Water vs Coke

You've probably been hearing since you were a little child that you should drink 8 glasses of water a day.  How many times were we told to 'stay hydrated' on hot days? 

Dehydration is a major problem in the US, where we have one of the largest supplies of clean drinking water available. Take a look at some of these statistics and then read a little bit about dehydration and back pain below, you might find yourself very surprised.

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population)

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Water is important in nearly all of life's chemical processes, and the production, growth and life of skin cells depends on it. Water within the cells helps make your skin look smooth, firm and tight. It is important for the functioning of our bodies' internal organs, as well.

Back Pain and Dehydration

Most people associate back pain with structural and/or muscular dysfunctions or imbalances of the spine and back. Did you know that back and spine pain can also be caused or made worse by chronic dehydration?

Your spinal column has Intervertebral discs which function as shock absorbers in between the vertebrae. The inner disc is made of nucleus pulposus, a jelly like substance. It functions to distribute hydraulic pressure in all directions within each disc under compressive loads. The nucleus pulposus consists of chondrocytes, collagen fibrils, and proteoglycan aggrecans that have hyaluronic long chains which attract water.

Gravity takes a toll on our spines all day long and the pressure slowly causes the nucleus pulposus to be squeezed out of the discs. Our discs will successfully rehydrate themselves during the night, and also during the day when possible, as long as there are adequate water levels within the body.

When there is not enough water available to fully hydrate the nucleus pulposus, the whole disc becomes compromised. When the inner portion of the disc is dehydrated, it cannot support its share of the load, so more and more of your weight is borne by the outer portion of the disc, which simply was not designed for that purpose. This can cause pain, swelling, and even ruptures or herniations of the outer shell.

If you are experiencing chronic back pain, ask yourself; ‘Am I getting enough water on a daily basis?’. Chronic dehydration over time can lead to severe back pain. A simple and effective way of reducing back pain is to ensure you stay properly hydrated each and every day by drinking half your body weight in ounces of water!

Learn more about how Spinal Decompression can help reduce back pain without surgery.

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NJ Physicians Seek Back Pain Relief with Spinal Decompression Therapy

(April 2010)

Renowned Chiropractor, Dr. Peter Ferraro, has been practicing Spinal Decompression in New Jersey for over 10 years. With over 50,000 Spinal Decompression treatments performed and one of the highest success rates in the area, Dr Ferraro has become the ‘Go to Doctor’ for other physicians in need of lower back pain relief.

According to Dr. Ferraro, many physicians suffering from lower back pain associated with herniated or bulging disc injuries seek Spinal Decompression Therapy to avoid surgery. “Doctors can’t take the chance of being out of work for 6-8 weeks, the time it typically takes to recover from back surgery,” says Dr. Ferraro. With a very high success rate, Spinal Decompression Therapy helps keep physicians out of the operating room and in practice without weeks of downtime.

Published literature has shown a 92% success rate in treating disc injuries with decompression therapies, and Dr. Ferraro says that the vast majority of his patients have made a full recovery after decompression therapy. During Spinal Decompression Therapy, patients are placed in a harness that keeps them in a stable position while a computer-controlled series of stretches targets specific areas of the spine.  The duration of the therapy session is approximately 25 minutes, with patients receiving a series of 20-25 sessions over a period of 7-8 weeks. Dr. Ferraro offers decompression therapy in conjunction with manual treatments and physical therapy for maximum effectiveness.

Many physicians who seek decompression therapy for pain relief begin to feel relief after just 2 weeks of treatment, says Dr. Ferraro, and go on to fully recover after the entire series is complete. “In one instance an oral surgeon came in for therapy. The herniated disk in his neck prevented him from keeping a tight grip—he couldn’t practice. He’s now back to work after a series of 20 sessions on the decompression table.”

Dr. Ferraro was one of the first Chiropractors in NJ to offer the treatment and travels nationally training other Chiropractors on using spinal decompression equipment.

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Treating Slipped Discs

You may have heard the term “slipped disc” used to describe a lower back injury.  Discs do not actually “slip”.  Rather, they may herniate or bulge out from between the bones.  A herniation is a displaced fragment of the center part or nucleus of the disc that is pushed through a tear in the outer layer or annulus of the disc.  Pain results when irritating substances are released from this tear and also if the fragment touches or compresses a nearby nerve.  Disc herniation has some similarities to degenerative disc disease and discs that herniate are often in an early stage of degeneration.  Herniated discs are common in the low back or lumbar spine.

What causes discs to herniate?

Many factors decrease the strength and resiliency of the disc and increase the risk of disc herniation.  Life style choices such as smoking, lack of regular exercise, and inadequate nutrition contribute to poor disc health.  Poor posture, daily wear and tear, injury or trauma, and incorrect lifting or twisting further stress the disc. If the disc is already weakened, it may herniate with a single movement or strain such as coughing or bending to pick up a pencil.

How do I know if I have a disc herniation?

Herniated discs are most likely to affect people between the ages of 30 and 40.  Disc herniations may be present without causing pain.  The most common symptom will be pain in the area of the herniation that may radiate across the hips or into the buttocks.  You may also experience numbness or pain radiating down your leg to the ankle or foot.  If the herniation is large enough, you may notice weakness with extension of your big toe and you may be unable to walk on your toes or heels.  In severe cases of lumbar disc herniation, you may experience changes in your bowel or bladder function and may have difficulty with sexual function.

How is a disc herniation treated?

Mild to moderate disc herniations can usually be treated conservatively with stretching, exercise therapy and chiropractic care.  More advanced cases will often require some form of spinal decompression therapy, such as traction or mechanical decompression, in conjunction with chiropractic care. 

Occasionally, a herniation may be severe enough to warrant surgical intervention.  These cases are usually reserved as a last resort when other forms of therapy have failed to relieve pain, or if there is significant compression of the spinal cord or nerves.

About Dr. Ferraro

Dr. Ferraro, D.C. specializes in the multidisciplinary non-surgical treatment of spinal conditions. His practices throughout New Jersey provide patients in Monmouth and Bergen County with comprehensive care for back, neck, leg, arm, and nerve conditions.

Dr. Ferraro, D.C. has over 12 years of experience in the chiropractic field and has become nationally recognized for his extensive work using non-surgical decompression technology along with being certified in Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA).

Visit Dr Ferraro's blog site at www.SpinalDecompression-NJ.com

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Spinal Decompression Therapy Helps NJ Athletes With Herniated Disc Injuries

(February 12, 2010)

NJ Chiropractor, Dr. Peter Ferraro, treats men and women of all ages who are suffering from herniated disc injuries, and athletes are no exception.

Since many herniated discs are caused by repeated stress to the lower back and prolonged exposure to heavy straining or pressure, athletes are typically a top candidate for herniated or bulging disc injuries. With the multitude of back pain solutions that exist today, making an educated decision for back pain treatment can be difficult.

Spinal decompression is often a popular method of back pain treatment because it is non-surgical, painless and relatively quick. Dr. Ferraro has successfully treated many Bergen County athletes, and those from all over NJ, with spinal decompression therapy. The treatment typically involves 20-25 sessions over a period of 7-8 weeks. Therapy sessions are about 25 minutes in duration.

During spinal decompression therapy, the injured discs of the spine are gently stretched apart, producing a suction effect. This suction effect will draw the bulging material back into the disc. Additionally, the suction will also draw Oxygen, blood, water, and nutrients back into the disc which is essential to the healing process.

According to Dr. Ferraro, published medical studies show a 92% success rate for spinal decompression therapy when performed by a qualified professional. “When spinal decompression is performed properly on the right candidate, they can expect a full recovery and most likely avoid future invasive surgeries,” adds Dr. Ferraro. “Patients must receive a comprehensive evaluation before undergoing treatment, as this is not a one size fits all answer for all herniated disc injuries.”

NJ residents who would like to speak with Dr. Ferraro about the benefits of spinal decompression therapy can call his office at 973-478-2212 to set up a complimentary consultation.

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Headache Relief for Chronic Sufferers

At our NJ chiropractic office, we often treat chronic headache sufferers who experience pain as a result of compression of nerves in the neck. Consistent Chiropractic care has greatly helped decrease the number of headaches experienced by my patients.

 How Can Chiropractic Care Treat Headaches?

Many headaches can stem from misalignments of the spinal vertebrae, commonly seen in individuals with desk jobs. This misalignment can cause the muscles of the upper shoulders and neck to become tense and stiff. The combination of misaligned vertebrae and tense muscles can cause compression on the nerves, which can result in chronic headaches.

Numerous research studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments are very effective for treating headaches, especially headaches that originate in the neck. A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that "spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than commonly prescribed medications."

I perform a specific chiropractic adjustment in the upper cervical area which helps correct the misaligned vertebrae, relieving the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. When tension is removed from the head and neck muscles, balance is restored, relieving individuals from their headaches.

Since there are many different types of headaches and many different causes, I always require that each patient receive a thorough evaluation before a proper course of chiropractic care can be determined. However, in most cases of tension headaches, significant improvement is accomplished through consistent chiropractic care.

Learn more about treating headaches with chiropractic care.

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Spinal Decompression Treats Bulging Discs

(January 1, 2010) Dr. Peter Ferraro is one of New Jersey’s leading specialists in spinal decompression therapy. The renowned NJ Chiropractor has become nationally recognized for his extensive work using non-surgical decompression technology.

For severe back pain and neck pain from a herniated or bulging disc, Dr. Ferraro says spinal decompression is an effective treatment and often times can help patients avoid surgery. Published literature has shown a 92% success rate in treating disc injuries with decompression therapies.

During the procedure in Dr. Ferraro’s NJ office, patients are placed in a harness that keeps them in a stable position while a computer-controlled series of stretches targets specific areas of the spine.  The duration of the therapy session is approximately 25 minutes, with patients receiving a series of 20-25 sessions over a period of 7-8 weeks. Dr. Ferraro offers decompression therapy in conjunction with manual treatments and physical therapy for maximum effectiveness.

According to Dr. Ferraro, spinal decompression accomplishes two things. It increases the height between the vertebrae to create a negative pressure within a disc, which will then draw back the disc material. It also increases blood flow to the disc which allows the outer layer or the annular bands to start laying down new cartilage fibers, so that disc lesions can actually be treated without surgery.

“The beauty behind spinal decompression is that it allows the blood to return back to the disc, which enables the healing process,” says Dr. Ferraro. “Blood is very essential to this whole process; increasing blood flow to the disc allows natural healing to occur.”

Dr. Ferraro was one of the first Chiropractors in NJ to offer the treatment and travels nationally training Chiropractors on using spinal decompression equipment. Dr. Ferraro says the treatment is so effective, many members of the medical community, including doctors, surgeons, cardiologists and dentists visit his office for decompression treatment.

For more information on Dr. Ferraro’s chiropractic services, visit http://stopbackandneckpain.com/custom_content/7972_services__techniques.html

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