Which is it...Piriformis Syndrome or Lumbar Disc Herniation

The low back can be a Great-Masker of pain symptoms. Is there Nerve Compression, Disc Bulging, Muscular Sprain/Strains, or simply a Joint that is out of place?

A neurogical, orthopedic, and physical exam can determine the cause of low back pain, sciatica, or other types of radiating back pain. Doctors of Chiropractic are well trained to detect such dysfunctions in the low back.

The most serious situation affecting the low back is a lumbar disc herniation or disc bulging, often called a "slipped disc". Although a disc can't actually "slip", it can certainly place pressure on nerve roots exiting the spinal cord, causing a wide array of symptoms, such as buttock pain, thigh pain, calf pain, or just foot pain. There is no apparent discrimination as to "where" the pain will occur, and at times the pain can radiate from the back to the entire leg and foot. Sitting is usually difficult and pain is often increased by coughing or sneezing.

A condition called Piriformis Syndrome can also cause radiating leg pain which mimics Disc Bulging or Disc Herniation. In this condition, the sciatic nerve is pinched or compromised where it passes through the Piriformis muscle as it courses to the lower leg. The muscle can be in a stretched or shortened position, resulting in buttock and leg symptoms. Sitting cross-legged and driving in a car often will exacerbate these symptoms.

The typical treatment offered by a Chiropractor is a series of 8-10 visits over 2-4 weeks. With Piriformis Syndrome, symptoms normally reduce greatly after the first several visits, yet the imbalance will persist until the underlying mechanical imbalances in the muscles and pelvis are resolved, which is toward the end of the treatment plan. Exercises and lifestyle modifications are suggested.

For more information or to speak with a musculoskeletal specialist about a specific condition, contact the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre to speak with one of our health professionals.

Chiropractic and Pediatric Care

Choosing the right healthcare team for a mother and newborn is probably one of the most distressing choices that can face first time parents. Beyond that, what if something is wrong? Can birth defects be avoided? The literature certainly indicates that birth defects and child developmental problems can certainly be avoided, or atleast identified early enought to ensure proper development.


The first step is...don't panic. From the beginning of fertilization until giving birth, pregnancy can be a challenging event; for the mother and baby. There are many chemical changes that occur during pregnancy that can place a significant stress on muscles, ligaments, bones, and other tissues.

Ever wonder why pregnant women get stretch marks? It doesn't occur to every woman, and it certaintly isn't just due to stretching. It may come as a shock, but healthy moms don't experience this change. This type of appearance occurs primarily in pregnant women and overweight individuals due to Increased Cortisol levels and Insulin Sensitivity. It is called Catabolism. Catabolism means that the body is cannabilizing (eating) itself to meet its protein needs, which are insufficient.

Pregnancy presents such a stress to hormones and digestion that it often will impair the mothers digestions of protein and other much-needed nutrients from food. Will this starve the growing fetus?...To some degree, but the mother is generally the one who will suffer the most because she has poor digestion and absorption of protein and is trying to meet the demands of eating for two. Proper nutritional recommendations, which many physicians are not trained to give, is necessary to balance these effects. Unfortunately, most medical educations do not include nutritional training due to such a strong focus on Pharmacology (drugs).

Because of this lack of training, generalized nutritional recommendations are often prescribed from recent "buzz" words or trends, such as an all-in-one prenatal vitamin or multi-vitamin. Even after just a few years of nutritional training, many novice doctors would reasonably know that nature did not intend for "all-in-one" supplements for something as complex as the human body. This is where natural intelligence meets intellect, or nature vs. man's reasoning, rather.

It is particularly recommended that prenatal vitamis with copper be avoided, due to it's effect on raising estrogen levels. Many spontaneous abortions or miscarriages can be caused by high estrogen levels in relation to low progesterone (progesterone, not progestins-the drug form, is protective to the fetus and keeps the body from recognizing the placenta and developing baby much like it recognizes a tumor...for more information read about the formation of a trophoblastic cancer cell)

Please subscribe to this blog's RSS Feed because there will be a follow up at some point comparing a growing cancer tumor and a developing fetus. The significant difference between the two is that progesterone protects the baby from being treated like a growing cancer (trophoblast). Tests that measure a body's production of a chemical marker called HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin), can either be identifying a pregnant female, a female with cancer, or a male with cancer. Understanding this relationship is also key to understanding how to stop cancerous growths.

The chemical and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy have a very specific effect on ligaments, tendons, and muscles that support the spine and other joints. Low back pain is the most common symptom among pregnant women. The ligaments are preparing for birth, yet they shouldn't be stretching so much. The combining effect of insulin (blood sugar fluctuations) and cortisol (anti-inflammatory hormone) will create ligament laxity (stretchiness) which is the most basic cause of low back pain and sciatica (leg pain often radiating to some other area, often the knee or foot. Gentle Chiropractic techniques are very favorable with this type of condition. Many Chiropractic tables are designed to allow a woman to lie on her stomach, safely, while having her back examined.



Since muscular, ligament, and joint misalignments often are preceded by chemical and nutritional changes, it is also wise to search-out a doctor who is well-versed in physical symptoms as well as chemical/nutritional/hormonal ones.



An Applied Kinesiologist (AK) is trained in all of these areas...you may find an AK doctor by visiting http://www.icakusa.com/ to search for an AK doctor near your home, or by visting our website at http://www.chapelhillchiropracticcentre.com/, to reserve an appointment with Dr. Fox. In office evaluations, as well as phone consultation, are available to determine if Applied Kinesiology and Chiropractic is appropriate for you.

Do I have a Pinched Nerve

Low Back pain is the most frequently treated symptom in a chiropractic office. In fact, most patients consult a chiropractic Physician because they feel that they are experiencing a pinched nerve in their back or neck.

This is rarely the case. The occurrence of a pinched nerve where there is DIRECT pressure on a nerve or the spinal cord only occurs in only about 10% of spinal pain cases, research suggests. Symptoms of a pinched nerve typically are characterized by shooting pain, burning, feelings of "pins and needles", or numbness. In many instances, there isn't even any pain in the spine at all, yet it still may manifest in the hands, feet, shoulders, or other regions not in the direct proximity of the spine.

So if it isn't a pinched nerve, what is it...

True, there may not always be direct pressure causing a pinching, which is what we have pictured in our minds, but other factors that affect the nerve tissue such as rubbing, scraping, or pulling by loss of spinal curve also causes pain that feels like "pinching", and it can be severe. Inflammation, or swelling, in the area of the irritated nerve is also enough to cause a severe pain, yet once again, there is no direct pressure.

Self diagnosis for a pinched nerve or potentially pinched nerve is no safe game to play. In either instance of direct or indirect nerve pressure, the safe step to take is to seek the advice of a Chiropractor or another health care professional. Typical symptoms of nerve compression, when acted up soon enough, respond to conservative Chiropractic care within 2-4 weeks.

Chiropractic has gained great notoriety for relieving pain from irritated nerve roots and/or pinched nerves. Serious cases of low back or neck pain often require 2-3 weeks of consistent care to relieve the pain, followed by several months of supportive care to strengthen muscles, heal damaged ligaments and tendons, and provide specific home instructions/exercise.