Back Conditions

Back conditions ranges in intensity from mild, one-day affairs to a traumatic life altering occurrence. Learn about back conditions, including treatment and symptoms. Click on a condition listed below to learn more about it.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is a bundle of nerves that starts in the low back, goes down the buttock, into the back of the thigh, and down the back of the lower leg. Pain from sciatica often extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg, sometimes to the foot or toes.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of sciatica include:

• Burning or tingling down the leg
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• Pain in the rear or leg made worse when sitting
• A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot

TREATMENT: Common treatment of sciatica includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Percussor therapy
• Distraction therapy
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve is a very common occurrence but is definitely not normal. The nerves send signals from the brain out to all your body parts. A pinched nerve is one that has pressure upon it due to the spine being out of alignment.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of a pinched nerve include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning
• Shooting pain
• Weakness

TREATMENT: Common treatment of a pinched nerve includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Percussor therapy
• Distraction therapy
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Low Back Pain

Low back pain can stop you from participating in many activities in life. It is extremely common and depending on its cause has different handlings. Dr. Jere will correctly diagnose your low back pain so you can get the exact right treatment.

Herniated Discs

Also called a bulging, protruding ruptured or slipped disc, a herniated disc is an abnormal protrusion of a spinal disk between vertebrae, most often in the lumbar region of the spine. The disc starts to take up more room than it should, causing pain because of pressure on spinal nerves.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of herniated discs include:

• Leg pain
• Severe back, buttock and leg pain
• Pins and needles feeling
• Muscle weakness in the legs

TREATMENT: Common treatment of herniated discs includes:

• Massage therapy
• Rehab therapy
• SpineMed
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Degenerative Disc

This is when a damaged vertebral disc causes low back pain and/or leg pain in the lumbar spine or neck pain and/or arm pain in the cervical spine. Damage to the disc occurs naturally or through a twisting injury.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of a degenerative disc include:

• Chronic low back pain
• Pain in the buttocks or thighs while walking
• Tingling or weakness through the knees

TREATMENT: Common treatment of a degenerative disc includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Distraction therapy
• Percussor therapy
• SpineMed
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Posterior Facet Syndrome

The underlying cause of posterior facet syndrome is due to long term changes in the facet joint that are often associated with degenerative disc disease. Posterior Facet Syndrome is not a common cause of back pain.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of Posterior Facet Syndrome include:

• Low back pain from the facet joints often radiates down into the buttocks and the back of the upper leg. Typically, there’s back pain just to one side of the spine
• Cervical facet joint problems may radiate pain locally or into the shoulders or upper back
• More discomfort while leaning backward than while leaning forward
• Persisting tenderness overlying the inflamed facet joints
• The back will generally feel stiff in the morning

TREATMENT: Common treatment of Posterior Facet Syndrome includes

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Distraction therapy
• Percussor therapy
• SpineMed
• Rehab therapy
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Degenerative Arthritis

Degenerative arthritis is a chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to painful joint inflammation. It is the most common form of arthritis and occurs usually after middle age. Also known as osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of degenerative arthritis include:

• Joint stiffness
• Joint pain
• Grating sensation
• Swelling
• Bone spurs
• Loss of mobility

TREATMENT: Common treatment of degenerative arthritis includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Distraction therapy
• Percussor therapy
• SpineMed
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Annular Tears

An annular tear is a tear or damage to the outer layer of a spinal disc known as the Annulus Fibrosus. An annular tear is sometimes a precursor to a herniated disc.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of an annular tear include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Weakness in the arms and/or legs

TREATMENT: Common treatment of an annular tear includes:

• Massage therapy
• SpineMed
• Rehab therapy
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Failed Back or Neck Surgery Syndrome

This is when sciatica, spinal stenosis or another chronic back or neck pain continues after an open spine surgery procedure.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of a failed back or neck surgery include:

• Back pain persists with pain usually radiating to the hips, buttocks and/or thighs
• Dull aching pain in the neck area or sharp pain that radiates into the arms

TREATMENT: Common treatment of a failed back or neck surgery includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• SpineMed
• Rehab therapy
• Percussor therapy
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is a condition due to a compressed nerve in the spine. Radicular pain is a type of pain that radiates into the lower extremity directly along the course of a spinal nerve root.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of radiculopathy include:

• Pain, numbness, tingling or weakness along the course of the nerve

TREATMENT: Common treatment of radiculopatahy includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Percussor therapy
• Nutritional support
• Exercise counseling

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a medical condition where the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. Spinal stenosis causes pain and may cause difficulty controlling bladder and bowel functions, as well.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of spinal stenosis include:

• Low back pain that eases when bending forward or sitting
• Pain, weakness, or numbness in the legs, calves or buttocks
• Burning sensations, tingling, and pins and needles in an extremity
• Bladder and bowel problems in severe cases

TREATMENT: Common treatment of spinal stenosis includes:

• SpineMed
• Rehab therapy

Spondyolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis usually occurs towards the base of your spine in the lumbar area.
The forward movement of one vertebra (one of the 33 bones of your spinal column) in relationship to an adjacent vertebra.

SYMPTOMS: Common symptoms of spinal spondyolisthesis include:

• Pain in the lower back that might radiate to the buttocks or back of thigh, or perhaps to below the knee, occasionally to the foot
• Gate may change to give the appearance of more of a waddle than a walk
• Pain that is worse when standing, walking or bending backwards
• Pain that is better when sitting or, particularly, reclining
• Legs which feel very tired, especially after walking
• Tight hamstrings

TREATMENT: Common treatment of spondyolisthesis includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Rehab therapy
• Percussor therapy
• Distraction therapy
• Exercise counseling