Chiropractic Adjustments - Back and Neck
Our spines are densely packed with nerve endings. In fact, the entire reason chiropractors are concerned about the spine is because of its unique relationship with our nervous system and brain! Though most doctors are trained to look at the spine as 25 individual bones and a distinct and separate nervous system, we view all the bones of the spine and the nerves wired delicately throughout as one neuro-spinal organ. Modern research has shown that the health and function of the spine and the nervous system are intimately connected. In order to have a healthy nervous system and brain, your spine must be functioning at its best!
A healthy spine and nervous system is absolutely vital to the function of the human body. Because of this our body has millions of nerves meant to monitor our spine’s health and warn us if something is going wrong! This is why back and neck pain is a very common and sometimes debilitating experience. It is estimated that 80 percent of people will have an episode of back or neck pain at some point in their life. Recent statistics put the annual total cost of back and neck pain at about $100 billion dollars each year, with much of the cost being due to lost wages or productivity.
Why is back pain so common? Most episodes of back pain are caused by muscle damage (strains) or ligament damage (sprains) that can range from mild discomfort to excruciating pain. We find that many cases of back and neck pain are caused by a traumatic event, such as a car accident, fall, or sports injury. But by far the most common cause of back and neck pain appears to be poor posture over a long period of time, which eventually wears down and damages the tissues of the spine. This damage usually causes tightness, stiffness, and minor aches and pains, until one wrong movement or bad night’s sleep pushes the tissues beyond their limits and severe pain kicks in!
A healthy spine and nervous system is absolutely vital to the function of the human body. Because of this our body has millions of nerves meant to monitor our spine’s health and warn us if something is going wrong! This is why back and neck pain is a very common and sometimes debilitating experience. It is estimated that 80 percent of people will have an episode of back or neck pain at some point in their life. Recent statistics put the annual total cost of back and neck pain at about $100 billion dollars each year, with much of the cost being due to lost wages or productivity.
Why is back pain so common? Most episodes of back pain are caused by muscle damage (strains) or ligament damage (sprains) that can range from mild discomfort to excruciating pain. We find that many cases of back and neck pain are caused by a traumatic event, such as a car accident, fall, or sports injury. But by far the most common cause of back and neck pain appears to be poor posture over a long period of time, which eventually wears down and damages the tissues of the spine. This damage usually causes tightness, stiffness, and minor aches and pains, until one wrong movement or bad night’s sleep pushes the tissues beyond their limits and severe pain kicks in!
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Some episodes of neck and back pain will eventually heal on their own in 2-8 weeks depending on the severity of the injury. (Though chiropractic care can significantly shorten this down time!) But remember, just because the pain is gone, doesn’t mean the underlying problem is corrected. Not only can chiropractic care help reduce pain and speed the healing process, but it can be one of the most valuable tools in preventing recurrence of back pain and neck pain.
The most up to date science has shown us that the old adage of a bone slipping out of place and pinching on a nerve is not an accurate model for most episodes of back pain. We know now that not all nerve irritation causes pain, and most nerve irritation is not caused by a bone pressing on a nerve. A more realistic model of nerve function tells us that nerves can be compromised not only by mechanical pressure (think stepping on a garden hose), but also by nerve tension, changes in blood flow, or by tissue inflammation around the nerve. Complicating the issue even more is the fact that most nerves in your body are not sensory in nature. That is, they don’t even sense pain to begin with! That’s right, in most cases of nerve irritation, your body likely won’t feel any pain at all. A majority of the nerves in the human body are motor nerves, which control muscles, or autonomic nerves, which control organ function and blood flow. If these nerves are compromised or irritated, it will affect your body’s ability to function properly without causing pain.
Chiropractic care, while often used to relieve back pain, neck pain, headaches, and more, is not actually a cure for anything! Our only goal as chiropractors is to make sure that your nerves, even the ones you can’t feel, are working uninterrupted to allow your body to function at it’s best. The great part is, with modern technology, we can actually measure the function of these nerves. Just like going in to get your cholesterol tested, our clients have their nerve function tested and measured. This is the foundation of our care, and allows us another way to measure and track your progress, apart from you feeling the difference! When your spine and nerves are working at their best, it allows your body to heal. When your body heals, the pain goes away. It’s as simple as that!
The most up to date science has shown us that the old adage of a bone slipping out of place and pinching on a nerve is not an accurate model for most episodes of back pain. We know now that not all nerve irritation causes pain, and most nerve irritation is not caused by a bone pressing on a nerve. A more realistic model of nerve function tells us that nerves can be compromised not only by mechanical pressure (think stepping on a garden hose), but also by nerve tension, changes in blood flow, or by tissue inflammation around the nerve. Complicating the issue even more is the fact that most nerves in your body are not sensory in nature. That is, they don’t even sense pain to begin with! That’s right, in most cases of nerve irritation, your body likely won’t feel any pain at all. A majority of the nerves in the human body are motor nerves, which control muscles, or autonomic nerves, which control organ function and blood flow. If these nerves are compromised or irritated, it will affect your body’s ability to function properly without causing pain.
Chiropractic care, while often used to relieve back pain, neck pain, headaches, and more, is not actually a cure for anything! Our only goal as chiropractors is to make sure that your nerves, even the ones you can’t feel, are working uninterrupted to allow your body to function at it’s best. The great part is, with modern technology, we can actually measure the function of these nerves. Just like going in to get your cholesterol tested, our clients have their nerve function tested and measured. This is the foundation of our care, and allows us another way to measure and track your progress, apart from you feeling the difference! When your spine and nerves are working at their best, it allows your body to heal. When your body heals, the pain goes away. It’s as simple as that!