to the foot. There are five vertebrae and disks with a pair of nerves that go into each leg and depending which disc ruptures, pain will follow a different course down the leg, which is why we ask you if you feel the pain more in the back or in the front of the leg. When the disc tears prior to both disk herniation and leg pain, low back pain occurs because the nerve fibers that are normally only located in the outer third of the disc grow into the central portion of the disc, making it generate more pain.

So now for the important question, “…what can I do for it?” When you visit our office, we will ask you about how you injured your back. Often, the cause of a herniated disc can be the accumulation of multiple events over time. It certainly can happen after one major event, like our example of lifting a rock out of a hole, but that is usually the “straw that breaks the camel’s back” and not the sole cause. Many researchers have reported it is rare for a healthy disc to herniate. Rather, disc degeneration with tears already present sets up the situation where a bend plus a twist, “…finishes the job.”

The orthopedic and neurological examination we will perform will usually clearly identify the level of herniation. If it is determined by this examination that you have a disc herniation, you are in the right place…because we have the state-of-the-art DRX9000, true non-surgical spinal decompression. The DRX9000 is designed specifically to heal a bulging/herniated or, otherwise, damaged intervertebral disc. Many clients of our office have been spared a risky surgery or shots, or a lifetime of taking toxic medications by utilizing our decompression therapy.

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Why is this?   

I think it’s because we were never taught to take care of our back on regular basis…like how we take care of our teeth.  The simple fact is most people neglect their spinal health.  They take a “reactive approach” which means they do nothing until a problem is already there. 

The better approach would be to take care of not only your spine but your health on a regular and consistent basis.  Aging and stress break down our bodies and unless we are doing something positive to keep our bodies healthy, then we are on a crash course with back and body problems. 

If you’ve had really bad back pain, you know what a life changer it can be.  It’s miserable.  It negatively affects everything.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are some simple things you can take to reduce or eliminate your back pain: 

* First, it starts with “how you think.”  The bottom line is you can’t ignore your spinal health.  There is a price to pay for neglect.  The best approach to health is “attention” instead of neglect.  You will want to take care of not only your spine but the rest of your body on a regular basis…even when you are feeling good.  After all, you brush your teeth everyday and your teeth don’t have pain.  After all, who says you need to be in pain to take care of yourself? 

* Next, use services that work great for back pain.  Chiropractic care has been PROVEN countless times to be the BEST choice for back pain.  So when you have back pain, make sure you get adjusted. If you are suffering with back pain due to a herniated or bulging disc then you need to come in and get evaluated and see if non-surgical spinal decompression is your answer to not taking toxic medications or having surgery.  And when you are feeling good, get an adjustment once a month to MAINTAIN your good health.  A monthly adjustment will not only prevent major back “flair ups” but will also keep your spine healthy.  Massage therapy and acupuncture can also help with back pain and stiffness. 

* Exercise regularly.  Your body was meant to “move.”  Your joints like motion, so if you aren’t moving and exercising regularly, your joints will stiffen up.  This includes your back.  So make sure you are active and exercising.  Even something simple like taking a walk every day is better than doing nothing. 

* Stretch regularly.  It’s important that you keep the muscles in your back and legs limber and flexible.  The tighter these muscles get, the bigger chance you have of developing back pain.  Make sure you stretch after you exercise.

* Pay attention to how you lift things.  Make sure you bend with your legs and not at the waist.   Keep the object you are lifting as close to you as possible.  And try not to bend and twist.  Instead, turn your entire body. 

* Check your mattress.  It’s important that you have a quality mattress that gives you BOTH comfort and support.  A bad mattress can be a cause of developing back pain. 

* Watch your posture.  A bad posture doesn’t just look bad; it’s bad for your back too.  Pay attention to how you stand and sit.  If you work at a desk all day, or on a computer, make sure you maintain good posture. 

I promise that if you incorporate these strategies into your daily routine, your back will feel great! 

If you have any questions or comments, just email me.  I’d love to hear from you! 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Steven Alff, D.C.

According to Dr. Batmanghelidj, M.D. found in his book entitled “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water“, “fully 75 percent of the weight of the upper part of the body is supported by the water volume that is stored in the disc core; 25 percent is suppoted by the fibrous materials around the disc…..(water) provides the hydraulic support for the weight-bearing qualities of an intervertebral disc.”

In chronic dehydration, the discs begin to fray.  They cannot keep up wit the stress of subluxations (vertebrae being out of alignment), in addition to day to day wear and tear.  Patients with disc problems respond very well to rehydration.

The list of conditions that Dr. Batmanghelidj found to respond to re-hydration includes migraines, high blood pressure (the blood is thickened due to water loss, so it takes more force to push it through the body), asthma, colitis, angina, back pain, arthiritis, heartburn, early adult-onset diabetes, high cholosterol and many others.  Dr. Batmangheldi claims that many of these conditions are part of the body’s early-warning system, and if not heeded, can progress to stroke, cancer, heart disease and other serious health conditions.

Rehydration takes about two weeks, according to Dr. Batmangheldi.  His book has various protocols people should use.  But, he states that the beneficial effects of water are noticed immediately usually. 

So, if you are experiencing any of the health conditions listed above, it is time to start drinking water!

If you should need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Steven Alff, D.C./Ventura Spinal Care Center

Dr. Blumenthal now recommends a new unproven mechanical disc replacement for patients experiencing neck and arm pain.

This new stance by the leading edge of the medical/surgical profession to reverse many years of recommending surgical fusion of degenerated cervical disc is a complete turn around from previous fusion surgery recommendations. 

The question is:  how effective will these new mechanical discs actually be?  The answer will not be known for a long time.  My opinion is there is NEVER gonig to be an adequate replacement from the original equipment…in the human body we were born with. 

If you are considering spinal fusion, contact the Ventura spinal Care Center first and see if you qualify for non-surgical spinal decompression with the amazing DRX9000.

For a free consult, contact us at 805-648-7987.

Yours for health, naturally,

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C.

So how does stress accomplish all this in our bodies and make our backs hurt at the same time? To understand this you first have to understand what stress is and where it comes from in your body. Stress is the response your body has to change or challenge of a significant nature and that can be positive or negative stress. Your body reacts the way it’s programmed to react and that is to maintain the life-protecting physiological, emotional and mental balance that scientists call homeostasis. If there is an event in your life that triggers a stress response such as a growling dog, a deadline at work or a child’s wedding the adrenaline will flow, your muscles become tense, your blood pressure rises. Your mind and body are alert, motivated and ready for action. After the hubbub is over and you’ve met the challenge, you relax. This is the normal response to stress that is natural and necessary.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is the silent killer that we all need to learn to avoid. Chronic stress are the inevitable things in life that develop such as marital troubles, financial worries or an abusive boss that generates chronically high levels of the adrenal hormone cortisol, which can really take a toll on the body. In fact, cortisol can make your blood pressure stay high, your blood sugar increase, and here’s the kicker when it comes to chiropractic, decompression and back pain…… Cortisol causes your immune system to generate chronic, low-grade inflammation that weakens the cells.

 And for those of you that don’t know this, your back and sciatic nerve pain are all about inflammation. Without inflammation there would be no pain.

If you are experiencing back pain, then  listen and read the stories on my website of some of my happy patrons that have completed care in my office.   We offer free consultations.  What do you have to lose except your pain?

“Do you think a back brace will help my condition?”  This is a question that is frequently asked me because I specialize in treating low back pain.  The answers typically vary, as there is support for and against the use of a brace when low back pain is present.  In a Feb. 2009 study, the use of an elastic lumbar belt was studied in a group of subacute low back pain patients for its effect on functional capacity (lift and carry types of activities), pain intensity, and the effects on health care service costs.  This study was unique in that it was carried out in several different locations and, the patients were randomized and received either a lumbar belt or nothing (“control group”). 197 patients were included in the study, which is a good sample size for research purposes. 

The results of the study, at the end of 90 days, revealed a higher score for the back brace treated group than the non-braced control group.  The pain scale improved greater in the brace treated group as an improvement of 42 points vs. 32 points was reported.  Similarly, 61% in the brace treated group used no medication compared to 40% in the non-braced group.  It was concluded that patients with subacute low back pain improved significantly in functional status, pain reduction and medication utilization.

The use of back braces has been considered a “standard” in the treatment of patients with LBP for many years. One argument against using back braces centers around becoming “dependant” either physically or mentally on its use and this has long been a concern amongst health care providers.  For most patients, this is not a concern as most do not “enjoy” the use of a brace and they look forward to discontinuing their use of it.  Braces are particularly helpful when the patient cannot stop performing needed activities, such as work.  This is especially true for farmers who have to tend to the animals and crops during planting, cultivating and harvest times of the year.  In addition, single moms or dads who have to go to work in order to provide for their children are driven to stay on the job.  In these cases, the use of a back brace can be of utmost importance. 

There are many types of back braces.  Some are narrow and are particularly favored when frequent bending and/or twisting movements are required by a job, sport, or other daily activity. Other braces are taller in the back and taper in the front, which give better support but still allow some bending / twisting movements.  Some braces are more rigid and can actually stop movement in certain directions.  These types include a hard, rigid surface that is placed in the area of the back where movement is not desired.  These are used at times when there are fractures of the spine, after spinal surgery and in scoliosis bracing. Some braces are to be worn low on the pelvis to support that area, while most are placed in the center of the low back region.  There are also rib belts sometimes used when ribs fracture, soft and rigid neck braces sometimes used after car accidents, and braces for the arms or legs.  The decision to use a brace rests on the degree of injury and the patient’s ability to avoid certain activities or positions.  When the injury is significant and/or the patient cannot control his/her activities (such as work), then the use of a brace may be one of the most important treatment approaches for that patient.  It’s similar to having stitches when a deep or wide cut occurs.  Ask us about the use of supports, braces, or belts if you or your family or friends are suffering with low back pain.

YOU MAYBE A CANDIDATE FOR CARE…     FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 805-648-7987

This definitely is an unfortuate circumstance that is shared by many, many people in this country. I don’t know how we will solve the insurance/health care crisis, especially when the United States consumes 75% of all prescription drugs manufactured on the planet.

My purpose is to help you AVOID toxic medications and unnecessary surgical procedures. Doesn’t it make sense to do everything you can NOW to prevent health problems from occuring later on in life? Don’t you think the lady in the article wishes now she had taken better care of herself so she wasn’t in this position of needing 20 different medications now to live….and what kind of life is she really living? I don’t think she is really enjoying her days too much now as works to restore her health now. (And those pills aren’t helping her restore her health, they are treating the symptoms of ill health).

One of the things you should be doing now is to safeguard your health with regular spinal adjustments to remove the pressure from nerve structures in the body. Your nervous system controls EVERY FUNCTION! in your body. If you have a hard bone (vertebra) from your spine resting on a soft nerve that goes to your heart, your lungs, your liver, your kidneys, etc., etc., those organs cannot function optimally and, therefore, your body does not function optimally! Lack of symptoms does not mean you have no nerve interference! Do not ignore this vitally important health practice and expect to be “bailed out” in the future by the drug companies.

True health is never achieved from a drug injection or surgical procedure. If you are having any type of back pain, don’t simply hide it with drugs or try to fix it with a risky surgery. Don’t put off paying for your health now as it will cost you more in the future if you don’t take care of it now. Call now and let’s work on the cause of your pain not the symptoms.See you soon?

Yours for health, naturally, Dr. Steven Alff, D.C.
Ventura Spinal Care Center
1675 E. Main Street

Over a 4-year time frame, 2780 patients were followed (initial, 2-week, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 month intervals) with questionnaires. Both acute (symptoms <7weeks) and chronic (symptoms >7weeks) low back pain (LBP) patients were treated using conventional approaches by both the MDs and the DCs.

Treatments from the chiropractors included spinal manipulation, physical therapy, an exercise plan, and self-care education. Some, like me, incorporate non-surgical spinal decompression. Chiropractors look to correct the CAUSE of the low back problem, without the use of toxic medications or risky surgeries.

Medical therapies included prescription drugs, an exercise plan, self-care advice and about 25% of the patients received physical therapy.

The study focused on present pain severity and functional disability (activity interference) measured by questionnaires that were mailed to the patients.

It was reported that chiropractic was favored over medical treatment in the following areas:

? Pain relief in the first 12 months (more evident in the chronic patients)
? When LBP pain radiated below the knee (more evident in the chronic patients)
? Chronic LBP patients with no leg pain (during the first 3 months)

Similar trends favoring chiropractic were seen for disability but were of smaller magnitude. All patient groups saw significant improvement in both pain and disability over the four year study period.

Acute patients saw the greatest degree of improvement with many achieving symptom relief after 3 months of care. Noteworthy, at the 3 year point, ½ to ¾ of all the patients reported at least 30 days of pain during the prior year including those that responded well after early treatment. Also, 19 to 27% of chronic LBP patients noted daily pain during the prior year. This suggests that LBP is more likely to return at times in the future, which many have similarly reported to be true.

However, this study also found that early intervention reduced chronic pain and, at year 3, those acute LBP patients that received early intervention reported fewer days of LBP that those that waited longer for treatment. While both MDs and DCs treatment approaches helped, it’s quite clear from the information reported that chiropractic treatment approaches should be utilized first.

These findings support the importance of early intervention by chiropractic physicians makes the most sense for those of you struggling with the question of who to see for your LBP.

YOU MAYBE A CANDIDATE FOR DRUG FREE RELIEF! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 805-648-7987. Dr. Alff at the Ventura Spinal Care Center, Ventura, CA

The therapy is called Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. It gets good reviews from American Journal of Pain Management, which reports a positive relief rate when used on patients with herniated, bulging and degenerative discs, some of the leading causes of low back problems.

A herniated disc is a spinal bulge that puts pressure on the nerves and creates pain that can shoot all the way from the low back into the hips and legs, even down to the feet and toes. The DRX9000 stops the pain by using negative pressure to create a vacuum that pulls the painful disc back where it belongs.

Dr. Steve Alff, D.C., the director of the Ventura Spinal Care Center says he brought in this cutting edge technology to give people a fresh choice for people with chronic back pain who, up till now, thought pills, injections and surgery were the only option to stop their pain. “It has changed the way we have been able to treat people with degenerative spinal conditions”, said Alff.

The new technology also brings relief to both the back and the bank account, Alff said. The cost is less than one-tenth that of back surgery.

Non-surgical spinal decompression worked for patient Nancy B, of Camarillo. “I was very bad intense pain and I didn’t know where to turn”. I decided to try the spinal decompression and I haven’t been sorry! I am now pain free and feel human again!”

Unlike surgery, there is no recovery period. After decompression therapy, most patients can return to their regular activities. “I was hardly able to stand up and walk and after awhile all the Tylenol I was taking wasn’t helping. I went through Dr. Alff’s program and I was relieved of my pain. 2 years later and I am in wonderful shape and have gone back to doing things that I was doing before the pain started”. Peter F., Oxnard

The Ventura Spinal Care Center sets a high standard in treating spinal related disorders. Their goal is to transform a patient’s health and life without using toxic medications or risky surgery. Their commitment to this goal has lead to the development of a facility combining cutting edge technology consisting of state-of-the art equipment such as the DRX9000, along with the Pro-Adjuster, a computerized non-force instrument for spinal adjustments, cold laser therapy, oxygen therapy, Vivatek non-invasive disc rehabilitation and computerized testing for the best patient outcomes. The Ventura Spinal Care Center is located at 1675 E. Main Street, Ventura and has been helping patients transform their health since 1982. Go to www.secrets4backpain.com for more information. Not everyone is a good candidate for treatment on the DRX9000. For a free qualifying consultation, call 805-648-7987.