| At Romford and Ilford Family Chiropractic Clinic, we do not make guesses about your health. Spinal x-rays may identify important findings such as spinal arthritis or other disorders of the spine. Many people may not even be aware that spinal disc disease or bone arthritis is developing in their spine. X-rays act as a blueprint of your spine and will reveal any abnormal spinal alignment. X-rays allow us to see how an individual spine deviates from normal alignment, so that we can decide on appropriate treatment. Without an x-ray, we would only be guessing what treatment you require.
| SPINAL DECAY
This process in the spine has similarities to tooth decay, in that it shows up usually because of neglect. Also, just like tooth decay, it can happen to anyone, regardless of age. Because it is often seen in older people, many believe it's merely the normal ageing process. It is not. This progressively worsening, degenerative condition is the result of uncorrected spinal misalignment. Spinal decay is how your body deals with the stress of gravity. It just so happens that spinal decay occurs in most people because they have ignored spinal problems for years.
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| NORMAL
While spinal decay can occur anywhere in the spine, it's easiest to see it in the neck. This is what the side view of the neck should look like. From the side, the neck should have a graceful forward curve. The edges of each bone are well defined. There should be equal disc spacing between each bone and the openings for nerve roots should be clear and unobstructed. | |
| PHASE ONE
In Phase One of spinal decay, there is a loss of neck curve and a reduced ability to turn and bend. In some cases, the disc space between adjacent vertebrae may be reduced, or discs may become wedge-shaped, risking serious soft tissue damage. Depending upon your body's ability to adapt to such change, pain or other obvious symptoms may not be present. Even the resulting reduced range of motion may be too subtle for some to notice.
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| PHASE TWO
If further neglected, in Phase Two of spinal decay, joint surfaces lose their clearly defined edges and the early signs of bone spurs become visible on x-rays. These bone spurs cause inflammation and some believe this is a sign of a broken bone. This is not the case. The body is just beginning its process of depositing calcium salts and as the neck isn't in a cast, movement is not prevented and so bone fusion doesn't take place.
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| PHASE THREE
If still left uncorrected, the problem gets worse in Phase Three of spinal decay. Amazingly, pain or other obvious symptoms still may not yet appear, but eventually the body successfully mends the so-called "broken bone." This process can take years and calls into question the claim that many patients make that they were "fine until I bent over to tie my shoelaces last week." That's not what the x-rays tell us! | |
