Disc Herniation Specialists In San Diego CA

What does it take to become a specialist in something? According to well known author Malcolm Gladwell - 10,000 hours, some sooner, some later. Also having to deal with disc herniations yourself slightly helps :)

We have provided over 25,000 disc herniation treatments over the past 16 years and I have treated 3 separate disc herniations on myself, figured out how to strengthen certain muscles and what activities and exercises to perform is important, however, the ones to avoid are just as important.

3 Important Factors need to be addressed with a disc Herniation:

1. Avoidance - what exercises, activities, treatments are to be avoided. Also stretches to avoid. Many patients come into the office and routinely go thru low back stretches that actually worsen their condition. This is extremely important and needs to be addressed quickly.

2. Decompression. NSSD - Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression therapy has been researched and proven effective by John Hopkins, Stanford University, Mayo Clinic among others. There are several factors that need to go into determining eligibility for treatment. Height, weight, duration and type of pain. Fitness levels, muscle to fat tissue ratios. Physical examination Findings, x-ray findings, MRI findings all need to be taken into account when determining settings and protocols for treatment. Additionally pre and post treatment therapies need to be applied as well and timing and type are critical for each patient and will vary.

3. Spinal Stabilization - Extremely important that the spinal and abdominal muscles are able to hold the weight of the patient up in a functional and supportive position. If that does not happen then all the pressure returns to the spinal disc and the pain is then returned once again and a viscous cycle ensues.