A Healthy West Des Moines Spinal Disc

A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc! West Des Moines 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 permits motion of the spine. The disc also maintains a large opening for the nerves exiting the spine through which to pass. If this opening is thinned, which occurs when discs degenerate and lose height, the nerves passing through are compressed. This compression slows circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve starts. The shrinking of the nerve opening is called West Des Moines spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI picture of normal and stenotic nerve openings.

West Des Moines stenotic and normal spinal discs

A SPRING

The intervertebral disc functions like a spring to hold the vertebra apart. The normal disc therefore acts to prevent nerve compression and to allow spinal motion. When the disc degenerates, or thins, it allows the adjacent vertebra to move nearer one another, resulting in loss of motion, compressed nerve, 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 take up water from the fluid entering the disc. Actually, the inside of a healthy disc is 80% water. The GAG content in the inner disc reduces 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 us consider two benefits for the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is delivered.

First, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa offers a specialized form of West Des Moines spinal manipulation which increases the disc space height, boosts the nerve opening size, reduces pressure within the disc to help 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 termed afferentation. The manipulation reverses the effects of gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that cause 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) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa benefits West Des Moines back pain sufferers’ discs!

Second, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa may suggest nutritional delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is boosted when combined with Cox® Technic. Combining these two allows increased levels in the disc. It is this glycosaminoglycan that absorbs water to nine times its own volume, creating greater fluid content in the disc to improve both nerve opening size and assist prevention of disc degeneration and inflammation. Folic acid (Vitamin B9) contributes to peripheral nerve injury healing by helping Schwann cell proliferation, migration, and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

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 West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today. Your West Des Moines spine will be grateful for the attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!

 
Your West Des Moines chiropractor really likes 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."