When a spinal, vertebral subluxation occurs, it tends to close up or reduce the size of the opening between the vertebrae where the spinal nerves exit which, in turn, creates pressure on a nerve or irritation of a nerve (neurothlipsis). Pressure on or irritation of a nerve can produce symptoms of pain, numbness and interfere with the normal functions of internal organs and muscles of the body.

For example, a spinal subluxation in the area between the shoulders could produce a neurothlipsis on the spinal nerves to the stomach resulting in a diminished function of that organ. This diminished function could make it difficult to digest food. The patient might then seek symptomatic relief through the use of digestive aids and antacids. But the CAUSE would be the "subluxation" producing the "neurothlipsis."

Another example would be a subluxation in the lower back producing a neurothlipsis involving the sciatic nerve resulting in leg pain. Rather than resort to drugs for temporary relief or even surgery, it is generally simpler and more effective to reduce or remove the spinal subluxation with gentle spinal adjustments.

Subluxations can produce neurothlipsis in varying degrees for 0% to 100%. Zero percent would be no symptoms with perfect function. One hundred percent would be similar to cutting the nerve and having no function or feeling. A 50% interference with the flow of nerve energy would allow limited function, as in the above examples, with varying degrees of pain and discomfort. A 10% to 20% interference might not even be noticeable to the patient but if the pressure was allowed to remain for an extended period of time, it could produce seemingly unrelated symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, nervousness, poor circulation, etc.

The chiropractic spinal adjustment's sole purpose is to reduce and remove the pressure and irritation on the spinal nerves. Our initial objective is to relieve any pain and discomforts as quickly as possible. THEN, after the symptoms are gone, our primary objective is to reduce the subluxation and its accompanying neurothlipsis toward the 0% range to insure that the symptoms will not recur and to allow for maximum recovery.

Remember------Periodic care to "maintain the gain" is your best health insurance!!