Itch & The Spine: It May Be Related To Disc Disease.

Mosquito bites are one thing. There’s an obvious cause for itching. Itching that lasts and lasts is another thing. Some West Des Moines chiropractic patients report itching of the leg or arm that nothing seems to be able to relieve. Itching can really be a real problem. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa’s chiropractic care may help when that “itch that won’t quit” is due to disc degeneration.

Itching is medically termed “pruritis.” It’s a pain! Itching may even lead to stress and/or depression in some sufferers when it just won’t go away. (1) Like pain, itch starts in the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord, and goes through the peripheral nervous system to the skin. Scratching the itch works due to an interaction with the pain pathways in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. (2) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows a lot about pain, treats the spine, and relieves pain. Just ask our West Des Moines chiropractic patients!

Many West Des Moines chiropractic patients wouldn’t say that itching brought them to Executive Chiropractic of Iowa, but they were happy when the itching resolved as a positive side effect. How does that happen? Well, “neuropathic pruritis” may be caused by spinal degenerative disc disease, spinal root impingement, and/or spinal nerve root traction according to new research. Multilevel symmetric neuropathic pruritis/itch may be due to a combination of these issues. (1)

A published study found that in a group of patients reporting chronic itch all of them showed obvious degenerative vertebral changes on spinal x-ray or MRI. (1)  All of them! For 85.7%, their itch followed the dermatomal path of irritation expected according to what is seen on their imaging. We chiropractors including your West Des Moines chiropractor at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa are most sensitive to dermatomal symptoms as part of our careful clinical examinations. Dermatomes tell us so much!

Executive Chiropractic of Iowa approaches disc disease and nerve root impingement and irritation with gentle chiropractic treatment in the form of Cox Technic. If itching is related to such conditions, relief may be in sight.

Contact Executive Chiropractic of Iowa to set an appointment with the West Des Moines chiropractor who understands the spine well and helps relieve its pain.

 
 
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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."