The spine has an S-shaped curve that helps the body keep standing and even protects the spinal cord from injuries. As part of the central nervous system, which helps transport the signals that the brain wants the send out to the rest of the body through the nerve roots that are branched out all over the body. The nerve roots have their job in providing the body motor and sensory functions incorporated in making the body move around. When the nerve roots or the spine becomes injured, it can lead to back and neck issues that can abruptly affect a person’s quality of life and cause them to be in constant pain. When this happens, a person will not be able to function correctly due to their nerves being aggravated and their spine being compressed. Today’s article focuses on two spinal conditions known as disc herniation and disc degenerative, how they affect the spine, and how nonsurgical decompression can help alleviate disc herniation and degenerative disc symptoms. Patients that are referred to qualified, skilled providers who specialize in decompression therapy. We accompanied our patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is valuable for asking crucial questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
How Degenerative Discs & Herniation Affect The Spine
Have you been experiencing pain running down from your neck to your lower back? How about shifting to a comfortable position that lessens the pain? Do your muscles ache after being hunched all day or after work? Many of these symptoms are spinal issues that inflict pain on the neck and back. The two spinal issues that affect the spine are degenerative discs and herniation. Research studies have shown that degenerative discs usually affect the spine through natural aging and wear and tear on the discs in between the spine. Degenerative spinal discs will begin to inflict more pressure on the spinal discs and even cause the spinal vertebrae to start rubbing against each other. Additional information has found that disc degeneration starts early throughout a person’s life. Disc herniation is often considered the early step for disc degeneration in the spine, thus causing painful symptoms to rise.
For disc herniation, research studies have mentioned that when the spine is dealing with disc herniation, disc degeneration is not too far behind. When the spine begins to flatten and squeeze on the discs, it can rapidly dehydrate them and protrude out of its original position. Other times disc herniation is mainly caused when a person is lifting or carrying heavy weights from one place to another. This causes the body itself to be unstable and invokes pain in the lower back or neck. Additional research has shown that the pathology of intervertebral discs is a common disorder that many people do suffer from. The pathology of intervertebral disc disorders can cause various symptoms that can progressively worsen over time if it is not treated right away.
The Symptoms These Two Cause In The Spine
The symptoms of disc herniation and degeneration are usually the same, depending on where the pain is located in the body. For disc degeneration, research shows that when a person suffers from degenerative discs in the spine, they experience continuous moderate low back pain that can cause the lower half to ache. This goes the same way for disc herniation, as many people will change their movements and postures to relieve the pain. Other symptoms that disc herniation and degeneration cause in the spine and body include:
Leg pain
Muscle tenderness
Sciatica
Nerve pain
Loss of sensory functions on the feet and back
Thankfully, there are treatments available to lessen the effects of disc herniation and degeneration. Experiencing these symptoms can dampen a person’s day since they are in constant pain. When the pain symptoms range from mild to severe, many suffering individuals try to find ways to alleviate the pain and try to get by through the rest of their day.
An Overview Of Spinal Decompression Works- Video
Have you been experiencing low back pain throughout the day? Does your sciatic nerve flare up every time you are out and about? Do you feel muscle tenderness in certain parts of your back? Disc herniation and degeneration are spinal issues that can affect your quality of life and make you in constant pain if it is not taken care of. Fortunately, treatment is available that can help provide you with the relief you desperately need: spinal decompression. The video above explains how spinal decompression works on individuals suffering from degenerative discs in their spine. Spinal decompression can help stop the progression of degenerative discs by utilizing mechanical traction on the spine to gently pull on the spinal joints to increase the height of the compressed discs and take the pressure off of the nearby nerve roots. Spinal decompression can also help loosen the tight, tense muscles in the cervical and lumbar portions of the body and provide fantastic relief. Spinal decompression for either the lumbar or cervical regions of the spine has many beneficial factors in preventing disc herniation and stopping the progression of disc degeneration. This link will explainhow spinal decompression offers impressive relief for many people who suffer from neck and low back pain herniation or disc degeneration.
With many available treatments that help alleviate the symptoms of disc degeneration and herniation on the spine and back, nonsurgical spinal decompression can help reset the spinal discs back to their original position. Research studies mentioned that nonsurgical spinal decompression is one of the most widely used methods for conservative treatment that incorporates negative pressure and sufficient tension to the spine, causing an increase in the disc height. Nonsurgical decompression can also help loose ligaments to retighten in the spinal cord, thus resetting the herniated disc back in the spine and even rehydrating the disc. Many people will begin to get their quality of life back together after a few sessions with spinal decompression and not be in constant pain.
Conclusion
The spine has an essential job in ensuring that the body is standing and that it can be on the move. The S-shaped curvature located in the back has nearby ligaments, nerves, and muscles to protect the spine and spinal cord from injuries. Unfortunately, the body and the spine age naturally and can cause the spinal discs to harden and eventually crack. This causes disc herniation and degeneration, causing a wide range of pain issues that affect the entire body. Treatments like spinal decompression allow the spinal discs to be restored to their original function and provide relief to the nearby components around the spine. Incorporating spinal decompression can bring back a person’s quality of life and stop these spinal issues from progressing further.
References
Al Qaraghli, Mustafa I, and Orlando De Jesus. “Lumbar Disc Herniation – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 30 Aug. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560878/.
Choi, Jioun, et al. “Influences of Spinal Decompression Therapy and General Traction Therapy on the Pain, Disability, and Straight Leg Raising of Patients with Intervertebral Disc Herniation.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Feb. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4339166/.
Donnally, Chester J, et al. “Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 6 Mar. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448134/.
Zielinska, Nicol, et al. “Risk Factors of Intervertebral Disc Pathology-a Point of View Formerly and Today-A Review.” Journal of Clinical Medicine, MDPI, 21 Jan. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7865549/.
Bicycling at any level is excellent healthwise, but the specific physical repetitive motions and postures can wear on a cyclist’s body, causing strains and injury to the:
Muscles
Ligaments
Tendons
Nerves
Spine
Injuries can be caused by falls, overused muscles, joints, posture, and/or balance problems, whether riding a bicycle for fun, health, or sport. Chiropractic decompression can treat cycling-related injuries and help prevent common injuries by helping cyclists with conditioning and exercises. Chiropractic adjustments, combined with health coaching and nutrition planning, can maximize the body’s overall athletic ability and increase/improve:
Many cyclists suffer from back pain overuse injuries that are caused by:
Incorrect saddle/seat height or an uneven seat/saddle
Not bending the knee at the end of a pedal stroke forces the cyclist to rock the pelvis side to side to generate enough power, placing added stress on the low back muscles.
Handlebars that are too far forward can cause over-stretching of the spine.
Constantly tilting the head can cause neck and shoulder pain.
Staying in the same position for an extended period strains the spine.
Repetitive hip flexion causes the muscles to become tight and perform less efficiently, straining the rest of the body to make up for the lost support.
Hamstrings that become tight can shorten in length, causing the body to pull on the pelvis and the spine.
Lack of core strength allows more stress to penetrate the glutes, back, and hips.
Riding on bumpy or rough terrain increases body jarring and spinal compression.
Chiropractic Decompression
Chiropractic decompression for cyclists can rehabilitate the body from injuries, alleviate pain, improve blood and nerve circulation and maintain the body’s flexibility. Advanced decompression techniques personalized to the individual realign and release the body from obstructions and toxins in the neural pathways. Nutritional and supplementation recommendations are incorporated to enhance the body’s natural healing abilities, and exercise/stretches to sustain the adjustments.
Spinal Decompress
References
Schultz, Samantha J, and Susan J Gordon. “Recreational cyclists: The relationship between low back pain and training characteristics.” International journal of exercise science vol. 3,3 79-85. 15 Jul. 2010
Silberman, Marc R. “Bicycling injuries.” Current sports medicine reports vol. 12,5 (2013): 337-45. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182a4bab7
Streisfeld, Gabriel M et al. “Relationship Between Body Positioning, Muscle Activity, and Spinal Kinematics in Cyclists With and Without Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.” Sports health vol. 9,1 (2017): 75-79. doi:10.1177/1941738116676260
Thompson, M J, and F P Rivara. “Bicycle-related injuries.” American family physician vol. 63,10 (2001): 2007-14.
The gut system is home to many beneficial bacteria that ensure that everything is working correctly. The organs that make up the gut system help transport the nutrients and oxygenated blood to the muscles, tissues, vessels, and nerve roots that allow the body to function. The gut also communicates with the brain and the immune system to provide the necessary energy to make the body move from one place to another. When disruptive factors start to mess with the gut microbiota, it can cause inflammatory factors and other gut-related issues to wreck the intestinal walls of the gut and affect the overall health of a person. Today’s article post will focus on the gut microbiome’s role in the body, the metabolic functioning of gut bacteria, and how different factors can affect the gut from functioning correctly. Referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is essential for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
The Gut Microbiome’s Role In The Body
Have you been feeling sick to your stomach? Do you feel bloated around the mid-section of your body? Have you been feeling sensitive to the food you have been consuming? Many of these symptoms are gut-related issues that affect the gut microbiome. The gut microbiota plays a critical metabolic role in many systems that help keep the body functional by maintaining delicate balance and cross-talking with the immune system. Research studies have shown that the gut microbiome is homed to a very complex and dynamic population of gut flora that influences the body. Since the gut microbial ecosystem is considered the largest endocrine organ in the body, it can produce various biologically active compounds that are the same as hormones. These compounds are carried in circulation and distributed to distant sections within the host, influencing different essential biological processes. Other research studies have mentioned that the intestinal tract in the body has an integrated resilient ecosystem that can be influenced by the many factors that affect the gut microbiome in its composition and changes. Some of these changes benefit good bacterial growth in the gut microbiota.
The Metabolic Function Of Gut Bacteria
When a person consumes nutritional foods, it travels into the gut to be biotransformed into nutrients. It makes its way into the intestines, where it is stored and ready to be distributed to the rest of the body. When digestive food is sitting in the intestines, that is where the beneficial gut bacteria comes in and helps shape the gut microbiota. Research studies have shown that the beneficial bacteria in the intestines play a critical role in the gut microbiome as it helps maintain immune and metabolic homeostasis. The gut bacteria’s metabolic function to the body helps break down dietary fibers that then get turned into SCFAs (short-chained fatty acids). Other tasks that gut bacteria do for the gut microbiome include:
Production of Phenols
Breakdown of oligosaccharides
Helps regulate Fats, TG, and Cholesterol
Vitamin absorption
Mucous production
Detoxification
An Overview Of a Diverse Gut-Video
Have you been feeling sluggish throughout the entire day? Do you feel constipated or bloated? Have you become sensitive to your favorite foods? If you have been experiencing these issues throughout your whole life, it could be due to your gut microbiome talking to you. The video above explains how the gut microbiome is one of the essential organs in the body since it helps with biodiversity in the gut system. The importance of greater microbial diversity is associated with the body’s ability to deal with stressors, such as opportunistic pathogens or dietary perturbations affecting the digestive system. When individuals have gut-related diseases, they are more likely to alter their gut microbiome than healthy individuals. Multiple associations between reduced microbial diversity and illness are recorded in the literature for people to find out what is going on in their gut system. Keeping a healthy gut can prevent risk factors like metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), SIBO, and other gut risk factors from affecting the gut.
Factors That Can Affect The Gut
When there is a state of imbalanced microbial ecology that contributes to affecting the gut bacteria ratio, it can cause many chronic diseases that cause the body to be dysfunctional. The overgrowth of micro-organisms in low intrinsic virulence induces disease by altering:
The nutritional status
The immune response
The elimination capacity of the host
Research studies have found that factors affecting the gut microbiome can trigger the inflammatory pathways attacking the gut intestinal walls and letting the bacteria leak out. Other factors like stress or emotional outburst can cause the growth of harmful bacteria to overpopulate the good bacteria. This causes the gut microbiome to become dysfunctional and progress to chronic gut issues. Other research studies have shown that environmental factors also play a role in altering the gut microbiome. These factors cause unwanted changes that can harm a person without even knowing. Figuring out which factors affect the gut can be prevented when a person puts in the work to better their health.
Conclusion
As stated earlier in today’s article, the gut microbiome is considered the largest endocrine organ that helps metabolize the immune system and homeostasis in the body. Therefore, replenishing the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria can help solve the majority of chronic issues affecting the body. When environmental factors cause havoc to the gut system, it can affect the entire body if it is not treated right away. Eliminating the harmful environmental elements from a person’s daily lifestyle can provide the much-needed relief they have been searching for.
References
Al Bander, Zahraa, et al. “The Gut Microbiota and Inflammation: An Overview.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 19 Oct. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7589951/.
Durack, Juliana, and Susan V Lynch. “The Gut Microbiome: Relationships with Disease and Opportunities for Therapy.” The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Rockefeller University Press, 7 Jan. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6314516/.
Lobionda, Stefani, et al. “The Role of Gut Microbiota in Intestinal Inflammation with Respect to Diet and Extrinsic Stressors.” Microorganisms, MDPI, 19 Aug. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6722800/.
Thursby, Elizabeth, and Nathalie Juge. “Introduction to the Human Gut Microbiota.” The Biochemical Journal, Portland Press Ltd., 16 May 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5433529/.
The body is a well-tuned machine that is on the move constantly. The different systems like the musculoskeletal system, the immune system, and the joint system, to name a few, can help the body’s motor function to get the body from point A to point B. When injuries or auto accidents affect the body, it can cause various issues to affect the body over time. Many people who suffer from an auto accident injury will experience pain in the cervical and lumbar portions of their spine. It can be nerve-wracking as they are trying to comprehend what is happening. Today’s article will focus on herniation due to auto accidents, how it affects the spine, and how decompression treatments can help many suffering individuals with auto accident herniation. Referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialize in spinal decompression therapy. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is essential for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
How Do Auto Accidents Cause Herniation?
Have you experienced pain in your neck or low back? Did you experience whiplash in your neck? Has the pain progressively gotten worse after the accident? Many of the symptoms are primarily the after-effects of an auto accident involving a person. After a person has been involved in an auto accident, the injuries and symptoms usually occur within a few minutes until the next day. Research studies have shown that auto accident injury symptoms like herniation occur when the cervical and lumbar portions are injured, causing symptoms like soft tissue strain and disc derangement to be accompanied by radicular pain symptoms. Auto accident herniation also starts to compress the surrounding nerves around the spine. It induces inflammatory markers in the affected areas situated in the neck and lower back. Additional studies have found that auto accident herniation also affects the thoracic portion of the back. Many individuals that suffer from herniation will experience posterior shoulder pain and upper/lower back pain from being involved in an auto accident.
How Does It Affect The Spine?
When a person has suffered from an auto accident, the after-effects do take a toll not only on the body but the spine as well. The painful, inflammatory symptoms cause the soft muscle tissues to become tender to the touch. Research studies have mentioned that the spine will experience possible fractures along the lumbar section of the spine due to the force impact causing axial compression and overstretching of the muscles and soft tissues, causing sharp shooting pain. This makes the back and neck succumb to more despair after the auto accident occurs, thus hindering a person’s quality of life. More research studies have shown that many suffering individuals experience lumbosacral radicular pain on top of herniation. When a person has been suffering from disc degeneration and has been involved in an auto accident, the cascading effects cause the intervertebral disc’s outer layer to rupture and allow disc material displacement to cause herniation on the spine. When the ruptured disc becomes herniated, it will constantly press on the nerve roots, and any normal reactions like coughing or sneezing will worsen the pain. Thankfully, there are therapeutic methods that help alleviate herniation and help restore function to the spine.
Mechanical Traction For Herniation-Video
Feeling uncomfortable pain in your neck or back? Have everyday actions like coughing or sneezing hurt your back when not supposed to? Does the pain progressively get worst throughout the entire day? All these symptoms are due to disc herniation caused by auto accidents and can affect a person’s quality of life. The good news is that traction therapy may be the answer for relieving some of the symptoms like herniation on the spine. The video above shows how mechanical traction is used for many individuals suffering pain in the cervical area of the body. Traction therapy is a form of decompression treatment that is either non-surgical or surgical, depending on how severe the pain affects the body. Traction helps the spine through gentle pulling, causing the herniated discs to withdraw from the compressed nerves and establish healing properties to remoisturize in the affected discs while increasing the disc space between the spinal vertebrae. Decompression/traction therapy for either the lumbar or cervical regions of the spine has many beneficial factors in preventing disc herniation. This link will explainhow decompression or traction offers impressive relief for many people who suffer from neck and low back pain herniation caused by auto accident injuries.
How Decompression Treatments Help Auto Accident Herniation
After a person suffers from an auto accident injury, the body will sometimes experience the painful effects the next day since the body has an adrenaline rush that masks the pain. When this happens, therapeutic methods help alleviate the pain and try to repair the body to be functional again. Research studies have shown that decompression treatments have helped many individuals suffering from herniation due to auto accidents by using unloading force traction from the therapy to reduce herniation on the spine. This opposing force helps ease the painful symptoms caused by disc herniation while the compressed nerves are relieved. Other research studies have mentioned that traction therapy, when utilized for herniation, causes vertebral separation to increase the disc space and decrease the nerve root compression. This allows the spinal ligaments to tense up, which is beneficial for the herniated discs to return to the spine and cause relief to the suffering individuals.
Conclusion
Overall the after-effects of an auto accident injury that causes the spine to become herniated affect a person’s quality of life. The painful symptoms cause compression to the surrounding nerve roots, sending pain signals to disrupt the brain and overstretch the muscles when the spine is injured. After the auto accident has occurred, the residual pain will cause tenderness in the cervical and lumbar portions of the spine causing even more pain to the person. Treatments like traction therapy allow individuals to find the relief they desperately need as the herniated disc is relocated to its original position and laid off on the nerve roots. Traction therapy provided beneficial relief to the spine due to negative pressure and brought back the spine’s functionality to the body.
References
Cornips, Erwin M J. “Crippling Upper Back Pain after Whiplash and Other Motor Vehicle Collisions Caused by Thoracic Disc Herniations: Report of 10 Cases.” Spine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 May 2014, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24718062/.
Hashish, Rami, and Hasan Badday. “Frequency of Acute Cervical and Lumbar Pathology in Common Types of Motor Vehicle Collisions: A Retrospective Record Review.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 9 Nov. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5680606/.
Kumari, Anita, et al. “Effects of One-Fifth, One-Third, and One-Half of the Bodyweight Lumbar Traction on the Straight Leg Raise Test and Pain in Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” BioMed Research International, Hindawi, 16 Sept. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8463178/.
Oakley, Paul A, and Deed E Harrison. “Lumbar Extension Traction Alleviates Symptoms and Facilitates Healing of Disc Herniation/Sequestration in 6-Weeks, Following Failed Treatment from Three Previous Chiropractors: A CBP® Case Report with an 8 Year Follow-Up.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Nov. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5702845/.
Pachocki, L, et al. “Biomechanics of Lumbar Spine Injury in Road Barrier Collision-Finite Element Study.” Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers Media S.A., 1 Nov. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8591065/.
Suri, Pradeep, et al. “Inciting Events Associated with Lumbar Disc Herniation.” The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2919742/.
The central nervous system – CNScontrols body and mind functions, voluntary movements, including walking, and involuntary movements, specifically the breakdown of foods and waste removal. Studies have found associations between spinal problems and gastrointestinal-GI tract/stomach issues that include:
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Difficulty controlling bowel movements
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Treating the underlying cause through chiropractic, non-surgical spinal decompression, and health coaching can bring pain relief, realign/heal the spine and alleviate stomach issues.
Spinal Problems and Stomach Issues
The spinal cord sends nerve signals throughout the body, including to and from the digestive system. Two types of nerves control the digestive system, extrinsic and intrinsic.
Extrinsic nerves
Connect the digestive organs with the brain and spinal cord.
Release chemicals that contract or relax the digestive system muscles.
The nerves relay signals to speed up or slow down the food’s movement through the gut.
The intrinsic system can function independently and work without communication from the extrinsic nerves. However, the stomach and esophagus/food pipe depends on information from the extrinsic nerves. If there is injury, damage, or interference with the extrinsic nerve supply to the stomach, it can lead to stomach issues. Spinal cord injuries and compressed or herniated discs interrupt the communication between nerves/systems, which can lead to digestive and bowel problems, including:
Feeling full quickly after eating.
Stomach pain
Constipation
Decreased appetite
Difficulty moving waste through the colon or large intestine
Hard stools
Tenesmus – the sensation/feeling of having to have a bowel movement even though there is none.
Herniated Discs
Herniated disc/s usually occurs in the neck or low back spinal area. Symptoms include:
Neck pain
Back pain
Pain spreads from the lower back through the buttocks, legs, and feet.
Pain spreads from the neck through the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Muscle weakness
Muscle spasms
Tingling or burning sensations
Numbness
Chiropractic Spinal Decompression
Chiropractic decompression therapy stretches the spine and manipulates its position to take pressure off the nerves and spinal discs. The decompression process creates negative pressure in the discs that retract herniated or bulging discs, allowing oxygen, water, and other healing nutrients to enter the disc and throughout the spine. The spinal decompression will help alleviate the stomach issues. Consultation from a health coach/nutritionist will recommend a diet that will aid in the disc/s healing, which is anti-inflammatory and easily digestible until the stomach problems are fully resolved.
DRX Patient Testimonials
References
Browning, Kirsteen N, and R Alberto Travagli. “Central nervous system control of gastrointestinal motility and secretion and modulation of gastrointestinal functions.” Comprehensive Physiology vol. 4,4 (2014): 1339-68. doi:10.1002/cphy.c130055
Holmes, Gregory M, and Emily N Blanke. “Gastrointestinal dysfunction after spinal cord injury.” Experimental neurology vol. 320 (2019): 113009. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113009
Lara, F J Pérez, et al. “Thoracic disk herniation, a not infrequent cause of chronic abdominal pain.” International surgery vol. 97,1 (2012): 27-33. doi:10.9738/CC98.1
Papadakos, Nikolaos, et al. “Thoracic disc prolapse presenting with abdominal pain: case report and review of the literature.” Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England vol. 91,5 (2009): W4-6. doi:10.1308/147870809X401038
Inside the body lies the internal organs that provide the nutrients and energy for the body to stay in motion. The gut system helps the body energy by digesting the consumed food that gets turned into energy and nutrients beneficial for the vital organs, muscles, tissues, and growth that the body needs. The gut system also helps regulate the other body systems like the musculoskeletal system, the immune system, central nervous system, and the endocrine system. The gut system operates by transporting these nutrients to make the body operational, to name a few needs. When unwanted issues start to enter the gut system and cause havoc, it can lead to many chronic problems that will cause the body to be in constant pain while causing other issues that affect the entire body. Today’s article will look at how different gut issues start to affect the body and how an amino acid named glutamine can provide beneficial relief to various gut issues. Referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is essential for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
How Gut Issues Affect The Body
Have you been experiencing pain located in your gut? Does your gut seem to be extra sensitive after consuming food? Have you been anxious or stressed that it has been affecting your body? Experiencing these symptoms are signs that you might have some gut issues that are affecting your body. Research studies have found that gut issues or disorders usually develop when the gut has either underproduced or overproduced the beneficial gut bacteria that can influence harmful bacteria to attack the gut’s intestinal walls. Gut issues can also be influenced due to lifestyle choices or autoimmune disorders that affect the gut and the rest of the body and its systems. Additional information has found that when the microbiome is being challenged with factors that change the physiology of the gut microbiome. These changes will cause an increase in the intestinal permeability, which allows the harmful bacteria to leak out, causing the immune system to attack the exposed bacteria at the intestinal walls leading to inflammatory issues.
Other research studies have found that gut bacteria provides an essential role in the body as it helps supply the vital nutrients beneficial for the body’s health. When abnormal changes affect gut bacteria, the gut ecosystem accelerates dysbiosis, causing many chronic issues. Many individuals will begin to lose their quality of life due to pain. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate the chronic issues affecting the gut and even help lower the harmful bacteria by replenishing the beneficial bacteria while reducing inflammatory markers.
An Overview About Glutamine-Video
Have you been experiencing issues that are affecting your gut? Has your torso area been feeling tender to the touch? How about random pain spots that are in your abdomen? You could be experiencing gut issues affecting your overall health and wellness. Why not incorporate glutamine into your daily supplementation. Research studies mentioned that glutamine is an amino acid with beneficial properties in replenishing the immune system and metabolizing in the gut and other vital organs that need glutamine to nourish the cellular structure for the body to feel better and provide energy for many individuals. The video above includes information about the benefits of glutamine and how it can help the body.
How Glutamine Helps The Gut
As stated earlier, glutamine is an amino acid with beneficial properties that are utilized to provide energy for the entire body. Research studies have shown that glutamine in the gut system can maintain the intestinal structure and function as the body ages while regulating the tight junction proteins. Glutamine has also helped modulate the gut intestinal permeability effects of HPA-axis stress that affects the gut and protects the cells from apoptosis and cellular stress. Additional research studies have provided that when individuals take glutamine as part of their daily regime, they will have a better inflammatory response and redox balance in the gut with the combination of physical activities. Utilizing glutamine for gut health can help improve the gut function and gastrointestinal permeability function for many athletic individuals.
Conclusion
Overall, the gut system utilizes glutamine for optimal gut health in dampening the effects of gut issues and disorders that will affect the body. The gut provides the transportation of the essential nutrients for the rest of the body systems that need them to function correctly. When unwanted factors or unhealthy lifestyles affect the gut system, it can increase the harmful bacteria in the gut and diminish the beneficial bacteria. This will cause the inflammatory cytokines to attack the intestinal permeability walls and cause more issues that will affect the body. Beneficial supplements and nutrients that help alleviate inflammatory factors or alleviate gut issues are there to provide relief by dampening these harmful effects and repairing the body. Incorporating glutamine into your gut will help the body recover over time and become pain-free.
References
Almeida, Ewin B, et al. “L-Glutamine Supplementation Improves the Benefits of Combined-Exercise Training on Oral Redox Balance and Inflammatory Status in Elderly Individuals.” Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Hindawi, 22 Jan. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7204202/.
Clapp, Megan, et al. “Gut Microbiota’s Effect on Mental Health: The Gut-Brain Axis.” Clinics and Practice, PAGEPress Scientific Publications, Pavia, Italy, 15 Sept. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/.
Cruzat, Vinicius, et al. “Glutamine: Metabolism and Immune Function, Supplementation and Clinical Translation.” Nutrients, MDPI, 23 Oct. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266414/.
Kim, Min-Hyun, and Hyeyoung Kim. “The Roles of Glutamine in the Intestine and Its Implication in Intestinal Diseases.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, MDPI, 12 May 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5454963/.
Nouvenne, Antonio, et al. “Digestive Disorders and Intestinal Microbiota.” Acta Bio-Medica : Atenei Parmensis, Mattioli 1885, 17 Dec. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502202/.
Zhang, Yu-Jie, et al. “Impacts of Gut Bacteria on Human Health and Diseases.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, MDPI, 2 Apr. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425030/.
The spine provides many functions that the body requires when it is on the move. Without it, the body will not be able to stay upright and give the everyday movement that the body needs. The spine has three sections that provide an S-shaped curvature in the back: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. These three sections of the spine have ligaments, soft muscle tissues, and spinal nerves enveloped around the spine to protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord consists of spinal discs and a spinal column part of the central nervous system. When acute injuries or traumas start to affect the spine, it can develop a bulging disc in the spine. Today’s article will focus on the signs of a bulging disc, how a person can distinguish between disc herniation and a bulging disc, and how decompression traction can help prevent bulging discs from developing further into herniation. Referring patients to qualified and skilled providers who specialize in spinal decompression therapy. We guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is essential for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
Signs You Have Bulging Discs
Have you been feeling a dull ache located in your lower back? Does it hurt when you are sitting down and trying to relax? Or have ordinary activities been challenging to manage due to the excruciating pain you are experiencing? Some of these symptoms could be signs that a bulging disc is starting to develop as research has defined a bulging disc as a dull ache on the spine that is barely protruding out and is considered the first stage for a herniated disc. When the body starts to age naturally, so do the spinal discs, as these cushion-like discs between the spinal joints help absorb the shock that the spine goes through. When spinal discs lose their water retention and begin to stiffen up, it causes the outer layer to crack and release the inner layer to bulge out a bit. Other research studies have found that the inner layer or the nucleus pulposus can develop the process of disc herniation. When the nucleus pulposus starts to protrude out of the outer layer of the spinal discs can develop into other spinal issues like sciatica, herniation, radicular pain, and myelopathy.
Is It A Herniated Disc Or Bulging Discs?
A person can tell if they are suffering from a herniated disc or a bulging disc. As stated earlier, a bulging disc is where it is barely protruding out of the spinal column and is considered the first stage of disc herniation. For herniated discs, however, research studies have defined that herniated discs are commonly diagnosed due to degenerative spinal abnormalities that extend out and compress the surrounding nerves all over the body. Herniated discs can cause various symptoms ranging from a dull minor ache to radiating pain that travels down to the affected areas like the neck and lower back. Sometimes injuries can cause herniated discs or bulging discs due to the severity, as additional information has shown that nerve compression in the spinal canal is from disc bulging/herniation or can even degenerate muscle tissue expansion from overusing the back muscles. These causes start the development of a bulging disc or herniated disc and can cause immense painful symptoms to the body’s affected neck and back areas. Fortunately, there are accessible treatments that help prevent bulging discs from progressing further into herniation and reduce the pain from nerve compression.
Lumbar Spine Traction For Bulging Discs-Video
Have you been experiencing radiating nerve pain down your legs? How about a dull ache that seems to worsen throughout the day? Do you feel tenderness in your lower back or certain areas around your neck? You might be experiencing disc herniation or bulging issues affecting the cervical or lumbar sections of your spine. Why not try decompression or traction therapy to help prevent it from causing more problems? The video above explains what spinal traction does for the spine and how many individuals can utilize it. Spinal traction and decompression therapy allow the spine to be gently stretched out for the spinal discs that are herniated or bulging out to return to their original forms before the injuries that caused them to be herniated. This type of treatment allows the aggravated nerves surrounding the spine to finally relax and stop sending pain signals to the affected areas. Decompression/traction therapy for either the lumbar or cervical regions of the spine has many beneficial factors in preventing disc herniation and bulging. This link will explainhow decompression offers impressive relief for many people who suffer from neck and low back pain in the affected regions due to disc herniation.
How Decompression Traction Helps Prevents Bulging Discs
Decompression traction therapy is the best way many individuals can prevent disc bulging from progressing into herniation by utilizing treatment to help rehydrate the spinal discs back to their original function. Research studies have found that decompression/traction is adequate for many individuals suffering from herniated discs by improving the symptoms. With decompression traction, it allows the spinal column to be gently pulled, causing the herniated disc’s size to decrease and promoting relief to the body. Other research studies have found that decompression traction is beneficial for individuals suffering from acute low back pain and even helps improve lumbar range of motion flexion for the back. Decompression traction can help many people bring back their quality of life, knowing that there is a way to alleviate low back or neck pain.
Conclusion
Overall the spine can succumb to many unwanted factors or injuries that can cause the spinal disc to bulge or herniate, depending on how severe the injury has affected the body. With decompression traction, it can relieve the affected spinal nerves by pulling the spinal disc back to its original position. This gentle pull on the spine can help rehydrate the discs and repair the outer layers from cracking under pressure. Incorporating decompression traction as part of an individual’s wellness treatment will provide beneficial results that rejuvenate the spine to its original functioning state.
References
De Cicco, Franco L, and Gaston O Camino Willhuber. “Nucleus Pulposus Herniation – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 1 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542307/.
Donnally, Chester J, et al. “Lumbosacral Disc Injuries.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 12 Feb. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448072/.
Karimi, Noureddin, et al. “Effects of Segmental Traction Therapy on Lumbar Disc Herniation in Patients with Acute Low Back Pain Measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Single Arm Clinical Trial.” Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2017, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27636836/.
Ozturk, Bulent, et al. “Effect of Continuous Lumbar Traction on the Size of Herniated Disc Material in Lumbar Disc Herniation.” Rheumatology International, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2006, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16249899/.
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