PHASES OF
SPINAL DEGENERATION
There’s a common belief that spinal misalignment only happens due to a traumatic injury or accident. Yet, many regular and daily activities can create spinal problems. In fact, most people experience some kind of spinal subluxation at one point or another in their life. It doesn’t matter whether you work all day at a desk or whether you’re a professional athlete; spinal trauma can occur from picking up an item off the ground, from walking, or from moving from a seated position to standing.
These traumas can also happen gradually overtime from repetition, and they sometimes can be just as severe as an injury from a serious accident. Surprisingly, when your spine undergoes repeated trauma, it can cause degeneration of your spinal column and greatly impact your health and wellness.
Spinal Degeneration
Spinal degeneration can lead to neurological issues and even health problems. The longer the degeneration goes on for, the more irreversible these changes become. This is why regular and preventative chiropractic care is important. Chiropractic care maintains good spinal health and lowers your risk of spinal degeneration. Below, we take a closer look at the different phases of spinal degeneration and the health risks they can cause. We’ll also dive into how chiropractic care can help at each stage, as well as avoid these problems altogether.
Degeneration Phase I
Phase I spinal degeneration is categorized by spacing that occurs between the spinal discs. Often, patients don’t report any obvious symptoms. They frequently have no pain or any reduction in mobility, flexibility, or posture. At this stage, chiropractic care can correct the issue and maintain ideal health. However, if it goes unnoticed, the degeneration gets worse.
Degeneration Phase II
During Phase II, many patients start to notice symptoms such as aches, pains, stiffness, and decreased mobility. Yet, these symptomes aren’t often first considered to be caused by compressed intervertebral space. Some individuals easily brush off these minor symptoms. However, others may visit their doctor and become aware of what’s happening. In Phase II, the degeneration is possible to correct in some cases. Either way, chiropractic care can help maintain the current state and prevent the condition from becoming more severe.
Degeneration Phase III
In Phase III, the spine has an obvious abnormal curvature. The vertebrae may have become fused and it’s likely that the damage is irreversible. While it likely can’t be reversed at this stage of spinal degeneration, an experienced chiropractor, like Dr. Mark Sicheneder, can decelerate and even halt further degeneration. The goal is often to restore some mobility and improve health.
Degeneration Phase IV
Phase IV is the most severe and final stage of spinal degeneration. The person has likely noticed a substantial decrease in their quality of life. They may also have various health issues, including severe pain, numbness, decreased mobility, and increased susceptibility to disease. In Phase IV, the damage is permanent. However, a qualified chiropractor can help restore some levels of mobility and provide improvements to overall health and well-being.
Do you think you might be facing issues involving spinal degeneration?
Or do you want to ensure you continue to maintain optimal and ongoing health and wellness? Dr. Mark Sicheneder at Velocity Health Center in Ypsilanti, MI can help you get to a higher level of well-being. Call us today and schedule your first chiropractic appointment.
with Dr. Mark Sicheneder at Velocity Health Center in Ypsilanti.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.