Johnson Chiropractic Cares for Neck Pain and Painful Cervical Spine Facet Joints
Zygapophyseal joints are also called facet joints. Facet is a bit easier to say than zygapophyseal, and Johnson Chiropractic knows ‘facet’ is much easier to type than 'zygaopophyseal’! These joints are well-documented as sources of neck-related pain for many adults of all ages. Johnson Chiropractic uses gentle chiropractic spinal manipulation to ease neck pain like that produced by facet joint innervation.
FOUNDATIONAL STUDY
Mapping of normal volunteers’ responses to stimulation of cervical facet joints in the 1990s was foundational. Five volunteers stepped up to have their cervical spine facet joints irritated to track where neck pain and arm pain were observed. Amazing! These volunteers’ pain responses produced some much appreciated easy-to-understand pain charts. (1) A follow up study of 10 patients with cervical spine pain compared their pain to that noted in the pain drawings of the normal volunteers to confirm the initial charts from normal volunteers. (2) Johnson Chiropractic sees confirmation of these normal volunteers’ pain reports in our Richmond neck pain patients! Decompression of spinal nerves with chiropractic helps.
NEW INPUT ON CERVICAL FACET JOINTS
Novel information from a current-day dissection project added new facts to the job cervical facet joints (aka zygapophyseal joints) have in neck pain and arm pain. At some levels, more than one medial branch was seen. Direct facet joint branches were found that came from the dorsal root of the spinal nerve. These were independent from the medial branches in their direct route to the facet joint. Current day researchers speculate if there is a more diverse pattern of innervation than has previously been noted. (3) Johnson Chiropractic values the nuances of spine pain and the research that discovered them.
EXAM AND TREATMENT
Clinical observation, examination, and imaging findings guide the diagnosis of neck pain given the complexity of cervical facet joints. (4) The cervical spine facet joint is innervated by mechanoreceptive (mechanical pressure-inducing) and nociceptive (nervous system related pain-inducing) nerve fibers engaging the dorsal root ganglia and end processes of the spinal cord. The central nervous system is complex and responsive to these painful stimuli, both pressure and nerve related. (5) That is why your Richmond chiropractor takes such care in examining, diagnosing and treating Richmond neck pain. There are a multitude of factors to consider! Our Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management is soothing, non-thrust manipulative treatment of the cervical spine for Richmond neck pain relief.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the effectiveness and gentleness of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his male patient with neck pain and tingling in his arm and hand.
Schedule your next Richmond chiropractic appointment with Johnson Chiropractic. Pick your word: zygapophyseal or facet! We are here to talk, diagnose, and treat them for neck and arm pain relief.
