DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR DISC DISEASE CaseFile
Every chiropractor could write a DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR DISC DISEASE CaseFile every day of the week. It's our bread and butter, and it's good the medical research after medical research dissertation too confesses that we have the upper hand in the management of this horrid condition!
74 years old, two hip prostheses
This very fine lady has had lower back pain as long as she can remember. Six months ago the pain started radiating down her left leg, such that she could barely walk. Her history includes two hip prostheses that appear to have been successful, and I could find nothing wrong with them. The pain was clearly eminating from her back. These lumbar X-rays are revealing. She has far advanced degenerative disease, and signs of a curvature, probably worse before the hip prostheses. She also has a degenerative spondylolysthesis. Really this is case of lumbar spinal canal stenosis and a shocking back. An aside: Her doctor told her there was nothing to be done and she must learn to live with the pain. Consulting a chiropractor would be a complete waste of time and money, and would most likely be dangerous.
DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR DISC DISEASE CaseFileIt is now well confirmed in the literature that a short leg leads to a curvature, and increased hip and knee arthritis. Looking at these X-rays (taken after the hip operations for hip arthritis) I am convinced that she had a significant short leg previously, though not any longer. The surgeon did a great job of her hips.
Last summer ...DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR DISC DISEASE CaseFileBut something went seriously amiss 6 months ago. She doens't know what. The low back and leg pain just got steadily worse.What was interesting was that the classic Slump test for slipped disc symptoms was negative in the beginning. Then it became lightly positive after treatment began. And then the whole thing got better. Sometimes a chronic condition becomes worse before it gets better.
SLUMP TEST ... PROGRESSDEGENERATIVE LUMBAR DISC DISEASE CaseFileIt was very encouraging to hear this morning that she has been walking every day for the last six weeks, and three days a week for an hour. Without pain. One and half hours, that was too much and she was sore for the rest of the day.Generally degenerative lumbar disc disease, and lumbar spinal canal stenosis respond surprisingly well to chiropractic. She is taking the rehab very seriously, and frankly she has surprised us both. Please, please, don't believe it if someone tells you that have arthritis, and there's nothing to be done. Learn to live with it. Quite odd! Her doctor contradicts her when she tells him how much better she is. It couldn't possibly be. NB. Never take case files like this DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR DISC DISEASE CaseFile as gospel. This is an exceptional case. Question: Why is it that some people with severe conditions respond so well, and others with minor conditions continue to suffer poor health and pain for months and years? If you want to add an opinion, CONTACT US, is always available.
CONTACT US... UPDATEMrs T is still doing fine. She is walking an hour every day without pain, and very satisfied.I asked whether perhaps pre-hip operation X-rays are available, because it's possible, even likely that she has an inheritable condition. Bingo, hit the nail on the head. Both her daughters, around 50 are having significant hip and groin pain. I am intrigued to see if she had Femero Acetabular Impingement Syndrome Pincer or Cam, or Developmental Hip dysplasia. X-rays from the hospital have been requested.
"When the world wearies, and society ceases to satisfy, there's always the garden..." Alas, her days of gardening are over. Perhaps a few potted plants... HYALINE CARTILAGEWhen you get old and grey, it will happen helaas, will the hyaline cartilage in your joints look like this super-smoother-than-ice...
Or, will your joints look like this dried-out-degenerate-pain-causing joint cartilage... what you eat, whether you smoke, if you exercise, just a simple heel lift could make an enormous difference should you have a leg length inequality and low back pain lying in your destiny. Arthritis in lower back is not fun... so much can be done. Prevention, indeed rather better than ... ARTHRITIS IN LOWER BACK ...
USEFUL LINKSReturn from Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease CaseFile to LOWER BACK PAIN ...Return from Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease to CHIROPRACTIC HELP ... Chiropractic Help LUMBAR STENOSIS ... LOWER BACK and LEG pain ... Monthly Newsletter - sign up here.
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