A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Ashburn 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 allows 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
narrowed, which happens when discs degenerate
and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression impedes
circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve starts.
The narrowing of the nerve opening is called Ashburn
spinal stenosis. See this 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 avoid
nerve compression and to permit spinal motion. When the disc
degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to come
closer to one another, resulting in loss of motion, nerve compression, and back
pain or arm or leg pain. What maintains the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs contain a
chemical termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which allows
the disc to absorb 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 decreases significantly with degeneration, thus dropping
the water content of the disc. The loss of water in the disc
due to 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 delivered.
First, Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn offers a specialized type
of Ashburn spinal manipulation which enlarges the
disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, drops
pressure inside 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 termed
afferentation. The manipulation reverses the effects of
gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that result in
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) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
benefits Ashburn back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn may suggest nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced
when combined with Cox® Technic. This combination
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) plays a part in peripheral nerve injury healing
by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
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 Ashburn chiropractic appointment
today. Your Ashburn spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!