Related Topics

• Post-Surgical Pain
• Back and Neck Pain
• Arthritis
• Migraines / Headaches
• Asthma
• Hip, Knee & Foot Pain
• Poor Circulation
• Diabetic Wound Care

Degenerative Disc Disease

A disc is the soft tissue between the vertebrae. This soft tissue allows each vertebrae to move independently in various directions. When this tissue is damaged, the space between the vertebrae typically narrows. As the space joint narrows, the disc material is forced outside of the normal joint space. This creates a bulging effect. In fact, the bulge can be so profound that it can break open and the liquid inside the disc leaks out into the body. This leak can occur in front of, in back or, or beside the spine. If this occurs front or side, then the bulge, or the material that breaks out of the bulge has no neurological consequence. However, if the bulge herniates backwards in any direction, it can have the potential to press against the spinal cord and/or nerve rootlets. We examine every patient for this disorder. We have specialized equipment that can decompress the disc bulge and reduce any pressure it may put on the spinal cord or nerve rootlets. Our machine is called the DTS machine.

The most common treatment for disc injury is traction or surgery. Alone, neither is as effective as they are when utilized with the manual therapy of chiropractic adjustments. The reason for this is simple: In order to have a disc injury, you must have a misalignment. Misalignments are comprised of multiple twists and turns and not simply a vertical compression on the disc. To pull apart a disc by traction does not address the rotation component or the flexion component that is in every misalignment. Therefore, when you are only treating a fraction of the problem, you are likely to only get a fraction of the recovery that is possible. We analyze every injury from every angle and we address every compromise that makes up your vertebral subluxation complex.