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Holiday Office Hours 
 
 
Mon, Dec 16th:    8:00am-Noon,   2:00pm-7:00pm
Tues, Dec 17th:   8:00am-Noon,   2:00pm-7:00pm
Wed, Dec 18th:    8:00am-Noon,   2:00pm-7:00pm
Thurs, Dec 19th: 7:00am-Noon,   2:00pm-7:00pm 
Fri, Dec 20th:       8:00am-Noon
 
Mon, Dec 23rd - 27th: CLOSED
 
Mon, Dec 30th:     8:00am-Noon,   2:00pm-7:00pm
Tues, Dec 31st:    8:00am-Noon,   2:00pm-5:00pm
Wed, Jan 1st:       CLOSED
Thurs, Jan 2nd:   7:00am-Noon,   2:00pm-7:00pm
Fri, Jan 3rd:          8:00am-Noon
NOVA Chiropractic will resume normal business hours beginning the week of Jan 6th.
 
To Get Surgery or to Not Get Surgery
How Common is Back Surgery
Traumatic incidents, aging process, improper body mechanics, and normal wear and tear can all injure your spine. Damage to any part of your back or pressure on the nerves in your spine can cause back pain and other symptoms. If you have ongoing back pain, maybe you've wondered - could back surgery help?

Contrary to what people may think, back surgery is needed in only a small percentage of cases. Most back problems can be taken care of with non-invasive, nonsurgical treatments: physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, exercise programs and anti-inflammatory medications all can help relieve chronic and acute back pain. When conservative treatments don't help, back surgery may offer relief, but it doesn't help every type of back pain.

Need to Know: Approximately 43% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery compared to ONLY 1.5% of those
who first saw a chiropractor!
 
A study published earlier this year in JAMA Internal Medicine confirms that many physicians don't follow guidelines and instead refer back pain patients to surgery or write prescriptions for powerful pain killers. The latter is part of an epidemic problem of prescription drug abuse in the United States; the number of prescriptions filled for opioid pain killers--some of the most powerful medications available--has increased by nearly 50 percent in the past 10 years to 257 million!
Most Common Surgical Procedures
Most back surgeries are done to treat nerve pain from herniated discs. Decompression and spinal fusion are the two most common lumbar spine surgeries for patients with lower back pain and radiating pain. A decompression surgery involves removing a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root to relieve pinching of the nerve and provide more room for the nerve to heal. A spinal fusion surgery involves using a bone graft to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment, which should decrease pain generated from the joint.  
 
Need to Know: Of the 56 million Americans who have back pain, only 5 percent need surgery. - WebMD
Benefits and Risks of Back Surgery

Typically, people consider surgery for back pain only after all other treatments have failed to provide relief. Even then, surgery does not provide significant improvement for everyone. And while the risks of back surgery are generally low, they can be serious in some cases.

 

Benefits of Surgery

  • Decreased pain
  • Increased activity
  • Better physical fitness
  • Improved mood
  • Less need for pain medicines with fewer drug side effects
  • Ability to go back to work
  • Increased productivity at work
Risks of Surgery
  • Reaction to anesthesia or other drugs
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Blood clots, for instance in the legs or lungs
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Recurrent disc herniation
  • Nerve damage, which can result in weakness, paralysis, pain,
  • Sexual dysfunction, or loss of bowel or bladder control
Need to Know: Many practitioners believe that one of the most common causes of "failed back surgery syndrome" (continued pain after surgery) is an improper diagnosis prior to surgery.
Treatments Before Surgery
Patients should exhaust many treatments and options before they look into getting back surgery. These treatments can include:
 

Common Environmental Triggers

  • Rest
  • Ice
  • Chiropractic Adjustments
  • Spinal Decompression Therapy
  • Soft-Tissue Manipulation
  • Deep Tissue Laser Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
Sources:
Dr. Sullivan's Recommendations

In my experience at least 80% of back surgeries are not needed and the data supports that.  Most of the time taking the non-invasive of chiropractic care, acupuncture and other alternative therapies are able to fix the problem.  If the non-invasive treatments does not help then I recommend trying spinal injections which can help those cases that do not respond to chiropractic care.  A very small percentage of patients will require spinal surgery. These cases tend to be more traumatic cases where the patient was in an accident.  The other type of case which requires immediate surgery is if you have a loss of bowel function.  Always try the most conservative treatment first and then if that does not work consider more invasive treatments.  

 

The best treatment for a herniated or bulging disc is spinal decompression and laser therapy.  Spinal decompression takes the pressure off the injured disc and nerve.  By taking the pressure off these structures it allows them heal and reduces inflammation. Laser therapy also reduces the inflammation (the source of your lower back pain and radiating pain down the leg) and also speeds up the healing process.  Typically a course of 12 visits is need to heal a disc or nerve injury.  

 

For failed back surgeries these treatments can also be used but it may require more visits to get the patient better. 

Health & Wellness Articles

 

NOVA Chiropractic Article

American Chiropractic Association 

Press Release Article
Find NOVA Chiropractic on Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn!

Note: The material provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed herein may not always reflect the views of the NOVA Chiropractic, nor do they imply an endorsement. 
In This Issue
Notice About Holiday Hours
How Common Is Back Surgery
Most Common Surgical Procedures
Benefits and Risks of Back Surgery
Treatments Before Surgery
Dr. Sullivan's Recommdendations
NOVA Chiropractic Blog Article
ACA Press Release
Laser Therapy
Ingredient of the Week
Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide
Updated HIPPA Notice of Privacy Practices
The Healthy Alternative
Contact Information
 
8992 Fern Park Drive
Burke, VA 22015
703-912-7822

Office Hours
Mon  8:00 - Noon   2:00 - 7:00

Tues  8:00 - Noon  2:00 - 7:00

Wed  8:00 - Noon   2:00 - 7:00

Thurs 7:00 - Noon  2:00 - 7:00

Fri      Closed 
Sat     Closed 
Sun    Closed 
Quick Links
 
  
  
  
  

Laser Therapy
 
The Latest & Greatest at NOVA Chiropractic

The laser has proven to help dozens of patients at 
NOVA Chiropractic! 
Common conditions with current patients that laser therapy is helping to heal are:
  • Herniated discs
  • Knee arthritis
  • Carpel tunnel syndrome
  • Achilles tendinitis 
  • Neck and back pain
  • and much more!
For more information, 
call 703-912-7822 or email info@novachirowellness.com
Ingredient of the Week
Cinnamon
Cinnamon was once so highly-prized that wars were fought over it, it was used as currency, and it has aphrodisiacal powers.

Medieval physicians used cinnamon in medicines to treat coughing, hoarseness and sore throats. 

Studies to confirm cinnamon's beneficial actions in humans are currently underway with the most recent report coming from researchers from the US Agricultural Research Service, who have shown that less than half a teaspoon per day of cinnamon reduces blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes.

Not only does consuming cinnamon improve the body's ability to utilize blood sugar, but just smelling the wonderful odor of this sweet spice boosts brain activity!

  
Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide
Get the Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide from Fitness Revolution...Absolutely Free!
 

In this Ultimate Survival Guide you will discover:

  • Three challenging and effective body weight workouts you can do anytime, anywhere
  • Easy to follow nutrition guides
  • Healthy recipes that will WOW your Holiday Guests
  • Party survival tips
  • Learn the seven strategies to help reduce stress during the holidays
Download now!
Updated HIPPA Notice of Privacy Practices
Click Here to Read the Updated Notice to Privacy Practices
2013 Seminars/Events 
Active Release Technique 

Re-Certification Seminar 

Iselin, New Jersey

 

Medicare Seminar

Richmond, Virginia

 

Health and Safety Fair

Fort Belvoir, VA

 

Health Fair at the Naval Research Laboratory

Washington, DC

 

Neurokinetic Therapy Seminar

Washington, DC

 

Active Release Techniques Full Body Seminar

Washington, DC 

The Healthy Alternative
The Healthy Alternative

A guidebook written by

Dr. Sullivan!

  
The Healthy Alternative: 

A Guide For A Pain-Free, Active Lifestyle empowers and educates the reader when confronted with back or neck on the treatment options available and integrating the safest, most effective ways to manage and prevent pain. Order Now!