A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Cross Chiropractic Center
knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc!
Sandy Springs chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine acts as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and allows motion of the
spine. The disc also maintains a large opening for the
nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
thinned, which happens 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 narrowing of the nerve opening is called Sandy Springs
spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI poster
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc acts
like a spring to keep the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore works to stop
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it permits 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 keeps the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs contain a
chemical called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which allows
the disc to take in water from the fluid entering the disc. Actually, the interior
of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the
inner disc reduces significantly with degeneration, thus reducing
the water content of the disc. The loss of water in the disc
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 called instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let us consider two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Cross Chiropractic Center uses a specialized type
of Sandy Springs spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, drops
pressure within the disc to help 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 termed
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) Cross Chiropractic Center
benefits Sandy Springs back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Cross Chiropractic Center may suggest nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced
when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two
allows higher levels in the disc. The glycosaminoglycan 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 repair
by helping Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Cross 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 Sandy Springs chiropractic appointment
today. Your Sandy Springs spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!