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| Degenerate
is the opposite
of "to generate." When we are growing, our bones and tissues are being
formed faster than they are being depleted. After we are grown, more
tissue is being destroyed than produced. The normal aging process causes some
degeneration. |
CHARACTERISTICS
OF NORMAL SPINAL DEGENERATION |
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The water content
of the disc nucleus decreases. |
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Fibers of the
annulus, a fibrous disc capsule, begin to wear out, just as the tread
on tires wears down. |
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The body's ability
to lubricate the facet joints lessens. Facet joints begin to suffer
from wear and tear. |
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Spinal ligaments
become lax, decreasing their support of facet joints. Ligaments cannot
be unstretched. Instead, the surrounding muscles must be strengthened
to compensate for the slack. |
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Spinal muscles can
lose strength and go into spasm to protect the worn areas of the
spine. Unlike ligaments, however, muscles have great restorative
power. |
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Osteophytes, or
arthritic bone spurs or lipping, begin to form above and below the
disc attachments to the vertebrae. |
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Wear and tear on
joints causes various kinds of osteoarthritis or arthritic
inflammation of the bony joints. |
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DEGENERATIVE
DISEASES |
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Degenerative diseases are different
than the normal aging process. They can cause severe pain, their chemical
metabolism is different, and they often have a genetic source.
Physical activity, musculoskeletal tensions, strains, and injuries can
initiate and hasten the degenerative process.
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Rheumatoid
arthritis is a serious, body-wide illness. It affects the joints
lubrication membrane, causing severe inflammation and often permanent
damage to the lining of the joint. |
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Osteoarthritis is
the wearing away or abnormal proliferation of cartilage at the margins
of the joints. It interferes with the normal movement of the joint and
delivery of nourishment to the tissues. |
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Spinal stenosis is
a narrowing of the intervertebral holes where the nerve trunks come
through the spinal vertebrae in the spinal cord column. It affects the
nerve impulses to the extremities. |
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Osteoporosis occurs
in about one third of people over 60, particularly in women. Bones
decrease in density, becoming brittle and injury prone. |
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| MISALIGNMENT |
DISC
DEGENERATION |
SPINAL
SPURS |
| This stage is
characterized by displacement of the vertebra causing abnormal stress. |
Increased stress
causes the disc to wear and the ligaments to become loose. The vertebra
and joint are less stable. |
The body attempts
to stabilize the joint by building up calcium deposits in the ligaments,
causing spurs to form. This process is known as osteo arthritis. |
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