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A Healthy Richmond Spinal Disc

A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Johnson Chiropractic knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc! Richmond 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 provides a large opening for the nerves leaving 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 impedes circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve begins. The shrinking of the nerve opening is called Richmond spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI poster of normal and stenotic nerve openings.

Richmond stenotic and normal spinal discs

A SPRING

The intervertebral disc performs like a spring to keep the vertebra apart. The normal disc therefore performs to prevent 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 allows the disc to absorb water from the fluid coming into the disc. Actually, the inside of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the inner disc decreases significantly with degeneration, thus reducing the water content of the disc. Disc water loss 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 us consider two benefits for the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.

First, Johnson Chiropractic uses a specialized form of Richmond spinal manipulation which increases the disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, reduces pressure within the disc to aid in circulation, returns 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 undoes the effects of gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that result in spinal stenosis and loss of motion. Researchers showed 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) Johnson Chiropractic benefits Richmond back pain sufferers’ discs!

Second, Johnson Chiropractic may suggest nutritional delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is improved when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two allows increased 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 healing by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration, and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)

CONTACT Johnson 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 Richmond chiropractic appointment today. Your Richmond spine will be grateful for the attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!

 
Your Richmond chiropractor loves seeing a healthy intervertebral disc and helps the not so healthy one recover. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."