A Healthy Sitka Spinal Disc
A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc! Sitka chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate 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 maintains 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 narrowing of the nerve opening is termed Sitka spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI poster of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc performs like a spring to hold 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, nerve compression, and back pain or arm or leg pain. What maintains the intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a chemical called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits the disc to take up 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 because of 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 termed instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let’s look at two benefits for the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka uses a specialized form of Sitka spinal manipulation which enlarges the disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, reduces pressure within the disc to help 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 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 satisfied patients in the short and long term. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka benefits Sitka back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka may recommend nutritional delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two allows higher 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 aid 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 Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
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 Sitka chiropractic appointment today. Your Sitka spine will be grateful for the attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!
