A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Hollstrom & Associates Inc
understands well the spinal intervertebral disc!
Largo chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients appreciate
that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine plays
a role as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and allows 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 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 Largo
spinal stenosis. See this schematic and MRI picture
of normal and stenotic nerve openings.
A SPRING
The intervertebral disc functions
like a spring to keep 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, nerve compression, and pain in the back or down the arms or legs. What maintains the
intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a
chemical termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits
the disc to take up water from the fluid coming 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 dropping
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 called instability. (1)
BENEFICIAL TREATMENT: COX® TECHNIC
Let’s consider two benefits for
the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.
First, Hollstrom & Associates Inc uses a specialized form
of Largo spinal manipulation which enlarges the
disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, drops
pressure inside 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 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; improved
range of motion of spine; and satisfied patients in the short
and long term. (2) Hollstrom & Associates Inc
benefits Largo back pain sufferers’ discs!
Second, Hollstrom & Associates Inc may suggest nutritional
delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is boosted
when combined with Cox® Technic. This combination
allows higher levels in the disc. The glycosaminoglycan absorbs water to nine times its own volume, generating
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 repair
by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration,
and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
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 Largo chiropractic appointment
today. Your Largo spine will be grateful for the
attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!