[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/122429690″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Listen or Read Dr. Ferraro’s Monthly Podcast Interview!
Topic: Ferraro Spine Program – Herniated and Degenerative Discs
Below you will find an easy to read transcript of Dr. Peter Ferraro’s interview on the razorcast™ monthly podcast. You can either watch the video to listen to the podcast or simply read the easy to follow transcript below. Enjoy!
PodCast Interview:
RC: Hello everyone, this is Liz Harvey coming to you from our razorcast™ studios in New York City where we are dedicated to bringing you top quality advice from many of the leading expert professionals across the United States.
In today’s episode, we are speaking with Dr. Peter Ferraro. Dr. Peter Ferraro is the founder of Ferraro Spine & Rehabilitation, a multi-specialty wellness facility serving northern NJ and the NY metro area for the past 18 years. He is voted as NJ Top Doc for 2015.
His advanced non-surgical approach to the treatment of many spinal conditions has awarded him numerous awards and accolades but none better than a high success rate through his self-designed treatment protocol, the “Ferraro Spine Method.”
Dr. Ferraro also is the Chief Clinical Officer of Optimal Wellness and Optimal Executive. These companies have given Dr. Ferraro the chance to be the Chief Wellness Officer of the NFL Alumni and Professional Basketball Association Alumni Wellness Challenges. Both of these events brought together sports alumni in a competition to achieve a greater level of wellness in their lives, post-pro sports careers.
Dr. Ferraro is widely considered to be one of the top chiropractors in the country and he is also a contributing member of our national network of industry professionals.
Today we are going to talk about a very important topic: The Ferraro Spine Program – Herniated and Degenerative Discs.
How are you today Dr. Ferraro?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: I’m doing great, thank you.
RC: Thanks for being here.
Question 1: Can you explain what a Herniated or Degenerative disc is?
RC: We are ready to dive in with the first question I have for you. Today we will be discussing some specifics on herniated and degenerative discs. Let’s start with the basics. Can you explain what a herniated or degenerative disc is?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: Herniated or degenerative disc is a condition that millions of Americans and people around the world suffer from. The disc is a structure in between all of the vertebrae in the spine from the neck all the way down to the lower back. Each disc is there and it really serves two main purposes: it’s a shock absorber, as well as, a spacer. In a very rudimentary fashion, think of a jelly donut. You have these outer fibers made of cartilage that actually hold this jelly material that’s made of the sugary substance in place. That shock absorber is there so that each bone segment doesn’t jam into the other and the spacer part of it is that it also allows room for the exiting nerve roots that come off of the spinal cord to be housed. So when someone has a herniated or degenerative disc, the potential problem is that they’re getting some type of nerve compression which then further leads to severe pain. It could also lead to their muscles not working correctly, their reflexes not responding as well as they should and a whole series of potential negative effects that would occur from that point on.
Question 2: How does someone find out they have a herniated or degenerative disc?
RC: Okay and how does someone find out they have a herniated or degenerative disc versus someone that just says my back hurts? How do they find out they specifically have that issue?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: The only true way to find out if someone has a herniated or degenerative disc is by an MRI or a CT scan. X-ray will really only show you the bone and the separation between those bones but it won’t show you the soft tissue. So the best approach is obviously an MRI. Now when a patient is in the office, there are a series of orthopedic and neurological tests that we can do to get a pretty close understanding of whether or not someone is dealing with a disc but the only definitive way to completely rule it in or rule it out would be advanced imaging like an MRI or a CAT scan.
RC: Right but they could go see the chiropractor first to sort of say yes we’re headed in this direction, we’re going to send you for an MRI. Okay good.
Question 3: Could you describe a typical chiropractic treatment program for someone suffering from a herniated disc?
RC: Could you describe a typical chiropractic treatment program for someone suffering from a herniated disc?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: Typical chiropractic treatment program for someone suffering from a herniated disc: number one, first and foremost, is to try to reduce their inflammation. So it’s a more gentle technique – it sometimes relies upon some different equipment that we could utilize whether it be some light vibration, some flexion distraction or some manual release massage -things that can help to just reduce some of the inflammation – as well as some light chiropractic manipulation techniques. What we like to do at Ferraro Spine & Rehabilitation is combine not only the chiropractic adjustment and chiropractic treatment but utilize our other integrated specialists like our physical therapy department, our acupuncturist, as well as our spinal decompression to act as a team approach to help someone dealing or suffering from a herniated disc.
Question 4: Are there any additional alternative therapies or treatments like Acupuncture or Massage Therapy that can work in conjunction with regular chiropractic therapy?
RC: Great and that leads into my next question which was going to be about alternative therapies or treatments like acupuncture. Maybe you can talk a little bit about how acupuncture works because I know people seek acupuncture treatments for a variety of conditions. How does it work with the herniated disc problem?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: Acupuncture for the herniated disc problem has been such an amazing asset to our practice. Prior to bringing acupuncture in about five years ago, we were doing the Ferraro Spine Program with spinal decompression, chiropractic care and physical therapy and we were having great success. Once we added acupuncture, we saw a reduction in our patient’s symptoms almost immediately. The acupuncture, especially having a specialized acupuncturist who deals with herniated discs, is able to locate where the muscle inflammation is happening (because of the inflamed nerve from the disc herniation) and really allow that to reset and not be so painful. So the addition of acupuncture, as well as acupuncture and massage combined, is a great great addition to what it is that we do at Ferraro Spine & Rehabilitation.
RC: Great. Clearly you have an acupuncturist, you have massage therapist, sounds like you have a huge staff there that work as a team. Is that true?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: We do have a great staff of integrated professionals from chiropractic physicians, doctors of physical therapy, exercise physiologist, acupuncturist, massage therapist, nutritionist – all working hand in hand to help these patients that are suffering from these debilitating conditions. As well as having a team of medical physicians – orthopedic surgeons, neuro surgeons, pain management doctors – that we also work hand in hand with for those patients who need a more aggressive approach. What we like about our team is that we all work together. We even do a grand rounds presentation weekly so that we can all keep up to speed on exactly what is going on with our patient base.
RC: Well that’s fantastic.
Question 5: What happens to you if you ignore this problem for too long and hold off on seeking treatment?
RC: So back to the patient, what happens if they ignore the problem for too long? It is a herniated disc and they ignore the problem for too long and hold off on getting treatment, what happens typically to that person?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: Patients that ignore the problem for a prolonged period of time: unfortunately, when that happens some of the effects of those herniated discs or bulging discs can become more permanent in nature. So if someone is dealing with a disc that has happened fairly recently whether from a trauma, some type of slip and fall or a motor vehicle accident, a sports injury, those problems can be addressed and rarely is there permanent damage unless obviously there has been some effect to the nerve. If in fact someone has left an injury like this for a period of time, the effects can be long term and even though we can reverse some of those effects certainly seeking treatment and seeking to know exactly what is going on sooner than later is always recommended.
RC: Right, well thank you so much.
Dr. Peter Ferraro: Thank you again for having me. I really do appreciate it.
RC: Thank you and the team approach is truly fantastic. It’s a great resource I think for people out there who are suffering from back pain.
For our listeners across the country, if you are interested in speaking with Dr. Peter Ferraro, you can either go online at ferraro1.wpengine.com or call (973) 478-2212 to schedule an appointment.
On behalf of our entire team at razorcast™, we want to thank you for listening and we look forward to bringing you more top quality content from our country’s leading industry professionals.
Click here to receive more information & to schedule your consultation.
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