Spinal Degeneration and Chiropractic Care
By Sara Butler
Spinal degeneration is a side effect of the aging process. As you age, the constant stress sustained by the spine as well as any untreated subluxations can cause changes to take place in the spine itself. These changes impact the discs, which lose their ability to cushion the spine. The ligaments, muscles, and tendons that support the spine also weaken and can cause the spine to curve. Spinal degeneration is why so many older people have trouble with their backs as they age, but if you choose chiropractic you may be able to keep your spine from facing this fate. Here’s what you should know about spinal degeneration and how chiropractic can help.
The First Phase of Degeneration
In this phase of spinal degeneration, there are no symptoms present. This phase can begin in your 20s or 30s, and many people don’t seek chiropractic care for misalignments because they’re not experiencing symptoms.
This phase can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. During this time, the spine will lose some of its natural curves and the stress placed on the discs and nerves can cause the aging process to be accelerated. Seeking regular chiropractic care at this stage is an ideal scenario since the body will respond to adjustments the best.
The Second Phase
In this phase of the spinal degeneration process, you may begin to experience neck and back pain. The discs in this stage are thinner, the spinal cord has narrowed some and bone spurs have begun forming. Posture is typically impacted by this stage, but chiropractic care can be helpful. This stage can last up to 20 years, so regular chiropractic attention can help to relieve the stress on the spine and improve the balance of the spine and the rest of the body.
The Third Phase
By the time you have entered the third phase of spinal degeneration you may need more invasive treatment to help treat problems associated with your spine. But, you can still benefit from regular chiropractic care to help keep the degeneration process from getting worse. By the time you’ve reached this stage you often have nerve damage, serious disc problems such as herniation, and changes in your posture.
The Final Phase
By this phase, your quality of life is going to be impacted. You may experience chronic pain, numbness, decreased range of motion and even paralysis. Daily tasks can be challenging due to poor balance, as well. You will need a more aggressive treatment plan at this stage, but chiropractic adjustments can still work well for you to help give you some relief from your symptoms. The goal at this stage isn’t to reverse the damage, but to help you be more comfortable.
Chances are you can still slow down the spinal degeneration process. Come into The Joint Chiropractic today and discuss spinal degeneration with your chiropractor. No appointment is necessary.