Health Conditions

SPINAL STENOSIS

Spinal stenosis happens when the space inside the backbone is too small. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine. Spinal stenosis happens most often in the lower back and the neck.

Symptoms:

Little or no pain while sitting.
Leg or buttock pain on both sides while walking/standing.
Symptoms increase the longer you walk/stand.
Symptoms increase while arching your back or standing upright.
Symptoms are relieved by leaning forwards (like using a walker or leaning on a grocery cart while shopping), sitting and lying down.
Problems with weakness and balance in the legs while walking.
Possible urinary problems.
You do not necessarily need to experience pain in your lower back with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Some people are born with a small spinal canal. But most spinal stenosis occurs when something happens to reduce the amount of open space within the spine. Causes of spinal stenosis include:

Bone spurs. Wear-and-tear damage from arthritis can cause extra bone to grow on the spine. This creates bone spurs that can push into the spinal canal. Paget's disease also can cause extra bone to grow on the spine.
Herniated discs. Discs are the soft cushions that act as shock absorbers between the spinal bones. If part of the disk's soft inner material leaks out, it can press on the spinal cord or nerves.
Thick ligaments. The strong cords that help hold the bones of the spine together can become stiff and thick over time. Thick ligaments can push into the spinal canal.
Tumors. Rarely, tumors can form inside the spinal canal.
Spinal injuries. Car accidents and other trauma can cause spinal bones to break or move out of place. Swelling of nearby tissue right after back surgery also can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

Your healthcare professional may ask about your symptoms and medical history. You may have a physical exam. You also may need an imaging test to help find the problem. These tests may include:

X-rays. An X-ray of the back can show bone changes that may be making the space within the spinal canal smaller. Each X-ray involves a small dose of radiation.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce detailed images of hard and soft tissue. The test can detect damage to the disks and ligaments. It also can show whether tumors are present.
Computerized tomography (CT). If you can't have an MRI, you may need a CT scan. This test combines X-ray images taken from many different angles. In a CT myelogram, a contrast dye is injected to outline the spinal cord and nerves. This can show herniated disks, bone spurs and tumors.

We believe that your spinal hygiene should be taken seriously. Most individuals take the time and effort out of their busy lives to go to the dentist to take care of their dental hygiene, but often neglect their spine. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and routine chiropractic care can help keep the spine aligned and prevent spinal degeneration as we age.

If you believe you could benefit from high-quality care, consider getting treatment from the staff at Canadian Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Centres. We provide spinal stenosis treatments in Mississauga and Oakville, Ontario.

DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is when your spinal discs wear down. Spinal discs are rubbery cushions between your vertebrae (bones in your spinal column). They act as shock absorbers and help you move, bend and twist comfortably. Everyone’s spinal discs degenerate over time and is a normal part of aging. When the cushions wear away, the bones can start to rub together. This contact can cause pain and other problems, such as:

Symptoms:

Pain in the neck or low back
Leg or buttock pain
Pain can be mild, moderate or severe
Symptoms may increase while bending, twisting, or lifting
Symptoms are relieved by leaning forwards (like using a walker or leaning on a grocery cart while shopping), sitting and lying down.
Symptoms can get worse as we age

Spinal degeneration is normal as we age. However, there are several risk factors that can lead to more advanced phases of DDD at younger ages, including occupation (repetitive physical tasks), physical activity, obesity, and lifestyle. Here are the four phases:

Phase I. In the early stage of DDD, the intervertebral discs lose their ability to retain water, causing dehydration. This results in a reduction of disc height and may lead to a decrease in the space between adjacent vertebrae. The outer layer of the disc, known as the annulus fibrosus, may develop minor tears and cracks. These can contribute to disc instability and the potential for future damage.
Phase II. As the condition progresses, the inner core of the disc (nucleus pulposus) may push against the weakened annulus fibrosus, causing the disc to bulge outward. This can put pressure on adjacent structures, such as nerves and spinal cord. Individuals may experience increased and more persistent pain, often radiating into the arms or legs. This is due to the compression of nerves or spinal cord by the bulging disc.
Phase III. In this stage, the outer layer of the disc may develop a tear or rupture, allowing the inner nucleus pulposus to extrude through the annulus fibrosus. This condition is commonly known as a herniated disc or slipped disc. Herniated discs can cause severe and often constant pain, as well as other symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the areas served by the affected nerves. The extent of these symptoms can vary depending on the location and size of the herniation.
Phase IV. In the advanced stage of DDD, the affected discs may lose a significant amount of height, resulting in a decrease in the space between the vertebrae. Bone Spurs (Osteophytes): To compensate for the loss of disc height and instability, the body may form bony growths, known as bone spurs, along the edges of the vertebrae. These can further impinge on nerves and spinal structures. Chronic and Debilitating Pain: At this stage, individuals may experience chronic and debilitating pain, reduced mobility, and limitations in their daily activities. Surgical intervention may be considered for pain management and stabilization.

We believe that your spinal hygiene should be taken seriously. Most individuals take the time and effort out of their busy lives to go to the dentist to take care of their dental hygiene, but often neglect their spine. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and routine chiropractic care can help keep the spine aligned and prevent spinal degeneration as we age.

If you believe you could benefit from high-quality care, consider getting treatment from the staff at Canadian Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Centres. We provide degenerated disc treatments in Mississauga and Oakville, Ontario.

BULGING OR HERNIATED DISC

A herniated disc is an injury of the spine. You have a series of bones (vertebrae) in your spine, stretching from the base of your skull to your tailbone. Between your vertebrae are round cushions called discs. The discs act as buffers between your bones, allowing you to bend and move with ease. When one of these discs tears or leaks, it’s called a herniated disc.

Symptoms depend on the severity and location of the herniation:

Low back. It’s common for a herniated disc in the lower back to cause “sciatic nerve” pain. This sharp pain usually shoots down one side of your buttocks into your leg and sometimes the foot. Other symptoms of a herniated disc in your lower back include: muscle weakness, back pain, and tingling or numbness to the legs and feet.
Neck. Symptoms of a herniated disc in your neck include:

Pain near or between your shoulder blades.
Pain that travels to your shoulder, arm and sometimes your hand and fingers.
Neck pain, especially in the back and on the sides of your neck.
Pain that increases when bending or turning your neck.
Numbness or tingling in your arms.

herniation of the disc and low back pain

Your healthcare professional may ask about your symptoms and medical history. You may have a physical exam. You also may need an imaging test to help find the problem. These tests may include:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): The most common and accurate imaging test for a suspected herniated disc is an MRI.
X-rays: Getting X-rays helps rule out other causes of back or neck pain.
Computed tomography (CT): A CT scan show the bones of your spine. Herniated discs can move into the space around your spinal cord and nerves and press on them.
Myelogram: A myelogram involves an injection of dye into your spine using X-ray guidance for a CT scan. The dye can reveal a narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis) and location of your herniated disc.
Electromyogram (EMG): This test involves placing small needles into various muscles and evaluate the function of your nerves. An EMG helps determine which nerve a herniated disc affects.

We believe that your spinal hygiene should be taken seriously. Most individuals take the time and effort out of their busy lives to go to the dentist to take care of their dental hygiene, but often neglect their spine. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and routine chiropractic care can help keep the spine aligned and prevent spinal degeneration as we age.

If you believe you could benefit from high-quality care, consider getting treatment from the staff at Canadian Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Centres. We provide herniated and bulging disc treatments in Mississauga and Oakville, Ontario.

SCIATICA

Sciatica happens when irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression affect one or more nerves that run down your lower back and into your legs.

Sciatica can happen because of any condition that affects the sciatic nerve. It can also happen because of conditions affecting any of the five spinal nerves that bundle to form the sciatic nerve.

Common causes:

Herniated discs.
Degenerative disc disease.
Spinal stenosis.
Foraminal stenosis.
Spondylolisthesis.
Osteoarthritis.
Injuries.
Pregnancy.
Tumors, cysts or other growths.
Conus medullas syndrome.
Cauda equina syndrome.
Piriformis Muscle Syndrome

Sciatica symptoms can include:

Pain. Sciatica pain happens because of pressure on the affected nerve(s). Most people describe sciatica pain as burning or like an electric shock. This pain also often shoots or radiates down the leg on the affected side. Pain commonly happens with coughing, sneezing, bending or lifting your legs upward when lying on your back.
Tingling or “pins and needles” (paresthesia). This is similar to the feeling you have when a leg falls asleep because you sat cross-legged.
Numbness. This is when you can’t feel sensations on the skin in the affected areas of your back or leg. It happens because signals from your back or leg are having trouble reaching your brain.
Muscle weakness. This is a more severe symptom. It means that muscle command signals are having trouble reaching their destinations in your back or legs.
Urinary incontinence or fecal incontinence. This is a very severe symptom. It means signals that control your bladder and bowels aren’t reaching their destinations.

A healthcare provider can diagnose sciatica using a combination of methods. They’ll review your medical history and ask about your symptoms. They’ll also do a physical examination. That exam will include:

Walking. Sciatica often causes visible changes in how you walk. Your provider will watch for those changes as part of diagnosing sciatica.
Straight leg raise test. This involves having you lie on an exam table with your legs straight out. They’ll slowly raise your legs one at a time toward the ceiling and ask when you start to feel pain or other symptoms. These can help pinpoint the cause of sciatica and how to manage it.
Other flexibility and strength checks. These can help your provider determine if any other factors are causing or contributing to your sciatica.

We believe that your spinal hygiene should be taken seriously. Most individuals take the time and effort out of their busy lives to go to the dentist to take care of their dental hygiene, but often neglect their spine. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and routine chiropractic care can help keep the spine aligned and prevent spinal degeneration as we age.

If you believe you could benefit from high-quality care, consider getting treatment from the staff at Canadian Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Centres. We provide sciatica treatments in Mississauga and Oakville, Ontario.

FACET SYNDROME

Facet syndrome is an articular disorder related to the facet joints and their innervations, and produces both local and radiating pain. 55% of facet syndrome cases occur in the cervical vertebrae (neck), and 31% in lumbar (low back). Neck pain due to cervical facet joint involvement is known as cervical facet syndrome and low back pain due to lumbar facet joint involvement is known as lumbar facet syndrome.

Symptoms:

Facet joint pain is felt locally as a one sided back pain, which when severe can spread down the entire limb. The source of pain must be confirmed by clinical examination. The joint capsule is more likely to generate pain than the articular cartilage or the synovium. All of the lumbar facet joints are capable of producing pain that can refer to the groin (this is more common with lower facet joint pathology).

Cervical facet syndrome includes following symptoms:

Axial neck pain (rarely radiating past the shoulders), most common on one side
Pain with and/or limitation of extension and rotation
Tenderness upon palpation
Radiating pain locally or into the shoulders or upper back, and rarely radiate in the front or down an arm or into the fingers as a herniated disc might.

Lumbar facet syndrome can be characterized by following symptoms:

Pain or tenderness in lower back.
Local tenderness/stiffness alongside the spine in the lower back.
Pain, stiffness or difficulty with certain movements (such as standing up straight or getting up from a chair.
Pain upon hyperextension
Referred pain from upper lumbar facet joints can extend into the flank, hip and upper lateral thigh
Referred pain from lower lumbar facet joints can penetrate deep into the thigh, laterally and/or posteriorly
L4-L5 and L5-S1 facet joints can refer pain extending into the distal lateral leg, and in rare instances to the foot

We believe that your spinal hygiene should be taken seriously. Most individuals take the time and effort out of their busy lives to go to the dentist to take care of their dental hygiene, but often neglect their spine. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and routine chiropractic care can help keep the spine aligned and prevent spinal degeneration as we age.

If you believe you could benefit from high-quality care, consider getting treatment from the staff at Canadian Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Centres. We provide facet syndrome treatments in Mississauga and Oakville, Ontario.

SCOLIOSIS

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. While scoliosis can occur in people with conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most childhood scoliosis is not known.

Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some curves worsen as children grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling. An especially serious spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.

Children who have mild scoliosis are monitored closely, usually with X-rays, to see if the curve is getting worse.

Chiropractic care to correct spinal curvature:

For mild scoliosis curves, the patient is usually only monitored for progression. Most people with mild curvatures don’t experience bouts of back pain any more than the normal population. However, if the curve shows signs of rapid progression, or increases beyond 30 degrees, treatment is recommended. In every individual with scoliosis there are bound to be areas of joint overuse. This can contribute to spinal pain or nervous system disturbances. Fortunately, chiropractors are specially trained to locate and correct areas of spinal subluxation. Chiropractors do their best to reduce the curve angle. While research is limited, there are some indications that chiropractic care (manipulation and soft tissue rehabilitation) can have an effect on spinal curvature (FULL ARTCILE 1)

(FULL ARTICLE 2)

We believe that your spinal hygiene should be taken seriously. Most individuals take the time and effort out of their busy lives to go to the dentist to take care of their dental hygiene, but often neglect their spine. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and routine chiropractic care can help keep the spine aligned and prevent spinal degeneration as we age.

If you believe you could benefit from high-quality care, consider getting treatment from the staff at Canadian Chiropractic Spinal Decompression Centres. We provide scoliosis treatments in Mississauga and Oakville, Ontario.

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