A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Minster Chiropractic Center
knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc!
Minster chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients value
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine acts as a separator holding the spinal
bone apart, the vertebrae, apart and permits motion of the
spine. The disc also provides a large opening for the
nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
reduced, which occurs 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 shrinking of the nerve opening is termed Minster
spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI depiction
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc works
like a spring to keep the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore performs to prevent
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it permits the adjacent vertebra to approximate one another, causing in motion
loss, compressed nerve, and pain in the back or down the arms or legs. What maintains the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs contain a
chemical called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which allows
the disc to absorb water from the fluid moving
into the disc. Actually, the inside
of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content of the disc’s interior 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’s look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Minster Chiropractic Center uses a specialized form
of Minster spinal manipulation which enlarges the
disc space height, increases the nerve opening size, drops
pressure inside 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 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 revealed
that spinal mobilization with leg movement in patients with lower extremity
sciatica pain reduced low back and leg pain intensity, disability, pain; increased
range of motion of spine; and satisfied patients in the short
and long term. (2) Minster Chiropractic Center
benefits Minster back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Minster Chiropractic Center may recommend nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced
when combined with Cox® Technic. This combination
allows increased levels in the disc. It is
this glycosaminoglycan that 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) plays a part in peripheral nerve injury repair
by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
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 Minster chiropractic appointment
today. Your Minster spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!