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 value that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine plays a role as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and permits motion of the spine. The disc also supports a large opening for the nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is reduced, which occurs when discs degenerate and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression impedes circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve begins. The narrowing of the nerve opening is termed Auburn spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI depiction of normal and stenotic nerve openings.

A SPRING

The intervertebral disc works like a spring to hold the vertebra apart. The normal disc therefore acts to preclude nerve compression and to permit spinal motion. When the disc degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to approximate one another, causing in motion loss, compressed nerve, and pain in the back or down the arms or legs. What keeps the intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a chemical called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which allows the disc to take in water from the fluid entering the disc. Actually, the inside of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the inner disc reduces significantly with degeneration, thus reducing the water content of the disc. Disc water loss 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 us consider two benefits for the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.

First, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. uses a specialized form of Auburn spinal manipulation which enlarges the disc space height, boosts the nerve opening size, decreases pressure within the disc to assist in circulation, restores 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 reverses the effects of gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that cause spinal stenosis and loss of motion. A study showed 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 satisfied 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 improved when combined with Cox® Technic. This combination allows higher levels in the disc. It is this glycosaminoglycan that absorbs water to nine times its own volume, generating higher fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening size and assist prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic acid (Vitamin B9) contributes to peripheral nerve injury healing by helping 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 discusses 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 appreciate the attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!