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Palliative vs. Corrective
Which sounds better with regard to residual scar tissue; healing for good, or always having a tender, vulnerable, old wound? Of course it is more desirable to heal correctly and thoroughly the first time.
Many of us sprain an ankle or injure other frequently used parts of our body like a shoulder and are too busy to wait for the long healing process to complete before we are back on our feet or using our wounded shoulder again. Why don't we give ourselves a proper healing interval? We do this because we can get away with it at the time and eventually the area seems to heal and the pain goes away. It’s like wearing a Band-aid over a cut on our finger. It’s annoying to replace the Band-aid and clean the wound over and over again. And that pesky Band-aid gets dirty and wet. The wound festers. You can’t wait for the day that the sore heals and you don’t have to mess with a Band-aid anymore. Once a scab develops you may end up bumping it or picking it, even though you know it will turn into scar tissue. You are ready to have the sore gone despite turning it into a scar so that you don’t have to mess with the Band-aid or tenderness anymore. However, with patience and avoidance of fussing with the scab, it will eventually heal properly, leaving no scar tissue behind.
Just like a cut on the finger, other injuries to the body like a sprained ankle, torn rotator cuff, or whiplash in the neck will heal with scar tissue whether or not you can see or directly feel it. It’s there. Scar tissue is nasty stuff! Scar tissue is our body’s super glue that holds us together. It’s meant to keep us alive long enough to escape the saber tooth beast that’s chasing us. Think about our primitive selves and the most basic human needs: survival, food, and sleep. Our body is built and created to stay alive. Therefore, scar tissue is the glue that holds us together if we injure ourselves and still need to be mobile in a fight or flight situation. It is not the ideal form of healing, but nevertheless it is an option for the body to utilize when short-term healing is necessary or forced.
However, the problem is that in the long-term a complete return to function is prevented. Plus, stress and immobility prevail in the injury location. This means that when we sprain an ankle, scar tissue will limit the ankle’s range of motion, overall function, and put more strain on the foot and knee. If we walk on it too soon more scar tissue builds up for reinforcement. This could mean knee injury occurs and problems loom in the future.
If we think about the entire kinetic chain, we realize that it will also affect the hip and lower back in some way. It may take years to spread, but by then we will have forgotten all about the connection to that old ankle injury. Now consider when we injure our spine, i.e. lower back or neck, it may be sore for a few weeks and then only bother us episodically. Without proper rehabilitation of the injury we are left with scar tissue and chronic imbalance that leads to degeneration, decay, and arthritis in the spine. When we have imbalance and arthritis in the spine it doesn’t just stop there. The discs are irritated and compromised. This could lead to a herniation or ruptured disc. Arthritis may also irritate the nerves that leave the spine which control all the functions of the body such as breathing, movement, sensation, and digestion. Doesn't this remind you of this old campfire song?
The toe bone's connected to the foot bone
The foot bone's connected to the heel bone
The heel bone's connected to the ankle bone
The ankle bone's connected to the leg bone
The leg bone's connected to the knee bone
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone
The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone
The hip bone's connected to the backbone
The back bone's connected to the shoulder bone……
Our solution at The Balanced Spine is to limit scar tissue build-up by allowing the slow healing process to complete before we demand regular use and function again. Re-balance the body and spine through Chiropractic care. Adjustments to the spine break up scar tissue and imbalances allowing proper healing and elimination of stress and preventing progression of degeneration and arthritis. Spinal balance decreases irritation like arthritis, and most importantly, allows the nervous system to send its messages to the body without interference.
Ultimately, when the nervous system is working properly without constant stress, every function of the body works! This includes better immune function, better digestion, better healing, better motor coordination, better sleep, and better breathing. Everything is connected. You can not affect one without affecting the other.
Get your spine checked today and begin to reap the benefits and live better! HEAL FROM THE INSIDE OUT! Chiropractic care strengthens the body in order to survive everyday stress and eliminate build up of stress in the body that can lead to break down.
(425) 437-9974
Dr. Traci Grandfield
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