There are several non-addictive, non-invasive services we offer at the Carrollton chiropractic office of Dr. Peter Lazarnick (Dr. Pete). Chiropractic isn’t a technique; it’s a philosophy of restoring the body’s musculoskeletal alignment so that it will be able to heal itself of injuries. But it’s most often associated with spinal adjustments, which are a common means of treating subluxations. We thought for this week’s blog, we’d focus on what subluxations are, why they matter, and how adjustments help restore the spine’s integrity.
A subluxation is a partial dislocation of one of the joints which connect the vertebrae, the bones of the spinal column. The joints between the vertebrae include the facet joints in the back, which are the sort of interlocking bone protuberances and cartilage typical of joints, and the springy discs in between the flat bodies of the vertebrae. Nerves to the rest of the body emerge from the spinal cord through holes in the vertebrae, and when a nearby joint is subluxed, a nerve root could be compressed. Swelling in the soft tissues surrounding the spinal column could also press down on a nerve root, and injuries to spinal discs release chemical signals that prompt nearby tissues to swell.
When a nerve is being compressed, it won’t be able to relay messages between the body as effectively. People commonly experience pain, numbness, or tingling along that nerve, which may run the length of one of their limbs. Our chiropractic office provides several means of reducing inflammation and restoring the vertebrae or spinal discs to their proper position. Those include adjustments by hand or instrument, which deliver a controlled amount of force to realign the spinal column. Adjustments are gentle and many people enjoy them, but if a patient cannot undergo one safely, they may benefit from a different therapy, such as traction.
Dr. Peter Lazarnick is located at 486 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton, Georgia, 30117. To schedule an appointment, call 770-832-2226 or visit www.askdrpete.com.