A Healthy Montreal Spinal Disc

A cushion. A spacer. A spring. A spinal disc. Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic knows a lot about the spinal intervertebral disc! Montreal chiropractic back pain and neck pain patients value that knowledge! The intervertebral disc in the human spine plays a role as a separator to hold the spinal bones apart, the vertebrae, apart and permits 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 slows circulation to the nerve and inflammation of the nerve starts. The narrowing of the nerve opening is termed Montreal spinal stenosis. Shown here is a schematic and MRI depiction of normal and stenotic nerve openings.

A SPRING

The intervertebral disc functions like a spring to keep the vertebra apart. The normal disc therefore works to preclude nerve compression and to permit spinal motion. When the disc degenerates, or thins, it permits the adjacent vertebra to move nearer one another, resulting in motion loss, nerve compression, and back pain or arm or leg pain. What keeps the intervertebral disc height? Normal discs have a content of a chemical called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which permits the disc to take up water from the fluid entering the disc. In fact, the interior 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 because of GAG loss is called degeneration. Disc degeneration decreases 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 look at two benefits for the spine when Cox® distraction manipulation is done.

First, Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic uses a specialized type of Montreal spinal manipulation which enlarges the disc space height, enlarges the nerve opening size, decreases pressure within the disc to aid in circulation, returns lost range of motion to the spine and establishes nerve conduction to the brain for pain relief. (4) This latter benefit is called afferentation. The manipulation undoes the effects of gravitational and work effort changes in the spine that result in 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) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic benefits Montreal back pain sufferers’ discs!

Second, Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic may suggest nutritional delivery of glycosaminoglycan by capsule which is enhanced when combined with Cox® Technic. This combination allows increased levels in the disc. The glycosaminoglycan absorbs water to nine times its own volume, generating higher 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 repair by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration, and secretion of nerve growth factor. (3)

CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic

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 Montreal chiropractic appointment today. Your Montreal spine will appreciate the attention you give its cushy, separating, springy spinal disc!