# 9 - LET’S START WITH A COMMON STATEMENT THAT CHIROPRACTORS HEAR ALL THE TIME:

“I know my wife (or husband) comes in for regular care ….and they want me to get adjusted also…but I rarely have back pain so I don’t think I need to be seen.”

WRONG!

To address that train of thought we must first review some spinal anatomy.

I am posting several pictures of the spine including a side view and straight on.

Starting with the side view - you do ( or should) have 4 curves. Starting at the top - right under the skull is the cervical (or neck) where there are 7 vertebrae - each with a very specific design, function and curvature. The next 12 are the mid-back or thoracic vertebrae and these work with both the shoulder girdle and the ribs. The thoracic curve is opposite that of cervical.

The last 5 vertebral vertebrae (in the low back) are the lumbars. These are the largest vertebrae because they are designed to bear the most weight and need to allow for the largest nerves to pass through. AND…the lumbar curve…essentially needs to be in balance with the cervical curve. The thoracic curve and the position of the sacrum (at the base of the spine) also needs to be in balance if we are to allow for optimal space for the nerves to branch off from the spinal cord and exit. These curves also allow for optimal function (movement).

SO…the four curves are seen in the side view - cervical and lumbars in synch and thoracic and sacrum in synch. AND that too is interesting. For example, those who sleep on their stomach each night (with the head turned to the side) almost always end up with low back pain. Why? because when we disrupt the design of one natural curve we then affect the curve it must be in synch with. It’s incredible to realize God made each vertebrae unique - its design and structure made for it to handle its specific role and function.

 Another example? The majority of vertebrae are separated by discs which accommodate movement, provide shock absorption, and contribute to the absolutely essential openings for the nerves to exit from the spinal cord. If a displacement of the vertebrae happens …or if the disc is damaged … that results in a diminished space for the nerve root. The most common place for things to go wrong is at the bottom of the spine - usually between L5 and sacrum or between L4 and L 5 due to the larger amount of weight they must handle. The resulting pressure on the nerve tissue that occurs when the nerve root space closes almost always causes severe and debilitating pain. A common medical procedure done to get rid of that pain is to fuse the bodies of the two “clamping” vertebrae together and drill a bigger exit hole for the nerve. It sounds like a good plan, but it only resolves the issue temporarily because the individual then attempts to resume normal activity. The problem with the surgery is that it has now forced the vertebrae located immediately above the fusion to function and to attempt to allow movement in a way it is not designed for. The end result is the next higher up vertebrae sustains damage - more clamping pressure on a new bundle of nerve tissue happens — there is more pain — and another surgery and fusion is now required…and then another followed by another. All of which could have been avoided if the spine was maintained in the first place.

I’ve included a few pictures to illustrate and this will continue with #10.

For questions contact Bobbie at Doc Kleins Chiropractic.