If you have been told that your back or neck pain is caused by
“wear and tear,” arthritis, or degeneration, you may have been left with the
impression that nothing can be done. Aging does influence the spine, but age is
only part of the picture. Past injuries, repetitive strain, limited joint
motion, posture, muscle imbalance, and the way forces move through your spine
may also affect how you feel and function.
At Simply Health Chiropractic in Spring Green, Wisconsin, we
help patients understand what their imaging findings mean, how those findings
relate to their symptoms, and whether conservative chiropractic care or
Decompression Therapy
may be appropriate.
What is spinal degeneration?
Spinal degeneration is a broad term for structural changes that
may develop in the joints, discs, and bones of the spine. These changes can
include:
- Loss of disc height or hydration
- Bone spurs
- Facet-joint arthritis
- Stiffness or reduced spinal motion
- Disc bulges or a herniated disc
- Narrowing around a spinal nerve
Degeneration does not automatically equal pain. Some people have
substantial arthritic changes on an X-ray or MRI and few symptoms, while others
have pain or nerve irritation with less dramatic imaging findings. That is why
a chiropractor should evaluate the whole clinical picture rather than treating
an image alone.
Why spinal stress matters
Spinal discs help distribute force and provide cushioning
between the vertebrae. When movement becomes restricted or force is repeatedly
concentrated in one area, nearby discs, joints, and muscles may have to
compensate.
Research involving mechanical loading has helped scientists
understand that prolonged compression can affect disc height, hydration,
cellular structure, and the vertebral endplates involved in nutrient transport.
Some laboratory and animal studies also show partial recovery after unloading
or distraction. These findings are promising, but they do not prove that a
specific treatment regenerates a human disc. They do help explain why reducing
excessive mechanical stress is an important goal of conservative spine care.
How chiropractic care may help
Chiropractic care does not erase arthritis or make every
degenerative change disappear. Its purpose is to improve the way the spine and
surrounding joints move and function. Depending on your examination, care may
include:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Mobility or stabilization exercises
- Postural and ergonomic recommendations
- Guidance for returning to activity
-
Decompression Therapy
for an appropriate disc-related condition
By improving motion and reducing irritating mechanical stress,
chiropractic care may help decrease pain, stiffness, and muscle guarding while
supporting better day-to-day function.
Where Decompression Therapy fits
Decompression Therapy
uses controlled traction to gently unload selected areas of the spine. It may be
considered for certain patients with a disc bulge, herniated disc, degenerative
disc changes, or radiating arm or leg symptoms. It is not right for every person
or every cause of pain, so an examination and review of relevant imaging are
important before beginning care.
The goal is not to promise that a damaged disc will be “fixed.”
The goal is to reduce mechanical pressure, improve tolerance for movement, and
create an opportunity for irritated tissues to settle as part of a broader care
plan.
When should you have your spine evaluated?
Consider an evaluation if you have persistent
neck or back pain,
recurrent flare-ups, stiffness that limits activity, numbness or tingling, pain
traveling into an arm or leg, or a diagnosis of arthritis, degeneration, a disc
bulge, or a herniated disc.
Seek urgent medical attention for new bowel or bladder
dysfunction, numbness in the saddle region, rapidly worsening weakness, major
trauma, fever with severe spinal pain, or other concerning symptoms.
Conservative spine care for the River Valley community
Simply Health Chiropractic serves Spring Green, Plain, Lone
Rock, Arena, and families throughout the River Valley School District
community. If degeneration or arthritis is keeping you from working,
exercising, sleeping, or enjoying time with your family, we can help you
understand your options.
If you are visiting our office for the first time, you can also
learn more about what to expect on our
New Patients page.
Ready to Have Your Spine Evaluated?
Contact Simply Health Chiropractic in Spring Green, Wisconsin,
to schedule an evaluation and learn whether chiropractic care or
Decompression Therapy may be appropriate for you.