SPINAL DISC PROBLEMS

PROLOTHERAPY APPOINTMENT INFO
Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services Oak Park IL 708-848-7789

SPINAL DISC PROBLEMS
Why I believe disc degeneration has very little
to do with chronic low back pain
Ross A. Hauser, M.D.

A patient asked, “will my disc always be degenerated?” You might say the question was legitimate but what you don’t know is I spent 10 minutes explaining why the MRI finding of lumbar disc degeneration is a nothing (usually).

As I explained to the patient “Do you want to replace the disc or do you want to correct the reason the disc became degenerated?” In other words is it better to just replace the disc (because surgeons can do this now) or correct the underlying problem that led to the disc degeneration?

You see very seldom is there just one disc that is degenerated, the condition often affects many discs. Another issue is the underlying problem that caused the disc degeneration is not fixed by disc replacement or other surgical procedures. Even spinal fusion does not fix the underlying problem. Prolotherapy can fix it.

The underlying problem typically when someone has disc degeneration is spinal ligament weakness. When the ligaments allow excessive movement of the vertebrae, subluxations, disc herniations, and disc degeneration begin to occur. Anyone who has a vertebrae that keeps slipping out of place has vertebral ligament laxity may consider Prolotherapy.

Most folks who come to Caring Medical with low back pain, thoracic or neck pain have MRI’s that show disc degeneration but seldom is that what is causing their pain. Here are some signs/symptoms that allow you to know that your pain is not coming from the disc problem (none of these is absolute but give a good idea):

Pain on either side of the spine not on the midline
Sensation is intact
Muscle strength is fine
Pain upon lying down
Pain is not worse with sitting
Pain is not worse with bending over
Numbiness (tingling down the arm but sensation is ok)
Cracking

All of the above symptoms suggest ligament laxity of spine or sacroiliac ligament problems. Disc problems are more indicative if the person has low back pain for instance that is:

Central
Sitting makes it worse
Standing (compared to lying) makes it worse
Bending over while standing increases the central pain.

Realize the only way to truly get out of pain is to stop the process that is causing the body injury. This process for those in chronic pain is typically either ligament laxity or what I and my wife Marion call "connective tissue deficiency". The latter involves the breakdown of collagen in the body. This often occurs because the body is in a catabolic state because anabolic hormones are low. Correction of this through natural hormone replacement, diet, and supplements can relieve some of the pain, but typically Prolotherapy also has to get done.

Prolotherapy toward the supraspinatous, interspinus and lumbosacral ligaments is what the person with chronic low back needs, regardless if disc degeneration shows up on the MRI. For such a person “yes after Prolotherapy it is possible for the MRI to look the same, but I suspect your back pain won’t be. You’ll have a hard time finding it!”

Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services Learn about us Or Call 708-848-7789
Ross Hauser, M.D. Dr. Hauser received his M.D. from the University of Illinois, Chicago; completed his residency at Loyola-Hines VA-Marianjoy Hospitals in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Hauser is the Medical Director and co-founder of the physician-run, comprehensive natural medicine clinic, Caring Medical & Rehabilitation Services in Oak Park, Illinois. Dr. Hauser is one of the leading experts in the treatment of chronic pain and sports injuries with Prolotherapy. He, along with his wife Marion, have written seven books on the topic of Prolotherapy, a comprehensive book on the natural medicine approach to cancer, as well as a myriad of articles and newsletters for the general public. Read more Ask A QUESTION
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Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services,
715 Lake Street Suite 600 Oak Park, IL 60301
708-848-7789

The information on this website is presented as information only and not a self-help guide NOR AS SPECIFIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS. Never alter or change your health management or begin any new health plans without first consulting your personal health care provider. Some statements on this site regarding the value of nutritional supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

As with any medical technique, Prolotherapy may not be effective for every individual and there are risks involved, these risks should be discussed with your physician. Results achieved with some may not be typical of all. Please consult a physician. Please read Prolotherapy Risks

There is no known cure for arthritis. Prolotherapy and nutritional supplements can help alleviate, reverse, or end arthritic pain by treating an underlying cause that contributes to degenerative disease, ligament laxity. Strengthening ligaments and other connective tissue can help prevent bone on bone arthritis from developing.

Caring Medical and Rehabilitation Services 715 Lake Street Suite 600 Oak Park IL, 60301