After evaluating Aaron, we discussed our findings and the prognosis of his condition and his return to work and competition. We first addressed some of Aaron's concerns, which included not having surgery or taking medication, as well as how quickly would his pain decrease and his function improve. He expressed that he couldn't afford to miss that much time from work and was tired of dealing with constant pain.

Common Conditions We Help In Knoxville TN

Common conditions that can occur with someone who is active at work such as mechanics, postal workers, police, firefighters, and many others as well as those who want to stay active outside of work by doing marathons, crossfit, hiking, gardening, etc. include:

• Muscle Strain or Ligament Sprain: A muscle strain (pulled muscle) or ligament sprain will typically resolve in 2-4 weeks with rest. There may be residual stiffness, joint fixations, or lack of movement that may need to be addressed.
• Disc Injury: The intervertebral disc acts as a shock absorber in between the vertebrae to help absorb compressive forces and create space for the spinal nerves to exit the spinal column. With excessive force the inner material of the disc can bulge or herniate out of the protective disc to cause severe localized pain as well as pain that radiates when a nearby spinal nerve is compressed. Most of the time a compressed nerve causes pain, numbness, or tingling down the back of the thigh known as sciatica. In some cases this pain even travels down into the lower leg, feet, and toes.
• Altered Joint Mechanics or Motor Control: The brain can completely change the lumbar spine's ability to move just by changing which muscles are firing or by altering the sequence of when muscles fire. This can occur in the absence of any visible injury. These altered motor control or joint mechanics can begin as a protective mechanism but can lead to chronic problems over time. Experts believe 80% of all chronic lower back problems begin this way.
• Degenerative Arthritis: Like any joint in the body, the joints of the spine with repetitive damage can experience arthritis. Degenerative arthritis occurs when chronic inflammation leads to joint space loss, which then can lead to bone spur formation, which can lead to joint fusion and loss of motion, and even stenosis or narrowing of the nerve canal. This condition although very common is not normal and causes chronic pain over time.
• Bone Fracture: Fractures of the spine are not uncommon especially with active individuals. This type of pain usually follows a noted injury such as a fall, car wreck, or other impact injury. Injuries such as these can lead to deep dull pain and instability in the spine

It is not uncommon that we will see a combination of these conditions as the cause of low back pain. In Aaron's case he was suffering from a disc injury that was later confirmed with MRI. I discussed with Aaron our treatment plan. Our goal was to achieve the results desired with chiropractic adjustments, active release technique, and spinal decompression. We also prescribed at home exercises. I explained that we could accomplish these results quickly.

With our treatment I expected to see radiating pain significantly reduced within one week. This would allow Aaron to return to normal working duties. I then discussed that the localized low back pain should resolve within the following 2-4 weeks to allow Aaron to get back to his active lifestyle without pain.

Our spinal decompression protocol is the benchmark therapy to reduce disc injuries without drugs or surgeries: