Do you know if your spine is starting to decay?

There are three phases of degeneration (decay) that your spine can be in. And each phase has its own physiology and prognosis.

Obviously, we all would like our spines to be normal. But unfortunately, degeneration happens; especially when the spine is neglected and not taken care of. As Chiropractors we take degeneration very seriously and that's what we work towards preventing. By Adjusting the spine, we keep the spine healthy and free from degeneration.

Today, I would like to talk about what happens when your spine is in phase one of degeneration. Because a lot of times a patient will not know what the difference is between normal and Phase 1 for instance. Just like knowing the difference between a healthy tooth and a decayed tooth. It’s important that you know what to look for and exactly where you’re at.

First, your spine loses its normal balance and that means you start losing normal ranging. You are not able to turn and bend as you normally should. There may be a loss of normal spinal curves, or your curves may still be there but there is an alignment problem. When you lose your curvature, the weight of your head expediently begins to increase and your muscles begin to tighten up and go in muscle spasms/guarding.

Your nerves may be affected in this Phase 1, and the vital life energy that flows over them is interfered with. This will cause problems in other parts of your body like your head, arms and legs. This is like an electrical wire running from your refrigerator. If it’s unplugged, the refrigerator will not cool things down.

Also when you’re in Phase 1 your joints, discs, nerves, and posture will be stressed and you will age more quickly. Let me be clear. There may be NO pain other than an occasional minor discomfort.

In this Phase, you may also have a slight lessening of energy and slight height loss.

The prognosis for the phase is good. With good Chiropractic care, your spine can return to near normal. Response to Chiropractic care here is generally good.

Let me make this very clear here. You do not have to have pain to be in Phase 1. People base their health on how they feel. In all reality they should base their health on what we find, their posture, head tilt, x-ray findings, etc. Remember you can have a tooth decay and not know it. Just like having your teeth examined. You should have a spinal examination at least every six months, if not sooner.