A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Pflugerville Wellness Center
knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc!
Pflugerville chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine acts as a separator to hold the spinal bones 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
narrowed, 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 sets in.
The narrowing of the nerve opening is called Pflugerville
spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI picture
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 prevent
nerve compression and to permit spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it permits the adjacent vertebra to move nearer one another, resulting in loss of motion, nerve compression, 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 take in water from the fluid moving
into the disc. Actually, the inside
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. Disc water loss
due to GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration reduces
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 us look at two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is delivered.
First, Pflugerville Wellness Center offers a specialized form
of Pflugerville spinal manipulation which enlarges the
disc space height, boosts the nerve opening size, reduces
pressure inside the disc to aid 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 undoes the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that result in
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) Pflugerville Wellness Center
benefits Pflugerville back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Pflugerville Wellness Center may suggest nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced
when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two
allows higher levels in the disc. The glycosaminoglycan absorbs water to nine times its own volume, generating
greater fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening
size and aid 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 Pflugerville Wellness Center
Listen to this PODCAST by Dr. Jonathan Cerrutti as he shares 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 Pflugerville chiropractic appointment
today. Your Pflugerville spine will appreciate the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!