Get Natural Pain Relief Without Surgery in New York City for Chronic Disc Herniations & Spinal Stenosis

Chronic disc herniations, bulges, and spinal stenosis are prevalent spinal conditions that can lead to significant discomfort and impair daily activities and quality of life. Understanding these conditions, their causes, symptoms, and treatment options is crucial for effective management.

Understanding Disc Herniations and Bulges

Intervertebral discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in our spine, comprising a soft, gel-like center encased by a tougher exterior. A disc herniation, often referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the inner nucleus protrudes through a tear in the outer layer, potentially pressing on nearby nerves or causing a chemical irritation to the nerves. This can result in pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg. Interestingly, many individuals with a herniated disc may not experience noticeable symptoms. 

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of spaces within the spine, which can exert pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This condition most commonly affects the lower back and neck, leading to pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness. Over time, these symptoms may progressively worsen. 

Common Causes of Disc Herniations and Spinal Stenosis

Several factors contribute to the development of these spinal conditions:

• Aging: Natural wear and tear over time can cause discs to degenerate and lose flexibility, even begin to dehydrate making them more susceptible to herniation or annular tear.
• Degenerative Disc Disease: Discs can break down as you get older, leading to bulging or herniation. 
• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can result in the formation of bone spurs, which may narrow the spinal canal and lead to stenosis.
• Injury: Trauma to the spine can cause immediate disc herniation or accelerate degenerative changes leading to stenosis.
• Scoliosis: Lateral curvature causes premature spinal degeneration. 

Associated Symptoms

The symptoms associated with disc herniations and spinal stenosis can vary based on the location and severity of the condition:

• Pain: Localized or radiating pain in the back, neck, arms, or legs.
• Numbness or Tingling: Sensation changes, often in the extremities, due to nerve compression.
• Muscle Weakness: Affected nerves can lead to muscle weakness, impacting mobility and function. Legs can feel heavy, needing to sit often.
• Balance Difficulties: Severe cases may affect coordination and balance.

Conventional Medical Interventions and Their Efficacy

Traditional treatments for these conditions include:

• Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants aim to reduce pain and inflammation. While they can provide temporary relief, they may also cause side effects such as gastrointestinal issues or drowsiness.
• Physical Therapy: Exercises and stretches designed to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine can improve flexibility and reduce pain. Research shows it’s most effective in conjunction with spinal manipulation.
• Surgery: Procedures like discectomy or laminectomy aim to remove or relieve pressure on affected nerves. However, surgical interventions carry risks, including infection, nerve damage, and, in many cases, unfavorable outcomes after 5 years.                                   

Alternative Treatments with Promising Outcomes  

Many patients seek non-invasive therapies that offer effective relief with minimal risks. At Synergy Wellness Chiropractic and Physical Therapy in East Village, New York City, we specialize in several such treatments:

• Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic spinal manipulation is recognized for its effectiveness in relieving back, leg, and arm pain. 
• Cox Flexion-Distraction Technique: This specialized chiropractic technique gently decompresses the spine, reducing pressure on spinal nerves and discs. It has shown success in treating chronic low back pain, including disc herniations and spinal stenosis, with minimal side effects. 
• Cold Laser Therapy: This non-invasive therapy uses low-level laser light to reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing. It offers pain relief with few side effects, making it a great option for those seeking alternatives to medication. 
• Spinal Decompression Therapy: This technique involves stretching the spine to relieve pressure on discs and nerves. While some patients may experience mild soreness initially, serious side effects are rare. 

Get Relief

Understanding the nuances of spinal conditions and their treatments is essential for effective management. At Synergy Wellness Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, we are committed to providing evidence-based, non-invasive therapies tailored to each patient’s unique needs, aiming to enhance quality of life without the risks associated with more invasive procedures. Synergy Wellness offers a telehealth visit and a second opinion on your MRI or X-rays. Book a Telehealth visit here or call us at (212) 533-4900.

Cold Laser Therapy for chronic pain and soft tissue injuries

Cold Laser Therapy also known as low level laser therapy is expanding the options for treating chronic pain and soft tissue injuries. Today we are going to talk about everything Cold Laser Therapy. This safe, non-invasive, and effective treatment option opens up a whole new way to treat pain and heal soft tissue injuries caused by many conditions from arthritis to sports injuries and more.

Throughout history, the focus of pain management has largely been on pharmaceuticals. When pain is chronic it becomes a precarious balancing act between maintaining the quality of life and avoiding addictions. The current opioid crisis is a clear indication that innovations in pain treatment are long overdue.

Cold Laser Therapy (LLLT) reduces pain by speeding up your body’s natural healing potential. It’s almost like you’re healing at the speed of light! At Synergy Wellness Chiropractic & Physical Therapy here in New York City, we offer the newest cold laser technology to help you.

Read More “Cold Laser Therapy: treating chronic pain and soft tissue injuries”

Spinal decompression therapy or traction? Can it help my herniated disc, bulged disc or stenosis?

Spinal decompression therapy can help relieve the pain associated with disc bulging and herniation. In this post, we’re going to get into what spinal decompression is and what it does. We’ll also touch on complementary therapies and other treatment options. Not to be confused with traction which we offer as well.

Traction or decompression, what’s the right fit for you?

For a further explanation on the difference between decompression and traction: WATCH HERE

Why the spine is so important

If you Google the question, “What is the most important part of the body?”, the most common answer is the brain. Because it sends the messages to tell the body what to do it is definitely plays an important role. While that certainly is one of the body’s key organs the spine is the body’s “information highway”. When anything happens to this information delivery system those messages are stuck at home so to speak. The brain and spine make up the nervous system. Combined, they control all of the body’s cells, muscles, tissues, and organs. You only get one spine, and injury and aging cannot be reversed, so you’re definitely going to want to take care of it.

Read More “Can spinal decompression therapy help with disc bulging and herniation? Yes!”

Whiplash injury and treatment

When it comes to whiplash injury and treatment in New York City, especially if it occurs in a car accident, there are a few important things you need to be aware of. Car accidents and personal injury incidents can bring life as you know it to a screeching halt. In just a split second everything can change and you find yourself battling, whiplash injuries, spinal cord injuries, medical bills and insurance forms while trying to find the healthcare you deserve. One important thing for you to understand is that each state has its own laws when it comes to personal injury claims, including those from car accidents.

Read More “Whiplash Injury and Treatment in New York”

Chiropractic vs physiotherapy

Let’s take a closer look at the treatments and benefits provided when it comes to chiropractic vs physiotherapy. When seeking professional help for chronic pain or injury it’s important to choose the best possible treatment for your condition. This can help prevent further injury.  But with so many various treatment options and approaches it can be difficult to choose the right healthcare professional.

If you are suffering from chronic pain, pinched nerves, sciatica, back, neck, or shoulder pain you can pursue therapy to correct the underlying problem. These two popular types of treatments can help you address these and many other health issues without the use of drugs or surgery.

Read More “Chiropractic vs Physiotherapy: Choosing what is right for you”

COVID-19 NY Chiropractic office precautionsDear

Synergy Wellness is reaching out to reassure our patients by sharing the measures we are taking to ensure that everyone stays healthy during this time. The health and safety of our patients and our staff continues to be our top priority. As such, we are taking extra measures of sanitizing all rooms before and after each patient encounter, beyond our typical standard protocol in accordance with the CDC guidelines. Read More “COVID-19 New York State – Chiropractic Office Precautions”

Cox flexion distraction technique for chronic pain

Chiropractors trained in the Cox® Technic method use Cox flexion distraction technique for the successful treatment of chronic pain.

About one-third of Americans report that they suffer from some form of chronic pain. It is also the number one cause of long-term disability in the United States. According to a 2019 Dept. of Health & Human Services report, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined.

Many Americans suffer from chronic lower back pain, neck pain, and migraines caused by a long list of conditions that can be treated with non-invasive chiropractic care. When treating chronic pain stemming from disc herniations and bulges, spinal stenosis, and nerve pains like sciatica, one chiropractic technique is considered the Gold Standard and is the most researched chiropractic procedure. It’s called Cox flexion distraction Technique.

Read More “Cox flexion distraction technique for chronic pain”

There are differences between osteopathy and chiropractic care, and knowing them can help you. Choosing a healthcare provider is an important decision and many people struggle with determining the right fit for themselves and their families. The seemingly endless list of fields and specialties doesn’t necessarily help. As you consider the kind of over-all care you are seeking, you will also want to factor in any current health concerns and personal preferences.

When it comes to back pain, most people choose to see either a chiropractor or an osteopath, but that is not the only problem they can help you with. Many people often wonder what chiropractic and osteopathy differences even are. The chiropractic and osteopathic fields do share many similarities; however, there are a number of important differences as well.

Read More “Osteopathy and chiropractic differences”

The standing desk is gaining in popularity. Is getting one the best option for you?

When to sit, when to stand

Without a doubt, there are numerous negative effects of regular, prolonged sitting. Over time, these negative effects can even cause cascading health issues. If you spend the majority of your day sitting at a desk, you are probably very familiar with a few of them. But there are some that may surprise you. Take a look at this list. Read More “Is a standing desk for you?”

Should you have a standing desk or traditional desk? When should you sit, and when should you stand?

Without a doubt, there are numerous negative effects of regular, prolonged sitting. Over time, these negative effects can even cause cascading health issues. If you spend the majority of your day sitting at a desk, you are probably very familiar with a few of them. But there are many that may surprise you.

Take a look at this list. Read More “Standing desk or traditional desk?”