Executive Chiropractic of Iowa Cares for Neck Pain and Painful Cervical Spine Facet Joints

Zygapophyseal joints are also called facet joints. Facet is a bit easier to pronounce than zygapophyseal, and Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows ‘facet’ is much easier to type than 'zygaopophyseal’! These joints are documented to be the source of cervical spine pain for countless adults of all ages. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa provides gentle chiropractic spinal manipulation to ease neck pain like that created by facet joint innervation.

FOUNDATIONAL STUDY

Mapping of normal volunteers’ responses to stimulation of cervical facet joints in the 1990s was groundbreaking. Five volunteers stepped up to have their cervical spine facet joints stimulated to see where neck pain and arm pain were observed. Amazing! These volunteers’ pain reactions allowed for the making of easy-to-understand pain charts. (1) A follow up study of 10 patients with cervical spine pain compared their pain to that described in the normal volunteers’ pain drawings to confirm the initial charts from normal volunteers. (2) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa sees confirmation of these normal volunteers’ pain reports in our West Des Moines neck pain patients! Decompression of spinal nerves with chiropractic helps. 

NEW INFORMATION ON CERVICAL FACET JOINTS

New information from a current-day dissection project included new knowledge to the part cervical facet joints (aka zygapophyseal joints) have in neck pain and arm pain. At some levels, more than one medial branch was seen. Direct facet joint branches were found that came from the dorsal root of the spinal nerve. These were separate from the medial branches in their direct route to the facet joint. Current day researchers wonder whether there is a more diverse pattern of innervation than has previously been noted. (3) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa appreciates the nuances of spine pain and the research that found them.

EXAM AND TREATMENT

Clinical observation, examination, and imaging findings lead the diagnosis of neck pain given the complexity of cervical facet joints. (4) The cervical spine facet joint is innervated by mechanoreceptive (mechanical pressure-inducing) and nociceptive (nervous system related pain-inducing) nerve fibers involving the dorsal root ganglia and end processes of the spinal cord. The central nervous system is complex and responsive to these painful stimuli, both pressure and nerve related. (5) That is why your West Des Moines chiropractor takes time in examining, diagnosing and treating West Des Moines neck pain. There are many factors to take into account! Our Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management is soothing, non-thrust manipulative treatment of the cervical spine for West Des Moines neck pain relief.

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains the effectiveness and gentleness of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his male patient with neck pain and tingling in his arm and hand.     

Make your next West Des Moines chiropractic appointment with Executive Chiropractic of Iowa. Pick your term: zygapophyseal or facet! We are here to talk, diagnose, and treat them for relief of neck and arm pain.