From article #78, you learned that the Reformed Hypocrite (me) had ignored his spine for the first 13 years of chiropractic practice, much to his own peril. He was adjusted but far too rarely to slow or stop the relentless degenerative changes that occur due to gravity, aging, and trauma (subluxation). You also learned from the same article that since my hospitalization in 2000 I am the Reformed Hypocrite. I have listened to my own advice and been adjusted each and every week, and often more, since 2000. I am a much healthier, happier, and more active person since then. I can accurately state that my body, while 11 years older structurally, is functionally younger than it was in 2000. One series of studies showed that it would take at least weekly adjustments over a prolonged period of time to counter the effects of subluxation. It is because of these studies, originally done in Finland, that we recommend weekly adjustments in our Reconstructive and Wellness care plans.
I thought it would be fun and educational to look at actual MRI images of my spine so that you can see the effects of not doing what one tells his patients to do. In the left image the upper arrow points to the L2 disc. Do you see the overall darkness of the disc compared to the one below it? This is due to dehydration of the disc due to long standing subluxation. The same arrow is pointing to the back end of the disc where it is herniated several millimeters. In fact, the whiter part inside of the darker outline is what is called the nucleus. It is supposed to be in the middle of the disc. It has migrated about an inch from where it is used to be. The lower left arrow is pointing to the L5 disc. It is also dehydrated and herniated. In the center image by the arrow the little white bubble is there due to a tear in the disc. And perhaps the most important thing to remember in all of this is that my x-rays on the right look perfect, but my spine is far from perfect. So when I tell you that you are in phase 1 of subluxation degeneration it is almost always worse, but sadly we don’t have an MRI machine in the back room.
I’m so thankful for the E.R. visit in 2000. That’s the day I began to take my own advice to keep what I have working as well as I can and as long as I can. I hope you learn from my hypocrisy. It’s never too late.
MRI MRI X-RAY
I thought it would be fun and educational to look at actual MRI images of my spine so that you can see the effects of not doing what one tells his patients to do. In the left image the upper arrow points to the L2 disc. Do you see the overall darkness of the disc compared to the one below it? This is due to dehydration of the disc due to long standing subluxation. The same arrow is pointing to the back end of the disc where it is herniated several millimeters. In fact, the whiter part inside of the darker outline is what is called the nucleus. It is supposed to be in the middle of the disc. It has migrated about an inch from where it is used to be. The lower left arrow is pointing to the L5 disc. It is also dehydrated and herniated. In the center image by the arrow the little white bubble is there due to a tear in the disc. And perhaps the most important thing to remember in all of this is that my x-rays on the right look perfect, but my spine is far from perfect. So when I tell you that you are in phase 1 of subluxation degeneration it is almost always worse, but sadly we don’t have an MRI machine in the back room.
I’m so thankful for the E.R. visit in 2000. That’s the day I began to take my own advice to keep what I have working as well as I can and as long as I can. I hope you learn from my hypocrisy. It’s never too late.
MRI MRI X-RAY
