| By age 40, 80% of males and 76% of females exhibit | | | | During the second phase there is a much greater |
| moderate disc degeneration. Over 80 billion dollars is | | | | degree of decay, disc narrowing and bone spurs or |
| spent on back pain each year. 80% of the population | | | | deformations; postural changes are much worse. |
| will suffer back pain at some point in their lives. | | | | Spinal canal narrowing or stenosis may occur. This |
| Episodes of low back pain usually occur during the | | | | phase is characterized by more common aches and |
| ages of 30 to 50. | | | | pains, fatigue and diminished ability to cope with stress. |
| Longstanding stress to unstable areas of your spine is | | | | Height continues to decrease. With chiropractic care |
| the most often cause of spinal degeneration. Along | | | | significant improvement is possible. |
| with your bones, discs, and muscles, your nerves, body | | | | Phase three is marked by more postural imbalances, |
| chemistry and internal organs can also be affected. | | | | increased nerve damage, permanent scar tissue and |
| Spinal Degeneration causes you to lose the spring in | | | | advanced bone deformation. Physical and/or mental |
| your step, the youth in your being, and the height in | | | | weakness or disabilities begin. There is also permanent |
| your spine! | | | | loss of height and loss of energy. Some reversal is still |
| Regardless of age, when spinal damage goes | | | | possible with chiropractic care. |
| uncorrected, the body deposits calcium on the surface | | | | Phase four is the most advanced stage of spine and |
| of the adjacent bones that aren't working properly. If | | | | disc degeneration. The postural imbalance is severe |
| neglected long enough, this splinting effect can result in | | | | and motion is limited. There is severe nerve damage, |
| complete fusion. This process does not just get better | | | | permanent scar tissue forms, and the bones may |
| by itself, and it can occur throughout the spine. | | | | begin to fuse. In this phase we find pain, various |
| Common spine and disc degeneration symptoms are: | | | | degrees of physical or mental disability, and continued |
| back pain (may be severe), loss of height, spinal | | | | loss of energy and height. By now the condition is |
| deformations, physical and/or mental weakness or | | | | considered irreversible, although chiropractic may |
| disability, and a diminished ability to cope with stress. | | | | provide some symptomatic relief. |
| There are four phases or stages in spinal | | | | Here's what actually happens: misalignment of the |
| degeneration: | | | | spinal bones called vertebra put pressure on the |
| In the first stage your spine loses its normal balance. | | | | nerves that supply the information needed to stabilize |
| There may be a loss of normal spinal curves. Your | | | | your spine. That pressure in the spine can cause |
| nerves may be affected and the vital information that | | | | symptoms in any or every part of the back. Before |
| is carried in them is interfered with. Also your joints, | | | | undergoing drug therapy and surgery, check with your |
| discs, nerves, and posture are stressed and they age | | | | chiropractor to see if your spine is the source of your |
| more quickly. Surprisingly, there may be no pain other | | | | symptoms. Chiropractors can quickly and accurately |
| than occasional discomfort. You may begin to notice a | | | | assess the problem and frequently just a few |
| slight loss of energy and a slight loss of height. At this | | | | chiropractic adjustments and some physical therapy |
| point there is still a good response to spinal care. | | | | can reduce or eliminate the symptoms. |