Non-surgical lumbar decompression is unique in that it is the only method of treatment that promotes the repair of injured disc tissue. It does this by creating an anti-gravity effect within the spine which creates a vacuum and draws nutrients and O2 into the injured disc which allows the disc to repair itself from the inside out.

Our office specializes in treating patients suffering with chronic back and neck pain due to disc herniation and spinal stenosis. Each session is very interactive between our doctors and patients. We will provide an individualized treatment program to reach per-determined goals on your initial visit.

We have an 80% success rate with the patients that we accept for care. The first step is to block off about 1 hour of your time for a consult and examination. We will discuss your condition and review your findings together to determine if you are a candidate for this non-surgical procedure.

The New Year is like opening up the curtain to our ideal selves, the people we deep down want to be. It’s fun to see the possibilities and envision ourselves with our loved ones enjoying our healthy pain free bodies. So we make a commitment to do whatever it takes to become that version of ourselves we saw behind the curtain. We rid our cabinets of junk food, re-join the gym, set the alarm an hour earlier in search of our dreams.

What happens? Why do we fail to reach our dreams?!

I love the story of Florence Chadwick and her quest to swim the 21 mile English Channel. She quit ½ a mile short and was quoted as saying, “the fog obscured my vision.” She was so close but lost sight. Is your vision of the person you want to be obscured by fog? I believe we lose sight of the vision that was so clear to us January 1st. We forget how nice it was seeing ourselves behind the curtain and we end up focusing on our sore muscles and bland food.

When you give up the vision of your ideal self, you are forced to live a mediocre lifestyle. We somehow convince ourselves that things are OK; besides, it takes too much effort to change. We become satisfied with the “same old same old.”
This year why not make the decision to become the person you want to be and enjoy the vitality that life has to offer? Don’t let your vision become obscured by fog!

If low back pain due to herniated discs or spinal stenosis is hindering you from achieving your goals, I invite you to call our office to schedule a 60 minute consultation and examination to determine if non-surgical lumbar decompression can mean freedom from your chronic pain.

Is there a better way? It is well documented that chronic pain interferes with mental clarity. Our decision making ability is impaired when suffering chronic pain. In my practice we request that the potential patient bring a spouse or loved one to the initial consultation. This helps the patient by offering another set of ears that can pick up things that were said and it also adds a different perspective the patient may not have thought about.

It helps me as the doctor to hear the spouse’s interpretation of the patient’s condition and gives me the opportunity to make a more informed diagnosis. I often tell my patients, “It is best to exhaust every natural option to treat your condition before succumbing to surgery.” Too often I meet with patients that truly regret making the decision to receive spine surgery before exploring other options.

In closing, if you are suffering with chronic low back pain or leg pain due to disc bulging, herniations, or stenosis, take the time and make the effort to seek a second opinion with another doctor and hear what their approach would be to helping you. Then together with your spouse or loved ones, you can make a decision that is best for YOU.

When was the last time you reviewed your overall health goals, or revisited your current meds with your doctor in order to possibly eliminate duplicate meds or ones that are no longer needed for your condition? Have you established health goals with your Doctor, much like you would financial goals with your financial planner? If not, why not?

Consider meeting with your doctor so that together you can come up with a plan to ensure you live a longer, healthier life. Here are a few sample questions to address with your doctor:

– Can you review the prescription meds I’m currently taking and decide if we can eliminate some or replace them with a natural alternative?
– How can I better handle stress throughout my day?
– Will you review my food diary and make suggestions to keep me healthy?
– How can I lose 20 lbs. safely, without going on some extreme diet?
– What vitamins would you recommend to help my fatigue?
– At my age and current health status, what would you recommend that I add or subtract from my life?
– It’s very important to me to be active with my grandchildren, but my back and neck hurt after playing with them. What can I do to help this?
– I love golf but quit playing because my legs and back got too weak during a round. What can I do to resume golfing?

You only have one body, if you fail to take care of it the results can significantly reduce your quality of life. Take the time to decide who you will discuss your health care goals with. Don’t delay. Your life depends on it!

Our office is dedicated to helping patients with chronic back and neck pain due to disc herniations, stenosis or arthritis. We specialize in a technique called non surgical lumbar decompression. We also provide massage, diet and weight loss counsel, and “back school” classes to strengthen the spine and promote activity.

Before beginning any project it is best to “begin with the end in mind”, according to Stephen Covey, the author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He suggests envisioning what the final project will look like, then starting an action plan of the necessary steps to achieve the desired outcome.

Imagine if the technology were available to allow us to see ourselves 5, 10, 15 or 20 years from now. What would you look like? Would you be heavier? Would you have healthy skin, would you have good posture? Would you be pleased with the “you” in 20 years?

Now imagine what you would feel like in 20 years. What if you decided to change some unhealthy habits? Perhaps quit smoking, begin an exercise program, reduce processed foods, increase your intake of fruits and vegetables and/or drink more water? Imagine how these simple changes would affect your energy level, your zest for life, your relationships? In addition to how you look and feel, a big part of the quality of life we experience is based on our ability to remain mobile. For example, everyone can benefit from stretching in order to remain flexible and active. Again, thinking ahead, would you be pleased with the “you” in 20 years?

As a doctor, I don’t need technology to see into the future. I can assure you that poor diet, lack of exercise and poor health habits will significantly reduce your future health and well being. But the good news is that I have also seen the drastic results that these simple changes can achieve.

Remember that all of the above mentioned ideas will significantly improve your odds of staying healthy and active; however, even with the best efforts there will be times when we experience back problems. If you have questions or concerns regarding your spine, our office specializes in treating chronic conditions such as stenosis, disc herniations, sciatica and spinal arthritis using the latest technology called non-surgical lumbar decompression. We can assist you in attaining your long range goals to remain healthy and active 5, 10, 15 and 20 years from now.

If you are a golfer, no doubt you are ready to start playing. But is your body ready?

Low back pain injuries are the most common complaint among both amateur and professional golfers. Watch the motion of the spine during a golf swing and you can understand why. Since the lumbar (low back) region of the spine is not designed to rotate, golfing puts undue stress on the cartilage discs and supportive ligaments of the low back.

If professional golfers who train their bodies daily to withstand rotational forces of the swing, experience low back pain after a round of golf, imagine the potential for injury among the average recreational golfer. It is not unusual for a golfer to roll out of bed, rush to the golf course and grab a cup of coffee and a donut enroute. Many fail to stretch and also have weak stomach and low back muscles. What can be done to minimize the potential for back problems in golfers?

1.) Spend time stretching the hamstrings, low back and shoulder muscles. Allow 10-15 minutes of stretching prior to your 1st swing. When stretching it is essential to stretch slowly giving the muscles ample time during each stretch; never bounce or jerk muscles while stretching.

2.) Strengthen your muscles. The primary muscles involved in the golf swing are the stomach, back, hips and thighs. Together, these muscles are called the “core”. Strengthening the core reduces harmful shearing forces on the low back discs. A chiropractor or fitness trainer can set up a golf conditioning program for you.

3.) Take lessons from a PGA golf professional in an effort to improve your technique. Poor technique puts undue pressure on the low back.

4.) Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water during your round of golf, and be sure to compensate when you’re sweating more. The discs of the spine are composed of 90% water. When we don’t drink enough water our bodies will pull the water from the discs which further weaken the cartilage.

5.) Use proper posture when bending down to lift the clubs or balls from tees.

The Bedding and Pillows can be found at the Select Comfort® store at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor (440-205-1625).

The shoe inserts can be found at Fleet Feet Sports in Macedonia (330-908-3234).

The seat cushions and back braces can be obtained by calling the Solon Spine and Wellness office at 440-248-5070.

The traction that we are all familiar with utilizes an extended stretch to pull the body in opposite directions.  When this pull is centered on the lower back, the muscles tighten up around the vertebrae, freezing them into place.  Traction has never been proven to reduce slippage, herniation, or protrusion of the disc.  Traction treats muscles, while decompression treats the disc. 

Spinal decompression is much more specific and focuses just on the precise injury.  The decompression table does indeed provide a pull, however, the pull is much gentler than traction. Additionally, it moves in a pull-rest pattern, which, coupled with the low weight of the pull, prevents the muscles from getting engaged.  Using this technology, the discs are able to pull apart slightly, using a vacuum to pull blood and nutrients into the area, allowing the injured disc to repair and restore damaged tissue which in turn reduces back pain.  This is done naturally without drugs or surgery.

 A case study done by Terry Yochum, D.C. and Chad Maola, D.C. reported that there are generally several factors that are involved in disc pain.  These have to do not only with the structure of the spine itself but they also are nerve-related and stem from inflammation.  The results of their study showed that not only did 71% percent of the patients report an 80% decrease in pain, but the changes they saw were both biomechanical (at the level of the physical problem) and pathophysiologic (the symptoms stemming from the physical problem were relieved).  These two doctors were also impressed with how quickly the decompression brought about these positive results.

 The next study we looked at was presented by Alex Macario, MD, MBA, Sunil Panchal, MD, Charlotte Richmond, PhD, and Joseph Pergolizzi, MD.  They looked at the charts of 100 patients who had gone through spinal decompression, starting with an average pain level of 5.99 on a scale of 0-10 (with 10 being the most pain).  At the end of their respective decompression programs, the patients reported that their pain had decreased to a .87, and many of them were no longer using pain killers. 

Our office specializes in treating patients with chronic and severe lower back pain caused by disc injuries/herniation and stenosis. Non-surgical lumbar decompression is the most effective method available for treating chronic back pain. In fact, eighty percent of the patients that we accept for care here at Solon Spine and Wellness Center have become pain free or have shown significant pain relief.