Introduction
Are you one of the 6% of people who is lucky enough to have an extra veterbra? Or one who has one less vertebra? All luck aside, as one of the 6% of people who have transitional segments, either one too many (6) or one too few (4) vertebrae, you may experience low back pain.
Definition
a congenital (meaning you were born with it) condition in which the lumbar spine has one too many or one too few vertebrae
Description
The normal lumbar spine has 5 segments. A transitional segment stresses the low back and causes instability of the spine. 93% of patients in the 1000 patients study * of flexion-distraction reached maximum improvement in less than 90 days and 94% of patients needed less than 30 visits. Transitional segment responds well to Cox Technic flexion-distraction, but it did take the most visits and days to attain maximum improvement in the 1000 cases study. It is important to cooperate in your conservative care to control your transitional segment's impact on your lifestyle.
Note: A transitional segment places unusual stress on the spine which results in a disc herniation at the level above the segment. The herniation, then, causes symptoms of nerve root pain. The pain source is always above the transitional segment, not at the level of the transitional segment.
Description of Transitional Segment
Examination
A thorough, clinical examination that may include imaging is important to your recovery.
Lumbar Spine Exam Description
Treatment
In office, Chiropractic Solutions uses Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression to widen the canal space, drop the intradiscal pressure and increase the disc height to relieve pain.
You will welcome the Cox Technic manipulation that gently "pulls you apart," as many patients describe the treatment or say they need. Depending on the severity of your pain and symptoms, gentler Protocol I may be applied until 50% relief of pain or more restoring Protocol II may be applied to guide your recovery.
Graphic Animation of Cox Technic - Lumbar Spine
The disc is pressing on the nerve. Note that as the disc herniation reduces, the pinched nerve is relieved.
This is an animation of the goal of Cox Technic
Flexion-Distraction and Decompression: reduced irritation of spinal elements
enough to relieve pain and help you regain your quality of life. The amount of
decrease in size of the herniated disc necessary for pain relief varies from 0%
to 100% for each individual patient.
Cox Technic Protocol I - for severe pain and pain that extends below the knee
Cox Technic Protocol II - for pain that is in the low back and stays above the knee
In office adjunctive care may hasten your recovery.
At Home Care
At home you may want to avoid sitting for long periods of time, wear a support brace if recommended, take nutritional supplements that help rebuild disc cartilage, do exercises that strengthen your spine, sleep on a supportive mattress, sit in an ergonomically designed chair, and modify your daily activities as needed.
Clinical Case Reports
Contact Chiropractic Solutions for relief of your transitional segment pain.
Reference
- Cox, JM, Feller JA, Cox JA: Distraction Chiropractic Adjusting: Clinical Application, Treatment Algorithms, and Clinical Outcomes of 1000 Cases Studied. Topics in Clinical Chiropractic 1996; (3)3:45-59, 79-81