Spondylosis is the term for arthritis in the articulations (fancy term for the connecting point in bones where motion is possible, aka joints) between the vertebral bodies (which are the bones that make up the spine).  In the spine, we are referring to the facet (fa•set) joints and the disc (which are the shock absorbers between nearly all vertebra).  Spondylosis is rarely seen in children but is often seen in adults.  

The white arrow here indicates the facet joints, a common site for spondylosis.  The blue arrows indicate the vertebral bodies and the green arrow indicates the disc.

Spondylolisthesis occurs when a lumbar vertebra slides forward off the one below it.  This can be confusing because a person can have spondylolysis (the break) with or without spondylolisthesis (the slippage).  In the image below, the white arrow indicates where the break would occur and the red arrow indicates what direction the vertebral body would go.

Fast gaining attention in the literature is what is known as a “pending spondylolysis”, which shows a characteristic pattern on an MRI that indicates an area under strain that is susceptible to breaking.

Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis are commonly seen in sports that require a lot of trunk extension, or bending back from the waist.  While these injuries have been reported in every sport, major culprits are weight lifters, football interior linemen, and cheerleaders but the highest incidence is in gymnasts.  The extension puts pressure on the back of the pars interarticularis which can break.  

So what does this all mean and what can be done?

The first thing that needs to be determined is if it is active or inactive.  This is done by having an MRI done with a special series called a STIR.  Bone scans can also be done to determine this but, with the continued advances in MRI, you get the same information without the radiation.

If the MRI shows that it is active, then treatment can require stopping the offending activity and possibly bracing.  If the MRI shows that it isn’t active, then chiropractic care has been shown to greatly help this condition with the addition of physical therapy.

 If you or someone you love has spondylosis, spondylolysis, or spondylolesthesis, call Fisher Chiropractic today to see if we can help, 630-455-4545.  We will not only determine the extent of damage, but also if it's the real culprit and get to the root of the problem!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then you can imagine the value of a movie!  The video above (or below) may look familiar to you if you have ever seen a radiograph, or x-ray as it is commonly called, but something is different: it’s moving!  Digital Motion X-Ray (DMX) is a new type of videofluoroscopic x-ray system that uses new digital and optic technology, which allows us at Fisher Chiropractic to view the spine and other joints in real-time motion at 30 x-rays per second. The procedure is performed with the patient standing and actively moving in a weight-bearing position in a way that reproduces the pain.  The vast majority of pain occurs when a person is moving; this is the only technology available that allows us to see what is happening during that time. We are one of a select few in Illinois who has it!

Why do patients need Digital Motion X-Ray®? While there are many reasons, the two types of patients that benefit the most are those that have pain that is worse with movement and those who have suffered from a car accident injury and have been diagnosed with whiplash and it hasn’t improved.  In addition to the benefits of a normal radiograph, DMX allows for us to see that your joints are moving properly and if ligaments are damaged.  This allows us to develop a treatment plan that will precisely deal with your injury.  

What’s different about Digital Motion X-Ray and normal x-ray or MRI?  The first and most powerful thing is MOTION.  This technology allows us to see how your body is moving, something neither traditional x-ray nor MRI allow.  

Let’s use neck pain as an example.  The most common result of a radiograph is “slight arthritis” or “normal”.  The reason is that radiographs are taken for 3 primary reasons: to rule out fractures, gross dislocations, and/or certain metabolic diseases.  While these still need to be ruled out, they are not the most common causes of pain and dysfunction.  While MRI’s are excellent at showing discs, there are no discs in the upper 30% of your neck or in the back of your neck.  What is in your neck that can’t easily be evaluated by traditional X-ray or MRI are ligaments, little structures that when damaged, can cause headaches, neck pain, pain referred into your back and elsewhere, nausea, dizziness and many other symptoms.  DMX is the best imaging tool to see if your neck is moving properly and if any ligaments are damaged. Once we identify if your neck is moving properly and if any ligaments are damaged, we can design a treatment specifically for you.  This holds true to other joints in the body.

We have already seen cases of Digital Motion X-ray finding the hidden cause of both acute and chronic pain.  Contact our office at (630)455-4545 to see if DMX can help you or someone you know.