Healthy News January 2024 Disc Size Doesnt Necessarily Matter & 4 Ways To Ease Chronic Pain

picture of lumbar Fernandina Beach disc herniation 

DISC SIZE DOESN’T (necessarily) MATTER!

Now that is a novel idea for the start of a new year amidst all the talk of new year’s talk of dieting to downsize! In the world of back pain and neck pain, a little disc is not necessarily pain-free. Surprised? If you have a small disc and pain, you aren’t! What matters is (1) the amount of pressure the disc protrusion is placing on the nerve root and/or (2) the amount of chemical irritation is involved if a disc extrusion’s inner gel-like material has left the anular fibers that surround it and now surrounds the spinal nerve(s) which has (have) never touched each other before. Nerves hurt when this new chemical irritant comes in! A tiny extruded disc can provoke a great amount of pain if chemical irritation is involved. A huge protruded may not cause pain at all if it doesn’t contact a spinal nerve. (1-7) A 2023 published study just concluded that the size of a disc protrusion did not demonstrate a noteworthy relationship to pain and function. (8) If you or a loved one or friend is starting 2024 with Fernandina Beach back pain with or without sciatic leg pain or neck pain with or without arm pain radiculopathy, come see Amelia Chiropractic Clinic for some Fernandina Beach pain relief with gentle, safe chiropractic Cox® Technic care!

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Timothy Gagan on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about use of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for a patient suffering with back and leg pain because of a disc herniation.              

picture  of Fernandina Beach chiropractic tips to ease chronic pain: understanding, acknowledging emotions, undergoing manipulation, exercising 

Fernandina Beach CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: 4 Ways to Reduce Chronic Pain In 2024

As researchers and healthcare professionals work toward establishing practice guidelines (ex: WHO) in managing chronic pain (back, neck, etc.), they are analyzing influencing factors that chronic pain sufferers and their caregivers ought to address for optimal clinical outcomes:

  1. Understand the condition. A clear understanding of the chronic primary low back pain condition via education/advice was associated with improvements in pain, function, quality of life, and psychological outcomes. (9)
  2. Consider emotional influences. Adverse childhood events were found to be significantly associated with chronic pain and pain-related disability as an adult. (10)
  3. Undergo spinal manipulation. A review of nonpharmacological pain management approaches utilized by Medicare patients found that manipulative therapies, mainly chiropractic, have been the most extensively investigated approaches. (11) Cox® Technic flexion-distraction - as we use in our chiropractic practice – benefitted a 67-year-old veteran who suffered with chronic low back pain and intermittent lower extremity pain for many decades get overall improvement in his condition, reduce use of pain medication, and gain mobility after 4 sessions over a 4-week period. (12)
  4. Exercise. Structured exercise programs were documented to reduce pain and functional limitation in chronic low back pain patients. (13)
Only do any of these after consulting your Fernandina Beach chiropractor first! 

Make 2024 your year for pain relief! Amelia Chiropractic Clinic is happy to be your Fernandina Beach chiropractic partner in this project. See you soon!

Schedule your Fernandina Beach chiropractic appointment now!

"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."