Question
I am a 32 year old female in good internal health. Physically Im not. I have DJD, subluxation of the spine and mild moderate scoliosis on top of a back injury from 10 years ago. I am at a lost on what my prognosis long term can be or what to do. Scoliosis i was just diagnosed last week. Though I suspect its congenital as i have uneven shoulders and hips and of course subluxation. I do not know if any of this has anything to do with my spine injury. DJD is in the C4-C7 vertebrae I did sustain perm nerve injury

Answer
Dear Eva,

I am unsure what your question is here, other than maybe what you should do for the long term...

Degenerative joint disease in the spine is quite common, although usually not so much at the age of 32. It is very possible that past injuries have caused you to experience the DJD at an earlier than expected age. Scoliotic curves of the spine also lead to accelerated degenerative changes due to altered mechanical function.

If I were you, this is the course of action that I would take:

1) Short term, you have to improve intersegmental joint function of the spine and reduce muscular tension. Improved joint function would also help, hopefully, in reducing the pressure on nerve tissues. In my office, based on your brief statement, I would think that you might benefit from spinal decompression traction to the cervical spine, cervical spine manipulation therapy, and electrical stimulation therapy to control pain.

2) Long term therapy should be directed at restoring as much function to your damaged spine as possible. It should include continuous periodic adjustments, even when not in pain, and daily stretching and strengthening exercises to help improve function and stability at the spine.

You are not alone in suffering spinal scoliosis or degenerative changes. They are common, and they can be helped. The trick is to start right now and to be steady through the years.  I don't believe that you would need daily treatment for the rest of your life. I do believe, however, that if you got treated once or twice per month, and if you did your stretches and strengthening exercises at home every day, the degenerative process in your C spine could be slowed.

The scoliosis should be evaluated to determine if it is the result of a leg length deficiency. In such a case, a simple lift placed inside of one shoe might do you a lot of good.

Good luck Eva. I hope that this helps you some.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com