Mosquito bites are one thing. There’s an obvious cause for
itching. Itching that lasts and lasts is another thing. Some Sitka
chiropractic patients report itching of the leg or arm that nothing seems to be
able to relieve. Itching can really be a real problem. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka’s
chiropractic care may help when that “itch that won’t quit” is due to disc
degeneration.
Itching is medically termed “pruritis.” It’s a pain! Itching
may even lead to stress and/or depression in some sufferers when it just won’t
go away. (1) Like pain, itch starts in the central nervous system, the brain
and the spinal cord, and goes through the peripheral nervous system to the skin.
Scratching the itch works due to an interaction with the pain pathways in the
dorsal horn of the spinal cord. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows a lot about pain,
treats the spine, and relieves pain. Just ask our Sitka chiropractic
patients!
Many Sitka chiropractic patients wouldn’t say
that itching brought them to Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka, but they were happy when the
itching resolved as a positive side effect. How does that happen? Well, “neuropathic
pruritis” may be caused by spinal degenerative disc disease, spinal root
impingement, and/or spinal nerve root traction according to new research. Multilevel
symmetric neuropathic pruritis/itch may be due to a combination of these
issues. (1)
A published study found that in a group of patients
reporting chronic itch all of them showed obvious degenerative vertebral
changes on spinal x-ray or MRI. (1) All
of them! For 85.7%, their itch followed the dermatomal path of irritation
expected according to what is seen on their imaging. We chiropractors including
your Sitka chiropractor at Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka are most sensitive to
dermatomal symptoms as part of our careful clinical examinations. Dermatomes
tell us so much!
Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka approaches disc disease and nerve root
impingement and irritation with gentle chiropractic treatment in the form of
Cox Technic. If itching is related to such conditions, relief may be in sight.
Contact Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka to set an appointment with the
Sitka chiropractor who understands the spine well and helps
relieve its pain.