Chiropractors/lower back cartilage damage

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Expert: Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman - 7/15/2008


Question
hi my name is Eoin mcdonagh im 21 years old im from ireland.before my back would get weak and crack when i bent over slightly after a minute or two i went to the gym i trained my back and abs the next day when i got up i had a very sharp pain in my lower back i went to my doctor he said it was cartilage damage he puts a vibrating pad on my lower back 3 times a week its doing nothing for me is there a way to fix this?thanks

Answer
Dear Eoin,

I am not sure how the doctor came to his conclusion of cartilage damage in your low back, and at what spinal level did the damage occur?  Damage to the cartilage that lines the endplates of the vertebra or the joint spaces?  Did he actually perform an orthopedic evaluation with range of motion and physical testing of your low back?  By the way, what kind of doctor did you go to?  Did the doctor take any x-rays to look at the disk space, the joint spaces, and the structure of the spine?  Also how is the vibrating pad supposed to fix the supposed cartilage damage?

Please give me some more details, and I can make a more accurate assessment of a more appropriate course of action.  by the way, I will be out of town for 2-3 days, so I will not be able to respond till next week.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net

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Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman

Expertise

I can answer questions on general chiropractic care, sports injury, whiplash and auto crash, mild traumatic brain injury, structural and functional rehabilitation of the spine, nutrition for inflammation and repair, fitness training, nutrition for sports performance and other general health and nutrition related inquiries. I currently lecture on automobile trauma, occupant kinematics, and forensic risk analysis to local EMS, Fire and Police, as well as nutrition and sports injury to community groups. Rest assured all answers are generated from my clinical experience, and scientific research.

Experience

I have accumulated over 1100 hours of post-doctoral training to include; Certifications in Spinal Trauma and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma from the International Chiropractic Association, Certification in Low Speed Auto Crash Reconstruction and Certification in Forensic Risk Analysis from The Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Certified Proficiency in spinal and extremity diagnostic procedures from The Motion Palpation Institute, Certified in Sports Injury and Rehabilitation from the National University of Health Sciences and The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, Nationally Certified Fellow of Structural Rehabilitation from The Chiropractic Biophysics Organization, and I have advanced training in manipulation under anesthesia and nutrition. Feel free to check out my website for course listings: www.suncoasthealthcare.net

Organizations
International Chiropractic Association, Florida Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, American Academy of Pain Management, Chiropractic Biophysics, Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Motion Palpation Organization, American Academy of Manual and Physical Medicine, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

Education/Credentials
B.A. (Psychology)The University of Cincinnati B.S. (Human Biology)Cleveland Chiropractic College D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) Cleveland Chiropractic College C.C.S.T. (Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma)The International Chiropractic Association C.C.S.P. (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician)The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. *CCST and CCSP 120 hour certification courses are not recognized by the Florida Chiropractic Board due to the fact that they are not 300 hour diplomate level courses*

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