A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Palmer Chiropractic Center
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Lynchburg chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients value
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine plays
a role as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and allows motion of the
spine. The disc also supports a large opening for the
nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
thinned, which occurs when discs degenerate
and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression impedes
circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve begins.
The shrinking of the nerve opening is termed Lynchburg
spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI poster
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc performs
like a spring to hold the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore functions to avoid
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to approximate one another, resulting in loss of motion, compressed nerve, and back
pain or arm or leg pain. What maintains the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a
chemical called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits
the disc to absorb water from the fluid entering the disc. Actually, the inside
of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the
inner disc decreases significantly with degeneration, thus lowering
the water content of the disc. Disc water loss
because of GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration decreases
the ability of the disc to resist motion by over 65%. The inability
to control motion of the vertebrae is termed instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let’s look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Palmer Chiropractic Center uses a specialized type
of Lynchburg spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, increases the nerve opening size, drops
pressure inside the disc to aid in circulation, returns
lost range of motion to the spine and establishes nerve
conduction to the brain for pain relief. (4) This latter benefit is called
afferentation. The manipulation reverses the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that cause
spinal stenosis and loss of motion. A study showed
that spinal mobilization with leg movement in patients with lower extremity
sciatica pain reduced low back and leg pain intensity, disability, pain; improved
range of motion of spine; and satisfied patients in the short
and long term. (2) Palmer Chiropractic Center
benefits Lynchburg back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Palmer Chiropractic Center may recommend nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is improved
when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two
allows higher levels in the disc. The glycosaminoglycan absorbs water to nine times its own volume, generating
higher fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening
size and assist prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic
acid (Vitamin B9) contributes to peripheral nerve injury repair
by helping Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Palmer Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST by Dr. Jonathan Cerrutti as he shares his
chiropractic care of a painful, stenotic disc and spinal canal due to disc herniation on
The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson.
Schedule your Lynchburg chiropractic appointment
today. Your Lynchburg spine will appreciate the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!