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In the past, surgery was considered the only way to deal with chronic back pain caused by a herniated disc. There are now non-invasive options for treating this and other disc diseases. If you have neck, lower back or leg pain that continues over time, you may have been diagnosed by your primary doctor with a degenerative disc disease. Haverhill Chiropractic also deals with chronic pain. A modern technology has been approved by the FDA that is an effective way to lessen pain.

The anatomy of the back is complex and sometimes difficult to understand. When you examine the spinal column and the nerve roots protected by it, it becomes apparent why a degenerative disc disease is capable of causing chronic pain. There are many ways your back can be hurt.

The spinal (vertebral) column consists of a series of 33 individual bones called the vertebra. They are located vertically from the neck (the first cervical vertebra is called the atlas and supports the skull), down to the coccyx at the end of the spine (the coccyx is often called the tailbone). In between from upper to lower are the thoracic, lumbar and sacrum (the sacrum is fused).

There are seven cervical and twelve thoracic vertebra. There are five lumbar (some people have six) and five sacrum. The coccyx has three. Between each vertebra is a disc which serves the purpose of cushioning the bones so they don’t rub against each other. When the cushion degenerates, they begin to rub and this causes pain.

The primary function of the spinal column is to protect the spinal cord and nerve roots. The ligaments, tendons and muscle attachments all have their roots there. The bones of the spine support your head, shoulders and chest. They also serve to evenly distribute your body weight. These bones store minerals and produce red blood cells. It is easy to understand how debilitating it can be to the rest of your body when the spinal column is in an abnormal condition.

Your entire body is affected by the nerve roots located within the spinal column. No wonder degenerative disc disease causes chronic pain. You may experience the pain in your extremities even though it is caused by degenerative disc disease. Many people have been relieved of a portion of their severe pain at Haverhill Chiropractic. It is not possible, of course, to completely eliminate the pain. Fortunately however, it can be alleviated to the degree that an individual can return to enjoyment of the activities of daily living.

Providing relief for patients with back pain is the goal of (http://www.kenozachiropractic.com) Haverhill Chiropractic clinic professionals. For further information, you can visit the website at http://www.kenozachiropractic.com .