Chiropractic works because you are self-healing and regulated by your own nervous system. Impulses flow from your brain and down your spinal cord. Pairs of nerves branch off from between each spinal joint. These nerves link your brain to every cell and tissue in your body. Because of the close proximity to the moving bones of the spine, improper motion or position of the spinal bones can irritate and compromise nerve funtion. Your Chiropractor locates these areas and helps reduce their effect with spinal adjustments. Dr. Durkee also addresses myofascial tension with trigger point therapy and muscle work for faster relief and increased range of motion. Health often returns with restored nervous system control of your body.
A disc can't slip because of the way it attaches to the spinal bones above and below it. However, a disc can bulge, tear, herniate, thin, dry out (dissicated disc) or collapse, irritating the nearby nervous system and soft tissue.
It's more likely that a spinal bone is stretching, rubbing or chafing a nerve. These "subluxations" can distort the nerve messages between the brain and the body producing referred pain and unhealthy changes to affected tissue and organs.
For some patients, progress comes quickly. Others discover it can take weeks or months. Many factors affect the healing process. Within a few visits or so, most patients see enough progress to encourage them to follow our care recommendations. The sooner you seek chiropractic care after an injury or an issue arises, the more likely you are to see quicker results.
