Disc Bulge - Low Back Pain
BACKGROUND
Steve, a 45 year old office manager, complained of severe pain in his right lower back and the back of his right leg. He stated that his symptoms had been present for the past three weeks. It was difficult for him to sit or stand for any length of time. In the past Steve has suffered with back pain. He would usually rest and take some aspirin. The pain would abate within two or three days. However, this time, the pain was intense and nothing seemed to help.
LIFESTYLE
Steve sits in front of a computer at his desk for many hours a day. He is a “weekend warrior,” choosing to hike and ski whenever he gets a chance. Other exercise included: running, going to the gym, and indoor rock climbing. Steve’s diet was good – occasionally eating restaurant food for lunch and dinner. He also ate processed cereal for breakfast.
OTHER SYMPTOMS
None.
FINDINGS
Standard orthopedic examination strongly suggested a lateral disc bulge of the lower lumbar vertebra (in this case it turned out to be at the L5/S1 disc. X-rays showed sacral and lumber abnormalities consistent with subluxations and postural adaptations (overly tight muscles in the lower spine).
TREATMENT
Structural: Cranial/sacral adjustments, low-force correction of the rotated L5 vertebra, pelvic blocking, meridian balancing.
Chemical: Proteolytic enzymes between meals to decrease inflammation. Later, general nutrition was addressed.
Lifestyle: No athletic activity; rest in a comfortable position – lying on his back with his legs elevated on a chair or the couch, or lying on his side; ice in the area of pain for twenty minutes, three times a day.
RESULTS
Steve’s disc injury was significant and required that he be seen three times a week for three weeks. Care was gradually reduced after that point. After two months, Steve was pain free and able to return to his active life. He now is on a regular maintenance schedule to prevent any similar setbacks.
COMMENTS
Disc injuries can be resolved much quicker if they are tended to immediately. Three weeks was simply too long to wait. Whenever pain is present in an extremity, as was true in this case, seek immediate care. If progress was not being made, or if it was slow in coming, Steve would have been sent out for an MRI and a neurological consultation.
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