The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-04-09
Your Health
Shock Absorbers
in Spine Protect
Against Earring

By HERMAN BuNDEsEN. N. D
THE human body Is intriestely
and maryelously made, which Is,
Of course, one reason why II may
develop so many ailments. From
one point Of view, its wondrous
complexity and specialization OF
parts simply means that II has .
lot Of things TO get out OF killer.
Suppose, for instance, there Is
some injury to its shock absorb
ers," the little pieces Of cartilage
which lie between the small bones
Of the spine and act as cushions
TO protect against jarring.
These bits Of cartilage, called
intervertebral disks, are small, and
they serve Q most useful purpose,
but IL they are injured you are
going 10 have trouble.
There are certain injuries 10 the
intervertebral disks which, In
turn, produce pain In the lower
part of the back. At times the
pain passes downward into the
leg. This is known as sciatiea.
At other times, part Of the
disk herniates or ruptures. The
type Of injury which has occurred
to the disk will determine TO some
extent the type Of symptoms that
develop. For example, according
to DR.. James II. Young Of Aus
tralia, q herniation Of the disk
will cause compression or pres
sure symptoms. When this hap
pens it will be found that the spine
bends away from the affected
side.
Stands and Bends
II a person stands up and bends
forward the pain is made worse,
while il he Is seated and bends
forward the pain becomes less.
Bending backward or toward the
affected side increases the pain.
As result of bending or lifting
too heavy an object, rupture Of
the disk may occur. This causes
symptoms called the stretch syn
drome. In such cases, bending over
while standing makes the pain
worse as does bending over while
sitting down. However, bending
backward does not cause pain.
Sometimes there may be de-
generation or wasting Of one of
the disks. In such cases bending
over while standing makes the
pain worse but bending backward
or bending forward when sitting
down Is painless.
In order to tell when injury to
the intervertebral disks has oc-
Cured, an X-ray Of the spine is
taken. An examination 10 deter
mine If there Is tenderness along
the spine or to find If the verte-
brae or small bones in the spine
move too freely will also help in
the diagnosis.
In the case of a hernia Of disk,
surgical repair of the disk is
usually necessary. Now and then,
the part Of the disk which has got
ten out Of position may 60 back
in place by itself.
Tearing Of the disk is treated
By using q spinal brace TO keep
the parts immovable. However, In
some cases the tearing Of the disk
may be so extensive that an opera.
ton is required.
When there IL degeneration or
wasting, the wearing Of q cast or
brace for awhile may relieve
the symptoms. II this fails, an
operation is done in which the
vertebrate between which the disk
II located are ankylosed, that is,
fixed together so that they are not
movable.
When pain in the back and SCI
atica occur. 4 careful study, In
GLIDING X-rays Of the spine, should
be carried out to determine II
damage to the intervertebral disks
may not be responsible.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
v. l. NJ: have heard that so
per cent Of all babies born 10
mothers who smoke die at the age
Of two years. IL this truef
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