A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Layden Chiropractic
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Plainville chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine performs as a separator holding the spinal
bone apart, the vertebrae, apart and permits 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 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 starts.
The narrowing of the nerve opening is called Plainville
spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI poster
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc acts
like a spring to hold the vertebra apart. The normal disc
therefore acts to prevent
nerve compression and to permit spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to move nearer one another, resulting in loss of motion, nerve compression, and back
pain or arm or leg pain. 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. In fact, the interior
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. The loss of water in the disc
because of GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration reduces
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 us look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Layden Chiropractic uses a specialized type
of Plainville spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, reduces
pressure inside the disc to aid in circulation, returns
lost range of motion to the spine and creates nerve
conduction to the brain for pain relief. (4) This latter benefit is called
afferentation. The manipulation undoes the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that cause
spinal stenosis and loss of motion. Researchers 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 gratified patients in the short
and long term. (2) Layden Chiropractic
benefits Plainville back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Layden Chiropractic may recommend nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is improved
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 aid prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic
acid (Vitamin B9) contributes to peripheral nerve injury repair
by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Layden Chiropractic
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 Plainville chiropractic appointment
today. Your Plainville spine will appreciate the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!