Back pain is the number one complaint in North America, affecting 80% of us at one time or another. Back problems often mean a permanent loss of some function, forcing us to give things up in our life that we may not want to give up. Until now, if you suffered from low back or neck pain syndrome, methods of treatment have been bed rest, muscle relaxants, pain medications, manipulation, some form of traction and physical therapy, and, if all else failed surgery. At Alternative Back Treatment Center, we are proud to be in the forefront of the most scientifically advanced non-invasive, non-surgical treatment of back and neck pain. Our specially trained physicians and staff will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's clinical history and examination, review all pertinent studies such as X-rays, MRI, EMG, Laboratory and other reports. The doctor will then recommend a comprehensive treatment program that best suited to the patient's needs. Our FDA approved and patented method of treatment has been proven effective in 86% of patients in clinical trials throughout the United States. Our main goal is to get and keep our patients healthy, happy and pain free.

The spine consists of 24 vertebral bones and the sacrum. The vertebrae are stacked together to provide support of the upper body while also protecting the spinal cord (nervous tissue that extends down the spinal column from the brain). There are seven vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine - designated as C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7), twelve in the midback (thoracic spine) and five in the lower back (lumbar spine - designated as L1, L2, L3, L4, L5) and the tailbone (sacrum designated as S1). The spinal discs (fig.1) are spacers or pads that serve as "cushions" between each vertebral body that allows spinal movement and also helps in protecting the spinal cord. Through expected wear and tear associated with aging, repeated minor injuries or major accident, a disc can deteriorate (degenerated disc) or bulge out of the disc space (herniated disc) (fig 2) . This event causes pinching of the spinal cord as it passes through the spinal canal (spinal stenosis) or pinches the spinal nerve as it comes out of the side of the spine (foraminal stenosis). In addition, the decreased space between vertebrae caused by disc degeneration causes narrowing of the opening through which the nerve comes out of the spine. When the nerve is pinched, its own circulation compromised, it releases neurotoxins causing pain at the area of pinching. The pain may radiate along the path of the pinched nerve, such as, down the buttocks, hips, leg or feet if the nerve involved is in the lumbar spine. If the nerve that is pinched is in the neck (cervical spine) the pain will affect the neck and it may radiate to the shoulders and arm.