A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Auburn chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine performs as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and permits motion of the
spine. The disc also maintains a large opening for the
nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
thinned, which happens when discs degenerate
and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression slows
circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve sets in.
The shrinking of the nerve opening is termed Auburn
spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI poster
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc works
like a spring to hold the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore functions to stop
nerve compression and to permit spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it permits the adjacent vertebra to approximate one another, causing in motion
loss, compressed nerve, and back
pain or arm or leg pain. What maintains the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs contain a
chemical termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits
the disc to take in water from the fluid entering the disc. In fact, the inside
of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the
inner disc decreases significantly with degeneration, thus lowering
the water content of the disc. The loss of water in the disc
because of GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration reduces
the ability of the disc to resist motion by over 65%. The incapacity
to control motion of the vertebrae is termed instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let’s look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. uses a specialized type
of Auburn spinal manipulation which enlarges the
disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, reduces
pressure inside the disc to aid in circulation, returns
lost range of motion to the spine and establishes nerve
conduction to the brain for pain relief. (4) This latter benefit is termed
afferentation. The manipulation undoes the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that result in
spinal stenosis and loss of motion. A study revealed
that spinal mobilization with leg movement in patients with lower extremity
sciatica pain reduced low back and leg pain intensity, disability, pain; improved
range of motion of spine; and gratified patients in the short
and long term. (2) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
benefits Auburn back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. may suggest nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is boosted
when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two
allows increased levels in the disc. It is
this glycosaminoglycan that absorbs water to nine times its own volume, creating
greater fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening
size and aid prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic
acid (Vitamin B9) plays a part in peripheral nerve injury healing
by encouraging Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
Listen to this PODCAST by Dr. Jonathan Cerrutti as he shares his
chiropractic care of a painful, stenotic disc and spinal canal due to disc herniation on
The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson.
Schedule your Auburn chiropractic appointment
today. Your Auburn spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!