Degenerative Joint Disease: The Killer
Dr. Daniel Eichner DC, ATC, NASM-CNC
Owner at Forward Motion Chiropractic and Wellness
Now that I have your attention lets talk about the dreaded : DJD or Degenerative Joint Disease. In this article we are focusing on specifically the spine. Due to most likely age, bones start to break down. Think of it as a car, the most you drive your car the more wear and tear you place on it. When your spine starts to break down inflammation may set in. The combination of inflammation and degeneration can result in radiating pain down to your leg (s). This article is based off of a case study where an Xray confirmed DJD. The patient had pain going down the right leg all the time. After 3 weeks post treatment he is at 100% with no radiating pain.
Think of bones as connections in your body that inhibit and allow movement. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments support this joint complex. In DJD the only area that is effected is the bone. In the spine this can result in radiating constant pain, and/or localized sharp pain. In this particular case study we used a foam roll directly above the ASIS. Flexion allowed the spine to decompress and relax the nerves. DJD is only painful when the body has inflammation. Listen: DJD is only painful when the body has inflammation. So no inflammation no pain. Take the pressure off of the disc, decrease the inflammation, decrease the pain. That is exactly what happened. 3 weeks, 10 minutes a day laying on a foam roll resulted in 100% recovery. I did not reverse DJD at all, nor will I ever reverse DJD. I just eliminated the trigger.
The next step will be to develop core strengthening exercises. When standing, the body is a balance between the core and the lower back. Due to lower cross syndrome, the body tends to have a weak core. Developing a solid core decreases the pressure on the back. This will allow for a more long lasting effect.
This will not be the case for everyone. Always consult with your medical professional prior to doing anything. This article is to provide you insight into what may work for a particular case, and to allow for an open discussion.
Dr. Daniel Eichner DC, ATC