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A Healthy Auburn Spinal Disc

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.

Auburn stenotic and normal spinal discs

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. This combination 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!

 
Your Auburn chiropractor really likes seeing a healthy intervertebral disc and helps the not so healthy one recover. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."