A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc!
Colorado Springs 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 leaving the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
narrowed, which happens when discs degenerate
and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression slows
circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve begins.
The narrowing of the nerve opening is called Colorado Springs
spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI picture
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc functions
like a spring to keep the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore acts to prevent
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to come
closer to 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 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 called instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let us look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR uses a specialized type
of Colorado Springs spinal manipulation which enlarges the
disc space height, boosts the nerve opening size, decreases
pressure inside the disc to assist in circulation, restores
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 result in
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) The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
benefits Colorado Springs back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR may recommend nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced
when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two
allows increased levels in the disc. It is
this glycosaminoglycan that absorbs water to nine times its own volume, producing
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 healing
by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
Listen to this PODCAST by Dr. Jonathan Cerrutti as he discusses 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 Colorado Springs chiropractic appointment
today. Your Colorado Springs spine will appreciate the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!