A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Satterwhite Chiropractic
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Oxford chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine plays
a role as a separator holding the spinal
bone apart, the vertebrae, apart and permits motion of the
spine. The disc also provides a large opening for the
nerves leaving 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 sets in.
The shrinking of the nerve opening is called Oxford
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 avoid
nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to come
closer to one another, causing in motion
loss, 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 in water from the fluid moving
into the disc. Actually, the inside
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. Disc water loss
due to 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 us consider two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Satterwhite Chiropractic uses a specialized form
of Oxford spinal manipulation which increases the
disc space height, increases the nerve opening size, reduces
pressure within the disc to aid in circulation, restores
lost range of motion to the spine and creates nerve
conduction to the brain for pain relief. (4) This latter benefit is termed
afferentation. The manipulation reverses the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that cause
spinal stenosis and loss of motion. A study showed
that spinal mobilization with leg movement in patients with lower extremity
sciatica pain reduced low back and leg pain intensity, disability, pain; improved
range of motion of spine; and gratified patients in the short
and long term. (2) Satterwhite Chiropractic
benefits Oxford back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Satterwhite Chiropractic may recommend nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is boosted
when combined with Cox® Technic. This combination
allows increased levels in the disc. The glycosaminoglycan absorbs water to nine times its own volume, producing
higher fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening
size and assist prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic
acid (Vitamin B9) contributes to peripheral nerve injury healing
by helping Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Satterwhite 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 Oxford chiropractic appointment
today. Your Oxford spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!