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The adult spine usually has 26 separate bones, made up of 33 segments (vertebrae) :
· C1-7 : seven cervical vertebrae
· T1-12 : twelve thoracic vertebrae
· L1-5 : five lumbar vertebrae
1 sacrum, made up of five fused sacral vertebrae
1 coccyx, consisting of four fused coccygeal vertebrae
Within the vertebral column lies the spinal cord, from which extend 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
Spinal nerves are the pathways of communication between the spinal cord and the rest of the body. Damage to the vertebral column may result in damage to the corresponding spinal nerve which, in turn, may result in pain, muscle weakness, loss of feeling, or impairment in the functioning of a body part.
A twist, injury, or area of ‘holding’ may also cause a segment of the spinal cord to be compressed, leading to an ‘over-firing’ of the nerves which exit the cord at that point. Such a segment would be described as being ‘facilitated’ and would mean excessive stimulation of the muscles or organs being supplied by those nerves.
These are possible effects of spinal nerve irritation at different segmental levels:
C1, 2, 3 Headaches, dizziness; sinus problems; hay fever and allergies.
C4, 5 Neck pain; nervousness; insomnia; throat and thyroid problems.
C6, 7 Shoulder and arm pain or numbness; poor circulation; swelling of the hands.
T1, 2, 3 Asthma; breathing difficulties; lung problems; high and low blood pressure.
T4, 5 Pain between shoulder blades; liver and gallbladder problems.
T6,7,8,9 Stomach, intestine and pancreas problems; heartburn and bloating.
T10 – L1 Colon problems; diarrhoea; constipation; kidney problems.
L2, 3 Impotency; inability to conceive; bladder problems.
L4, 5 Low back pain; sciatica; poor circulation in legs and feet.
Sacrum Hip, leg, knee and foot pain; muscle cramps in the legs.
Source: Michael Kern, Wisdom In The Body: The Craniosacral Approach to Essential Health.
