"I Just Had A Neck X-Ray..."

"My neck x-ray show a lot of degeneration, what does this mean? Oh yeah, the report also says loss of cervical lordosis and decreased neural foraminal spaces at a few levels, what's that?" OK, we've got some degeneration, or arthritis. The term spondylosis may also be used; all meaning the same thing.

First, if we lost the normal curvature in the neck, we're going to have pressure on nerves. If we get this, we may have pain, we may not. But things will break down faster. Hence degeneration or arthritis. This breakdown may also cause disc bulging. So now we have arthritic bones, discs bulging, and guess what? - Inflammation! All of these thing can contribute to stiffness, pain, maybe numbness and tingling...But also contribute to those holes on the sides of the spine, where nerves come out, to get clogged up. "Ah ha, that's the neural foraminal stenosis they refer to. Yes, the foramen, or nerve holes are stenosed or closed up.

What we need to do is relax the area, taking down inflammation and start working that curvature back in the neck.

Additional Reading Resources:

• How the Arc4life Cervical Traction Neck Pillow Helps with Degeneration & Arthritis in the Neck
• Choose the Best Neck Pillow for Arthritis in the Neck
• Poor Neck Posture Puts Pressure on the Discs
• Straight Neck Issues: What Exercises Can I Do?
• An Acupuncture Point for Neck Pain: Bladder 12

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“The Damp, Rainy Weather Seems To Make My Neck Pain Worse.”

This is a very common complaint, and it is very true. The dampness often cuts right into the neck irritating our spine. The change in pressure outside often creates increased gravitational pressure on our bodies. Even though it’s a tiny amount, to an already disrupted or arthritic spine that pressure change makes a difference. It’s like someone pushing down on you from the top of your head, you can imagine the increased pressure put on the spine, especially the neck.

The change in pressure also causes a disequilibrium which may cause swelling in some joints. That rise of inflammation puts more pressure on nerves that cause pain. It is also thought that the change in pressure and or equilibrium may get some nerve endings "stirred-up", hence, creating irritation and pain.

One each side of the spine you have foramen (or holes where the nerves come out). The discs between each vertebrae act as a spacer to keep these holes wide open. Extra pressure on the spine and increased inflammation can close these holes slightly creating pressure and therefore pain.

So what can be done? The best thing to slow degeneration in the neck (cervical degeneration) is to improve alignment. Perfect alignment of the neck means the nerves flow without pressure. When everything is in alignment, your spine handles the forces of gravity the best also. A good start to improve alignment is a cervical support pillow.


Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

The Scary Truth About The Nerves In Our Neck: THEY DON’T ALL DETECT PAIN!

This can be very scary because there can be problems going on and you don’t know it. Then on day you may awake with pain and wonder; “What happened, how and why do I have this, I’ve been pain free for years”.

What’s been happening is that you’ve had pressure on nerves that don’t necessarily relay pain. Often I’ve come across people who seem pain free and “healthy” but they get an x-ray that reveals horrible degeneration for example. Degeneration is arthritis and it takes years to accumulate. And once you get to a certain level I can guarantee you will get pain.

If we leave pressure on a nerve it will break down itself and once we affect enough different nerve fibers you will irritate one that relays pain. The good news is we can spot some of these thing ahead of time. The main way is by looking at posture. Posture is a doorway into your spinal alignment. You always hear me talk about forward neck posture (that’s the most common shift of our neck spine). Someone with forward neck or head has that going on in their spine, or even a military neck or maybe a cervical khyphosis. Is this bad – Yep. Can this lead to pain or some other unwanted symptom like muscle irritation, loss of ranges of motion, or headaches, or worse – You bet!


Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.


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