I've got one...do you??

Hello Folks, and welcome to Official Post Numero Uno from me, Thad.

So, lets try a little word association game. When I say Vertebral Subluxation, what comes to your mind? I know what you may be thinking---what the heck did he just say to me? Yes...I said vertebral. and subluxation. What you may not know, is that this small little complex could be affecting your health in a huge way. Lets dive into it a little bit...

A subluxation is a spinal misalignment which causes nerve irritaion or interference. This misalignment is called Vertebral Subluxation. (put it simply vertebra=bone, subluxation=outta whack) Trauma to the spine, either from the accumulative effects of repeated minor episodes or from a single incident, begins a sequence of events which lead to subluxation and disc damage. (We will get to more specific causes at a later post...)

1. Trauma misaligns a spinal vertebra.

2. Picture the intervertbral disc as a jelly donut. The jelly in the middle is the nucleus, and the donutty outside is the annulus. The shifted vertebra compresses the nucleus of the disc forcing it against the annulus (outer rings). The fibers of the annulus become stretched and damaged causing an inflammatory reaction.

3. The inflammed and swollen disc can potentially irritate the nearby spinal cord or nerve roots. To protect the area, surrounding muscles go into spasm to prevent excessive movement and damage.

4. The lack of motion in the subluxated segment inhibits the disc’s normal pumping action causing the disc to dehydrate. The lack of water in the disc causes the annulus fibrosus to crack and fissure (tear). This causes pain because the fibers of the annulus are richly supplied with pain-sensing nerves.

5. The gel-like nucleus begins to seep into the fissures in the annulus. The chemical contents of the nucleus are irritative to the nearby nervous tissues.

6. As more of the nucleus creeps into the annular fissures, the disc bulges, herniates, or even possibly ruptures. This causes direct pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

7. Over time, degeneration occurs in the spinal joint, the irritated nerves and those systems which they supply.

The analysis used by Gonstead Chiropractors enables us to determine specifically how a vertebra has misaligned and how the disc has been affected. We then use this information to determine the best approach to restoring proper position and motion of the subluxated segement. In most cases a specific adjustment is warranted. Our adjustment involves great care to ensure a mechanically correct position and precise thrust to provide the most accurate and painless adjustment possible. By removing the pressure on the disc the nucleus will migrate back to the center of the disc. Then the annular fibers will heal with fibrotic scar tissue taking the pressure of the delicate nerves.

The main goal here is removing nerve pressure allowing the body to function at its most optimal level.

So...NOW what comes to your mind when I say Vertebral Subluxation??? Do you have one?

Thad.

P.S. I apologize for the academic nature of my first post. I know what some of you may be thinking...oh man, I hope that everytime Thad posts it won't be soo mindnumbingly boring. And I will tell you now...I can't make any promises, but it will be gooooood stuff.