Discs are pads of fibrous tissue that cushion the spaces between vertebrae (spinal bone). Serving as shock absorbers for the spine, they allow the back to turn and bend normally. Because the top and bottom of each disc are attached to the vertebrae above and below it, discs cannot actually “slip” out of place. However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to bulge (herniated) or even rupture (tear). The resulting pressure on surrounding nerve tissues can be intensely painful.
Many people have heard the term “pinched nerve” and know that it causes pain and numbness. But a pinched nerve (also called compression lesion) is rare, causing only 10-15% of spine-related problems. More often, pain results from nerve tissues being irritated by the rubbing, stretching, or scraping of malfunctioning spinal joints. Such malfunctions can be caused by many everyday events including injury, poor posture, overuse, or emotional stress. Chemical toxins can also affect the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots. It’s important to have a doctor determine the cause of your pain and the extent of your problem.
Chiropractic doctors are trained to practice and perform hundreds to thousands of manipulations before delivering them to a patient. To become a Doctor of Chiropractic, the candidate must first pass the demanding National Board Examination. Then, to apply for a professional license, the doctor must pass an even more rigorous test before being given the privilege to practice as a Doctor of Chiropractic.
Guided by a thorough case history and examination, your doctor will evaluate your individual needs and determine a course of treatment This conservative, natural approach to better health avoids the dangers associated with invasive procedures and addictive drugs.
This depends on your problem and your body’s needs. Long-standing or neglected problems often require ongoing care to restore and maintain good spinal health. You wouldn’t expect just one of the many pills of a prescription to provide a cure. Similarly, you shouldn’t expect only one adjustment to heal you. Healing often takes time.
Some patients seek chiropractic care only when pain is unbearable. This “crisis” approach can be time-consuming, costly, and uncomfortable. Most patients find that best results come from an individual care program and periodic chiropractic checkups.
Discuss your expectations for care with your doctor and ask questions about how you can optimize your spinal health. Your course of treatment is ultimately your decision.
Not all adjustments are the same. Often, the doctor’s hands or a specially designed instrument are used to deliver a quick therapeutic thrust to the affected joint. Other techniques require slow, constant pressure.
Based on years of training and experience and careful evaluation of your unique spinal problem, your doctor will recommend a program of care designed for you and your specific needs.
Your body’s self-regulating and self-healing functions are controlled by your nervous system. The spinal cord is the central message carrier for your nervous system. Problems with the bones that protect the spinal cord can impair nerve flow. When the nervous system is impaired, tissues and organs throughout the body may not work correctly.
Doctors call this degenerative chain reaction the vertebral subluxation complex. It is an underlying cause of many health problems.
Today’s Doctor of Chiropractic is highly trained in identitying and evaluating functional problems associated with the spinal column. He or she is also skilled in restoring proper spinal biomechanics and nerve function.
With a program of regular spinal maintenance, many patients recover their health and vigor, and often feel better than they did before their problem occurred.
The goal of chiropractic is to stimulate your body’s own remarkable resources to help it heal and function better. Chiropractic is a hands-on, drug-free healthcare approach. Millions of people have become healthier using chiropractic principles of a healthy diet, exercise, and maintenance of proper spinal function.
While you are healing, get as much rest as your body needs. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. If you are overweight, reduce stress on your spine by losing some extra pounds.
Most importantly, keep all of your appointments with your doctor, and follow your doctor’s recommendations for the best results.
Children and even infants can also benefit from chiropractic. Because spinal trauma can occur at birth, and later childhood activities may cause spinal problems, many parents have their children’s spines checked regularly.
For seniors, improved spinal function can mean better mobility, endurance, appetite, and an improvement in many age-related ailments.
The safe, natural chiropractic approach to health maintenance makes sense for people of all ages.
Like removing the kink from the hose, a spinal adjustment can ease pressure on a nerve, allowing nerve impulses to flow and protect the nerve from further damage.
A pop or click sound it often heard during an adjustment. Doctors call this cavitation. Much like opening a can of carbonated soda, the sound is caused by a rapid change in pressure acting on the fluids within the joint. Cavitation often occurs during an adjustment, but it does not have to occur for the adjustment to be effective.