Nerve impingement, sciatica, disc herniation/degeneration, or spinal stenosis can cause sharp, debilitating nerve pain causing electric shocks, pins, needles, or burning sensations along the back or into the arms and legs. In combination with additional chiropractic treatment modalities, spinal decompression therapy effectively relieves the pain and disability resulting from disc injury and degeneration, repairs the damaged discs, and reverses nerve dystrophy. Part of the treatment involves a proper diet to deliver healing nutrients to the spine.
Healing Nutrients
The spine supports the entire body to perform motions and movements and needs the proper healing nutrients, especially after chiropractic and decompression therapy. There are vitamins and minerals that are critical for a healthy spine. These ensure that the bones, muscles, discs, and other tissues function correctly. There are nutrients that are essential to the immune system; if they are not present, the ability to heal and recover properly is reduced and takes longer. Nutrients commonly used in immunonutrition include:
- Nucleotides
- Antioxidants
- Arginine
- Glutamine
- Omega-3
All are found naturally in certain foods and nutritional supplements and are essential in healing from injuries, like a herniated disc, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and back or neck surgery.
Nucleotides
- Every cell in the body contains nucleotides, which help make up and maintain DNA and RNA.
- DNA and RNA production is necessary for cell repair and regrowth.
- When the body is experiencing a stressful health issue like back or neck pain, it needs more nucleotides.
- The body produces and recycles nucleotides and absorbs them through food.
- All-natural plant- and animal-based food sources contain nucleotides.
Antioxidants
- Antioxidants maintain and restore healthy tissues by reducing oxidative stress.
- Oxidative stress is associated with chronic inflammation.
- Antioxidants include:
- Beta-carotene
- Selenium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C boosts the immune system and acts as an anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant-rich foods include:
- Leafy green vegetables
- Fresh and frozen fruits
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Whole grains
Arginine
- Arginine is an amino acid produced in limited amounts during growth, illness, or injury.
- Research has shown that taking arginine supplements can increase the body’s ability to fight infections.
- Foods include:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Legumes
- Meats, specifically turkey meat
Glutamine
- Glutamine is an amino acid involved in the processes that control cell growth and repair.
- Supplementation can help decrease the risk of infections and reduce the number of missed school or workdays.
- Glutamine-rich foods include:
- Eggs
- White rice
- Corn
- Beef
- Tofu
Omega-3s
- Omega-3s naturally reduce the body’s inflammatory response.
- Inflammation is necessary during healing, but chronic inflammation can be destructive.
- Omega-3 supplementation can help decrease chronic inflammation.
- Omega-3 foods include:
- Salmon
- Eggs
- Walnuts
- Flaxseed
- Spinach
Spinal decompression gently stretches the spine, creating a vacuum inside the discs and joints. The negative pressure helps heal disc bulges and herniated discs. The lengthened spine allows healing nutrients and water to flow correctly, reducing swelling and inflammation and improving joint motion.
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physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to
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practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health &
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We understand that we cover matters that require an
additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or
treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above,
please feel free to ask Dr. Alex
Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Dr.
Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*
References
Chen, Linlin, et al. “Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.” Oncotarget vol. 9,6 7204-7218. 14 Dec. 2017, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.23208
Daniel, Dwain M. “Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media?.” Chiropractic & osteopathy vol. 15 7. 18 May. 2007, doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-7
Dionne, Clermont E et al. “Serum vitamin C and spinal pain: a nationwide study.” Pain vol. 157,11 (2016): 2527-2535. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000671
Napier, Zachary, et al. “Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Reduce Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.” Medical science monitor: international medical journal of experimental and clinical research vol. 25 9531-9537. 14 Dec. 2019, doi:10.12659/MSM.918649
Zolfaghari, Farid, et al. “A Survey of Vitamin D Status in Patients with Degenerative Diseases of the Spine.” Asian spine journal vol. 10,5 (2016): 834-842. doi:10.4184/asj.2016.10.5.834
