By Dr. Marilyn Durden
Special to The Citizen

Many of us have experienced intermittent neck pain that surfaces when we are under stress. Our patients, who come in due to chronic neck pain, usually started out that way. Looking below the surface (at x-rays), we usually find spinal joints with wear and tear from an old injury. After an accident the body miraculously compensates and the spinal joints shift to protect our nerves. This biomechanical shift often causes premature aging of the joints that shows up years later as degenerative disc disease.

What we do not realize is that symptoms may not occur for years…or decades. Some examples of this can be seen in the x-rays of the neck shown. These patients were chosen because they are both 58 years of age, both look GREAT on the outside and both had injuries at the age of 12 (one playing sports, the other in an automobile accident). These individuals had no pain for years and then developed pain. The pain was often associated with stress. As time went on the pain became constant. This wear and tear could have been prevented, at least in part, if they had received chiropractic adjustments to improve the alignment of the spinal joints. Would you drive your car around with a bent frame?

These are two of numerous examples. We will discuss this and more at our free “Workshop on Wellness” on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. Call 770-631-7600 to reserve a seat or to arrange for an individual consult.