posted July 26, 2000 04:39 PM            

good luck dude

posted July 28, 2000 12:23 AM         

The question remains "what caused this to begin to happen?"
There are several speculations at this point. Obviously, I'm talking about chronic disc problems NOT acute disc injuries such as falls or accidents.
Disc height is based upon several factors. One of them being the general level of hydration of the person. Another is the degree of belly fat--which pulls the lumbar vertebra forward, thus putting extra strain on the back portion of the disc as well as making the spinal ligaments lax (loose) over time.

You might also think about adding MSM to your supplement routine, since MSM is a methyl donor and will readily supply sulfur to ligamentous tissues. Several researchers have shown that supplementation with chondroitin and glucosamine sulfates can help in both the healing and the prevention process, but that's simply not enough to keep the area stable.

Recommendations:
1)increase pure water intake to 1 gallon per day. This will help keep your body hydrated which includes your discs.

2)do not perform rigorous lifting or exercise early in the morning...studies have shown that the majority of disc problems occur in the morning. This is likely due to increased height, which places increased tension on the ligaments that hold the vertebral and disc structures firm. Remember when you first heard the rumor that you're taller when you first wake up? Well, it's true. When you sleep, gravity is not creating the downward forces on discs from the vertebra as it does when you're awake and standing or sitting. As you sleep, your discs are under less pressure and a sort of suction occurs...they pull in local water from the tissues. So first thing in the morning, the discs are fully hydrated. This may result in a height increase of up to one inch in some people. This height increase places strain on some of the ligaments responsible for vertebral stability. This extra tension means that you can do more disc damage if you are injured, since the tense ligaments can't relax as easily. So if you are worried about your back pain, then wait to exercise until later in the day.

3) work on tightening your abdominals as well as hamstrings. Most pelvic rotation in persons with disc injury is a forward rotation. The hamstrings and abs place reverse tension on the pelvis--the abs pull up, the hams from the back pull down. This will help decrease the effects of a fat belly on lumbar spinal curvature.

4)keep in contact with your doctors so they can monitor your progression.

5)supplement with various substances such as chondroitin, glucosamine, grapeseed extract, MSM, vitamin C and others based on the recommendations of a healthcare provider. They are not cures, but based on what we know, they're the best natural means of preventing further damage.

Good luck!