Can understanding bunions, save your spine?
Do you have bunions? Do you have back problems?
Bunions form when the bones that make up the MTP joint move out of alignment: the long metatarsal bone shifts toward the inside of the foot, and the phalanx bones of the big toe angle toward the second toe. The MTP joint gets larger and protrudes from the inside of the forefoot. The enlarged joint is often inflamed. (source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Are you afraid that your spine may end up like your feet? Should you be? Is there anything that you can do to help this situation?
Back pain, degeneration, and dysfunction are very often caused by bones of the spine being out of alignment. Just like a bunion, the spine is made up of weight-bearing joints. They absorb stress. Stress on misaligned joints leads to faster than normal degeneration, inflammation, and dysfunction. Sometimes debilitating pain ensues. Degeneration is considered irreversible. People with bunions are very aware of the implications of joint degeneration. Where your toe can be easily shaved down and reconstructed, this is much more complicated and dangerous in the spine.
When joints of the spine degenerate, you lose mobility, you lose strength, and you can even lose nerve control over the organs, tissues, and other body parts the affected nerves control. That’s not good.
Spinal degeneration, like bunions, occur from misalignment of weight-bearing joints that deteriorate with stress and time.
Aging is inevitable. Aging gracefully takes understanding and effort. If you were to only have one car for your entire life, how well would you maintain it? We all get one body, one spine and two feet. Care for them like you will own them for the rest of your life, because you will.
Bunions are like spinal degeneration, but even less complicated and less impactful than what happens in the spine. Oftentimes, degeneration builds up without you even knowing it.
If you understand bunions, you understand a lot more about spinal degeneration and immobility than you may think.
Caring for your spine because it’s the only one you’ll ever have, is fundamental to a long life of mobility and comfort.
Bunions, like flat feet and other foot problems, may even lead to degenerations in other joints, including the ankles, knees, hips and spine. READ MORE HERE!