Are you one of the 30 million Americans that currently suffers from back and neck pain? If so, you may be in need of chiropractic care. Chiropractic care, or the practice of correcting subluxations and bringing the spine back into balance, offers full body benefits that reach far beyond mere back pain relief.
What can a chiropractor do for me?
Visiting a chiropractor can offer whole-body benefits. The spine is a sturdy storehouse of delicate nerves that run along the spinal column; these nerves are responsible for sending and receiving signals that govern everything from muscle growth and repair to digestive function and hormone regulation. When your nervous system is free-flowing and in good health, the rest of your body’s symptoms can perform as they are intended to. A chiropractor:
- Can help lower and regulate blood pressure
- Can relieve acute and chronic back and neck pain
- Can help to reduce inflammation
- Can correct subluxations and scoliosis
- Can relieve sciatica
- Can provide headache and migraine relief
- Can improve the health of your immune system
- Can reduce or eliminate neurological conditions
- Can contribute to better mental and emotional health
With all of these benefits that you stand to gain, visiting a chiropractor regularly can help you achieve whole body health.
Can a chiropractor help with degenerative disc disease?
Degenerative disc disease is a condition where one or more discs between vertebrae lose their strength and elasticity. Despite the fact that it is labeled as a disease, it is actually a progressive condition that can worsen over time and usually occurs due to stress or injury. Degenerative disc disease can worsen, and symptoms range from mild to severe. Some of these symptoms include:
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the legs and buttocks
- Loss of mobility
- Pain when bending or twisting
- Stiffness after sitting or lying down for a time
- Pain that comes and goes; can last for a few hours to days at a time
Risk factors that play a role in the development of degenerative disc disease include accidents or injuries, being overweight or obese, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Strenuous exercise and poor diet are also contributing factors to its development and progression.
Can a chiropractor help me with degenerative disc disease?
Many people who experience degenerative disc disease consider chiropractic treatment as an option for relieving pain and reducing symptoms. Adjustments and corrections of subluxations in the spine help to ease pressure on irritated nerves, stimulating circulation in the compromised disc and making conditions ideal for regeneration and repair. The ultimate goal of chiropractic care is to improve joint mobility, spinal flexion, and to promote healthy circulation throughout the body that contributes to cell repair and renewal. Your chiropractor may try a number of specific techniques to help ease the pain of degenerative discs, and to promote healthy repair and renewal while protecting your spinal health. Some of these techniques include:
1. Specific, targeted adjustments
Identifying areas of pain and working with specific vertebrae where it is determined that degeneration has occurred will provide relief and space for continued healing.
2. Flexion distraction
In this non-thrusting technique, your chiropractor will treat issues such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis, gently correcting your gradient curvature and providing support to compromised discs.
3. Instrument assisted adjustments
This technique of subluxation correction is also quite gentle; it involves the use of a hand-held instrument to apply pressure to specific vertebrae without using a jarring or thrusting motion to bring bones back into alignment. Most patients report little to no discomfort with this type of adjustment. Planning to seek chiropractic care for your degenerative disc condition involves full disclosure of your pain, your tolerance, and working with your practitioner to choose specific treatments that work for you.
While there may not yet be a cure for degenerative disc disorder, a chiropractor is instrumental in the process of realignment, support, regeneration, and repair of vertebrae and discs that have been compromising your quality of life. If you are ready to get back on the road to vibrant health, wellness, and full mobility today, consider making us your next stop. Call for your appointment at 205-637-1363, and look forward to better health and wellness from your very first appointment!
