A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Manahawkin 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 supports a large opening for the
nerves leaving the spine through which to pass. If this opening is
reduced, which happens 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 called Manahawkin
spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI depiction
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc acts
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 approximate one another, resulting in motion
loss, compressed nerve, and pain in the back or down the arms or legs. What keeps the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a
chemical termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits
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 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 reduces
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 consider two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Manahawkin Chiropractic Center uses a specialized form
of Manahawkin spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, increases the nerve opening size, decreases
pressure inside the disc to assist 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 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) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
benefits Manahawkin back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Manahawkin Chiropractic Center may recommend nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is improved
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, creating
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 healing
by encouraging Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Manahawkin 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 Manahawkin chiropractic appointment
today. Your Manahawkin spine will appreciate the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!