Recently, I saw an old friend I hadn’t seen in years.  First, a little background: He’s only a few years older than I; he has had backaches off and on most of his life, and I adjusted him 3 or 4 times about 25 years ago when he was about thirty and in acute low back pain.  I helped him get out of the crisis, but failed to educate him about the importance of correcting the old spinal injuries (subluxations) and gradually improving the integrity of his spine with regular chiropractic adjustments. 

Currently, he’s been diagnosed with severe degeneration of the lumbar (low back) spine and discs with advanced stenosis (narrowing) of both the spinal canal and spinal nerve root openings.  He’s been seeing a neurosurgeon in NYC, who is recommending spinal surgery.  He’s been through medicines, injections and physical therapy with no help. 

Do you see what I’m getting at here?  I believe so very strongly that had he taken the time to get adjusted regularly, perhaps a year or two intensively, then weekly from then on, that he would have a healthy spine today.  Why?  Because the spine deteriorates primarily due to one big reason, ABNORMAL MECHANICS.  It’s not germs, and it’s not genetics.  It’s abnormal mechanics of the spine and pelvis. Like the front end of a car, misalignment causes wear and tear to moving parts.

If the mechanics of the pelvis and low back are balanced and working properly, the discs and joints stay healthy.  If there is subluxation present, meaning misalignment and restricted joint mobility, ANYWHERE in the spine, moving parts will wear and tear prematurely.  The moving parts in the human body are called joints, where one bone meets (articulates) with another.  There are more than 100 joints in the spine and pelvis, and they are easily injured throughout our lives.

The point of this article?  I don’t want to fail with you like I did with him.  So, I will be strong reminding you that our spines have taken and continue to take a beating throughout our lives.  Whether you are a couch potato, a world-class athlete, or somewhere in between, your spine endures ongoing and tremendous stresses.  If you were born, learned how to walk and ride a bike, played as a kid, or even read and studied a lot, your spine has been injured.  Your posture and ease of movement have been altered. 

The 24 bones of the spine, along with the 4 pelvic bones, must be kept as balanced and in their normal ranges of motion as possible.  One problem is that the small changes in the spine and pelvis go undetected for years.  A ten year old may complain briefly of back pain, but rarely is anything done.  Or worse, people take medicine to ease back or neck pain.  Why is that worse?  Because you are simply easing symptoms while ignoring the mechanical problem, and ignored mechanical problems get worse with time.  YOU CANNOT CORRECT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH A CHEMICAL SOLUTION.  Greasing the front end of a misaligned car does not correct the problem.  Instead, you must align it.

So, get your thoughts away from only pain relief, and towards healthy function of all the spinal and pelvic joints with regular chiropractic care.  The best attitude, the best nutrition, regular exercise and yoga will not correct a subluxation.  As a matter of fact, exercising on a faulty frame will actually increase the rate of degeneration. 

Another big problem?  No one thinks it’s going to happen to him or her.  A strong, apparently healthy twenty, thirty or forty year old is usually completely unaware of how every joint in his or her spine is functioning, until the back hurts of course.  Then, most just think about getting out of pain.  Sadly, the spine ends up like my old friend’s.  I don’t want that happening to people I know and those who come to me for help.

The best help I can offer you is to get yourselves, and especially your children, in for regular spinal check-ups and adjustments.  Chiropractic care is for a lifetime for those that want their spines to function at a high level for their entire lives.  And guess what?  When your spine functions well, your central nervous system works better, and your entire life is better.

Excellent health begins with a healthy spine and nervous system.  Get your beautiful little spines in as soon as possible.  I’ll be ever so gentle and loving.