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.

A brief introductory anatomy lesson tells you that the spinal (vertebral) column consists of 33 individual bones (vertebrae). They are stacked from top (skull) to bottom (pelvis). The cervical vertebrae include the neck area. Thoracic vertebrae run from cervical to lumbar and the lumbar extend to the pelvic area with the sacrum and coccyx being at the end of the spinal column. The coccyx is often referred to as the tailbone.

The total includes seven cervical, twelve thoracic, five or six (in some people) lumbar, five sacrum (fused) and three coccyx. Between each vertebra and the ones above and below it are cushions called discs. This prevents the bones from rubbing against each other and causing pain. Obviously, when the cushioning effect is lost through degeneration, chronic pain is likely to occur.

The spinal cord and all nerve roots located there are protected by the spinal vertebrae. It is the base for your muscle, tendon and ligament attachments. The spine supports your head, shoulders and chest. It also distributes your body weight evenly. Minerals are stored there and red blood cells are produced there. Any dysfunction of the spine, obviously, can affect all the parts of your body.

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 Haverhill Chiropractic clinic professionals. For further information, you can visit the website at http://www.kenozachiropractic.com .