The Ball Bearings of the Spine

They bulge, herniate, degenerate and tear, but they don’t “slip.”

Discs are the “ball bearings” of the spine. Separating each vertebra, they create the necessary spacing for nerves to exit the spinal cord to service the organs and tissues of your body. Rings of fibrous tissue called the annulus contain a soft jelly center.

Intervertebral discs are the ball bearings of the spine.

In our office, we see two common disc problems:

Bulging Disc

A weakened area of the annulus can allow the softer nucleus of the disc to bulge like a balloon. This can put pressure on nearby nerves. Bulging discs cases respond well. With improved spinal function we’ve seen many cases resolve nicely.

Herniated Disc

A herniated or ruptured disc is more serious. It can occur anywhere in the spine, but is most common in the lower back. This is when part of the soft nucleus pushes out of the annulus into the spinal canal, usually through a weakened area due to trauma or degeneration.

Chiropractic care, along with simple exercise, such as walking, increased water intake and improved nutrition offer a natural, non-surgical resolution to many disc problems.

Practice members experience tremendous success in addressing disc problems in our office. Chiropractic care can often help heal disc tissue and offer relief to the pain that accompanies disc problems.


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Stress Management

Dr. Jenkins Asks some important questions of interest to Casa Grande residents - Chiropractor Casa Grande Dr. Jenkins Asks...

What causes subluxations?
Chiropractors acknowledge three types of stress: physical, chemical and emotional. When the adaptive capacity of your body is compromised, weakened areas along the spine can become involved. Muscles tighten, spinal joints lock up and nearby nerves are affected. The purpose of chiropractic care is to find these areas and restore balance, alignment and motion.
Are chiropractors just concerned with the spine?
Our interest in the spine is because it covers the major communications conduit between your brain and your body. As a Casa Grande chiropractor my job is to locate areas (usually along the spine) that interfere with proper nerve communications to and from your brain. Chiropractic adjustments help restore nervous system integrity. In this way, chiropractic care can affect the function of your entire body.