Compression of the lumbar spine nerve root may cause pain and/or weakness for patients with spinal stenosis and disc herniation. Younger patients are more likely to respond more quickly to both surgical and non-surgical care. (1) That makes sense as the nerve has not been inflamed as long. Disc herniations are more likely to occur in our 30’s and 50’s. Luckily, only 3% to 6% of them are symptomatic. Spinal stenosis is more likely to be a nuisance for us in our 50’s and 60’s. Muscle weakness appears in as many as 30% to 50% of disc herniation patients. 80% of disc herniation patients with weakness demonstrate improvement with 6 weeks of non-surgical care, 90% at 12 weeks, 93% at 24 weeks. Surgical patients discover that the most clinically significant weakness improvement came within 6 weeks of spine surgery for a disc herniation. 66% of these patients showed no improvement after that. (Ghahreman in 1) Improvement in motor power can occur over the following two years after surgery. Some sensory loss is normal but barely noticeable. (1) BONUS: The cost of chiropractic care for a lumbar disc herniation only totaled 2% of all the money spent, so the researchers recommended a trial of conservative, non-operative care before patients undergo back surgery for a herniated disc. (2) Bring your Easley back pain and related muscle weakness to Young Chiropractic for Easley non-surgical care in the beginning.
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Dean Greenwood on The Back Doctor’s Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about a patient with muscle weakness accompanying a synovial cyst that improved with chiropractic care utilizing the Cox® Technic System.
Maintaining strong bones is important, and vitamin C can be a part of the plan! Osteoclasts are bone cells that break down bone tissue. Vitamin C blocks them from doing that. Osteoblasts are cells that bind bone while bone develops. Vitamin C fosters bone regeneration by fostering osteoblast formation. (3) Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin C. They are rich in antioxidants known to impact bone quality. In a recent study, vitamin C improved the L5 vertebra’s density! (4) That is a benefit your Easley spine specialist loves to hear! Get your vitamin C every day! Eat, or supplement! Let’s talk at your next Easley chiropractic appointment.
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Schedule your Easley chiropractic appointment. Young Chiropractic is ready to help you reclaim your muscle loss and build your bones! Thank you for entrusting your spine’s health to Young Chiropractic!