Can a degenerated disc improve with chiropractic care?

Chiropractic does not rebuild a worn joint, but correcting the subluxations takes abnormal stress off the structure. In this case the patient's L5 disc showed a more than 10% increase in size on her six-month re-evaluation films, after the lumbar reversal and pelvic rotation driving the stress on it were corrected.

What is a lumbar curve reversal at L1/L2?

The low back is designed with a forward curve. A reversal means a segment of that curve bends the opposite way, in this case at the L1/L2 level. On a lateral X-ray it is visible as the spine bending against its intended direction, and it concentrates load on the discs and joints below it.

Is spinal degeneration a normal part of aging?

Degeneration from normal use over a lifetime is normal. Excessive degeneration caused by injury, trauma or biomechanical misalignment is not normal, and the misalignment driving it is correctable. That distinction is what a structural X-ray analysis is for.

What does pelvic rotation of the sacrum mean?

The sacrum is the base the spine sits on. When it rotates, the foundation under the lumbar spine is no longer level, and the spine above it compensates. On an AP film this shows as a listing of the spine to one side, which is what this patient's initial images showed.

Should neck and low back subluxations be corrected together?

The spine is one structure and the analysis covers all of it. This patient had cervical and lumbar subluxations at the same time, and both were corrected over the same six-month plan. What the films reveal is what gets corrected.

Lumbar Subluxation at L1/L2 and L5 Disc Degeneration

The Same Patient, the Other End of the Spine

In this month's Spinal Correction Spotlight I am featuring the comparison X-rays of the same 44-year-old woman whose cervical spine I covered in last month's spotlight. Same patient, same films, same six months of care. Last month was her neck. This month is her low back.

She came to us suffering from neck and low back pain, wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches, along with digestive issues, hormone issues, food sensitivities and allergies, and immunity issues. She had only ever tried conventional medical approaches, which was leaving her without answers, on more medications, and with a worsening quality of life.

What Her Lumbar Films Showed

Her initial films, taken June 14, 2022, showed a straightening of the lumbar curvature with an area of reversal at L1/L2. Her L5 disc was also degenerated. Her A/P view (front to back) showed a severe listing to the right, along with a pelvic rotation of her sacrum.

These subluxations, when combined, create significant stress to the nervous system, resulting in systemic malfunction, as the nerve flow between brain and body gets further reduced.

Clinical Findings — Initial Examination

Patient: 44-year-old female (same patient as the February spotlight)

Presenting complaints: Neck and low back pain, wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, digestive issues, hormone issues, food sensitivities and allergies, immunity issues

X-ray type: AP lumbar and lateral lumbar

Initial X-ray: June 14, 2022 — straightened lumbar curvature with reversal at L1/L2, degenerated L5 disc, severe listing right, pelvic rotation of the sacrum

Re-evaluation X-ray: January 6, 2023 — lumbar lordosis drastically improved, L1/L2 reversal corrected, more than 10% increase in L5 disc size, spine returned toward vertical

Care span: 6 months of corrective care between films

Outcome: Symptoms substantially improved, digestive and food related issues improved, working without issue, now under maintenance care

Lumbar AP — Before & After

June 14, 2022 initial AP lumbar X-ray showing severe listing to the right with pelvic rotation of the sacrum in a 44-year-old female, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

Before — Jun 14, 2022 Initial X-Ray

January 6, 2023 re-evaluation AP lumbar X-ray showing significant correction of the spine back toward vertical after six months of corrective care, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

After — Jan 6, 2023 Re-Evaluation

Lumbar Lateral — Before & After

June 14, 2022 initial lateral lumbar X-ray showing straightened lumbar curvature with reversal at L1 L2 and a degenerated L5 disc, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

Before — Jun 14, 2022 Initial X-Ray

January 6, 2023 re-evaluation lateral lumbar X-ray showing drastically improved lumbar lordosis and more than ten percent increase in L5 disc size, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

After — Jan 6, 2023 Re-Evaluation

Six Months Later

Her re-evaluation films on January 6, 2023 showed her lumbar lordosis improved drastically, with the reversal subluxation at L1/L2 corrected. There was also a more than 10% increase in the size of her L5 disc. Her front to back image showed a significant correction of the spine, back toward vertical.

Degeneration from normal use over a lifetime is normal. Excessive degeneration driven by a misaligned structure is a different thing, and the misalignment driving it is correctable. Taking the abnormal stress off that disc is what allowed it to change.

Those spinal changes would not be significant if they were not accompanied by an improvement in functional capacity as well. Her symptoms improved substantially, and she also saw improvement in her digestive and food related issues. She has been able to work without issue since initiating care, and is currently under maintenance care.

What Both Halves of This Case Show

Her neck and her low back were both subluxated, and she was carrying symptoms at both ends and through her digestion, her hormones and her immunity at the same time. Symptoms are feedback letting you know that something may be wrong, and the body adapts around interference for as long as it can.

I am not the healer. I move the bone; God does the healing. You are a self-healing organism, and when you are subluxation free, not only does your spine heal, but your body expresses life the way you were created to.

Your Neck and Your Low Back Are One Structure

A full spine analysis shows what is happening at both ends and how they relate. Come in for an X-ray analysis and find out what your own films show.

Have Your Spine Checked for Subluxation

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