CHIRO

I've been plagued with bouts of lower back pain for over 30 years. Despite my 'bad back' I was still able to compete in Collegiate Track and Field. I was named All-American four times while attending my undergraduate school 'Ferris State University'. My fascination with the body and my own bad back pushed me into Chiropractic College in 1983. I graduated with honors (Cum Laude) from Life Chiropractic College in December of 1986, and passed my California State Boards in 1987.

My hammer throwing was also peaking. I placed 5th at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials and was named as an Alternate for the 1988 Olympic Team. I seriously injured my lower back in a weight lifting accident in late 1989. That was the end of my Olympic hammer throwing career. Since my glory days I've played Ice Hockey, Golf, formed a Blues Band, and finally settled in the sport of Road Bike Racing. I just can't seem to sit still! LOL

I have been professionally working with bad backs since 1987. I was appointed by the State of California to perform 'Disability Evaluations' on injured works from 1993 through year 2000. I consider myself a very, very, Medically orientated Doctor of Chiropractic and have a very close working relationship with local neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, anesthesiologists, and psychologists. I believe in science, NOT VOODOO!!!!

The Injury:

Despite losing 70 pounds of body weight my Lumbar discs finally said enough was enough! In my final major bike race of the 2002 USCS race season, I suffered yet another lumbar disc injury. But this time 'Mr. Pain' has decided NOT TO LEAVE!

For the first time in my life, my lower back has NOT recovered in over 7 months and I now know the feeling of Grade III Sciatica. I have also officially now joined the 'chronic pain club' and am facing one of the toughest and most frustrating challenges of my life.

Since I've been forced to be a semi couch potato, I've decided to develop a web site to document my journey of pain.

The MRI:

This is my fourth MRI (click here to see report) in the last 10 years. This MRI really does not look that horrible. It shows Moderate Degenerative Disc Disease (aka:DDD) at both the L4/5 and L5/S1 disc. (I've numbered the bones for you all. The disc's are named by the bone 'above'. The red arrows are pointing to disc's 4 and 5.)You can see that the two bottom discs are 'darker' in color. This is the tell tale sign of DDD, which is a weakening of the internal makeup of the disc.

There are two HIZ signs visible at the L4 and L5 disc. These HIZ signs tell us that I have two 'Annular Disc Tears' at both levels. The Yellow arrows are pointing to them. Their is also a small disc herniation at the L5 level (which is seen better on the axial view which I can't seem to find).

The EMG/NCV Study:

Unfortunately my EMG/NCV (click here to see report) study was positive for L4 and L5 Left Radiculopathy. I've also got a 'Bike Related' Right superficial peroneal Neuropathy. This has nothing to do with the disc injury and was secondary from overuse syndrome and 'strangulation' of the right superficial peroneal nerve. (This has Healed up 100%)

Epidural Steroid Injection:

After my beloved Chiropractic Cox Flexion/distraction treatment and spinal stabilization exercise failed to help me the next 'logical' step was to try a 'transforaminal epidural injection'. This was done by my friend and colleague Dr. Sherman Tran MD. It was done under fluoroscopy in both the L5/S1 and L4/5 lateral recess. Here's a picture of that adventure:

This 'transforaminal approach' did help me get 'over the hump' of acute leg burning BUT caused all sorts of new leg PAIN that I did not have before. I was severely limping for 10 days after this shot.

After two weeks I was feeling very good and started my rehabilitation program. Unfortunately, I over did it with a two hour hike in the mountains and an hour session of exercise. Too this day (5-22-03) I've never recovered from that Flare-up. This flare-up forced me to try a second epidural injection on an emergency basis.

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Gillard Chiropractic & Sports Therapy Inc. Hit Counter San Jose, California