A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Fernandina Beach chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
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 permits 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 sets in.
The narrowing of the nerve opening is called Fernandina Beach
spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI depiction
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc works
like a spring to hold the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore performs to stop
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to move nearer one another, causing in loss of motion, compressed nerve, and pain in the back or down the arms or legs. What maintains the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a
chemical called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which allows
the disc to absorb water from the fluid coming into the disc. Actually, the inside
of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content of the disc’s interior reduces significantly with degeneration, thus dropping
the water content of the disc. Disc water loss
due to GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration decreases
the ability of the disc to resist motion by over 65%. The incapacity
to control motion of the vertebrae is termed instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let us consider two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Amelia Chiropractic Clinic uses a specialized type
of Fernandina Beach spinal manipulation which enlarges the
disc space height, boosts the nerve opening size, drops
pressure inside the disc to help in circulation, restores
lost range of motion to the spine and creates nerve
conduction to the brain for pain relief. (4) This latter benefit is termed
afferentation. The manipulation undoes the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that result in
spinal stenosis and loss of motion. A study revealed
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 gratified patients in the short
and long term. (2) Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
benefits Fernandina Beach back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Amelia Chiropractic Clinic 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
greater fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening
size and assist prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic
acid (Vitamin B9) plays a part in peripheral nerve injury healing
by helping Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
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 Fernandina Beach chiropractic appointment
today. Your Fernandina Beach spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!