The amazing bones of the spine serve to protect the spinal cord and allow us to have an upright posture. These 26 or so bones (it varies from person to person) allow us to twist and bend, stoop and stretch. While it works flawlessly for most of us, most of the time, there are certainly disorders and dysfunctions of the joints of the spine that range from annoying to debilitating. Let's look at a couple of them.

Osteoarthritis of the spine. "Arthritis" means inflammation of a joint, and can have many different causes. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the normal wear and tear arthritis that often develops as we age. According to the Arthritis Foundation, four out of five adults experience back pain at some point. Most people with OA of the spine can successfully treat this with conservative care, including chiropractic.

Intervertebral disc problems. There are thick, gel-filled cartilaginous discs between each vertebrae. This serves to cushion the spine, as well as to allow small movements between each vertebrae which, cumulatively, give us amazing flexibility and range of motion. With age, these discs shrink. This can cause us to lose a little height and make our spine a little less stable. Additionally, a weakness in a disc can cause it to herniate, where a small protrusion can form. If this protrusion presses on a spinal nerve, it can cause numbness and dysfunction to the area of the body served by that nerve.

Here at Lexington Family Chiropractic, our caring professionals successfully treat problems of the spine every day. To find out how we can help you, please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Remember, you don't have to live with the pain!