Mountain Island Chiropractic: August 2020

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Slowing Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease of your neck and spine is not actually a disease. It refers to the "aging" process of our discs and joints that may become swollen and break down, causing pain and soreness. The rubbery discs between the vertebrae normally allow for flexing and bending of the neck and back, like shock absorbers. In time, they become worn, and they no longer offer as much protection as before. While some experts would classify degenerative disc disease as a "normal" sign of aging, there are many things we can do to prevent and slow this process in our spine as we age. Another term often used when describing degeneration of our spine is arthritis. This simply is defined as swelling and pain of the discs of the spine and joints throughout the body. This condition, however, can be quite painful and limit our daily physical movements. Things to do to prevent or slow degeneration of the spine include eating a healthy diet, physical exercise, yoga, stretching, proper sleeping positions, adequate water intake, gut balance and of course chiropractic care. Neurologically based chiropractic care has been proven to reduce swelling and inflammation of the joints and discs, while aiding in bone density buildup while reducing cartilage damage. As seen in the above photo, numerous disc disease can be prevented and helped reversed while under expert chiropractic care. At our office, we use both manual chiropractic adjustments as well as decompression to revive those shock absorbers (spinal discs) by allowing the disc to become rehydrated therefore decreasing or eliminating pain. When the disc is fully hydrated, it can do its job to bend and flex the neck and spine properly without pain or soreness. Don't let others tell you that neck or back pain is a "normal" sign of aging...it is your body's way of sending you a signal that something is not functioning properly! Adjust the cause of the pain and the symptoms will ease!

Yours in health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

Conesa-Buendia, F. M., Mediero, A., Fujikawa. R. Esbrit P., Mulero, F. Mahilo-Fernandez, I., & Mues. A. O. (2020). Beneficial effects of manually assisted chiropractic adjusting instrument in osteoarthritis. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70219-3.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Finding the Cause of Joint Issues...and Getting Relief!

When many people think of chiropractic care, they often associate it only with neck or back pain. However a skilled doctor of chiropractic can help with many issues of the joints such as carpal tunnel, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, trigger finger, ankle and foot issues as well as knee pain. When our joints become stiff or painful to move, further injury can happen and cause hindrance to our day-to-day lives. Specific adjustments to those joints may provide great relief, however it is also just as important to look to the spine for issues that may be contributing to joint disease or deterioration. Take for instance adhesive capsulitis (or frozen shoulder). This is characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint that restricts both passive and active ranges of motion. It is often very painful, that can come on quickly and sometimes seems out of nowhere. A recent study of a 69-year old woman with frozen shoulder after an arm fracture due to a fall sought chiropractic care to relieve her constant pain in her neck and shoulder. Many subluxations were found in her neck and spine that were causing her shoulder to not heal correctly after her fall. This resulted in extreme joint inflammation and pain. With chiropractic adjustments, the shoulder began to heal and the patient reported significant decrease in pain in the neck and shoulder as well as improvements to her sleep, range of motion, higher energy levels, and an overall increased sense of well-being! Similar improvements have been documented for grip strength, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel relief, and trigger finger all due to chiropractic adjustments! These studies suggest that subluxations in the neck may be a contributing factor to joint mobility issues. Find the cause of your joint issues, don't just live with pain! Relief is possible if you search hard enough for the cause.