Mission Clinic

......curing the incurable

Lower-back & Spinal Pain Therapies

We have two nervous systems, the central (CNS) and the peripheral (PNS) nervous systems. The PNS is further divided into the autonomic (ANS) or vegetative nervous system and the enteric (gastro-intestinal) nervous systems.

The ANS is further divided into the sympathetic (fright, fight and flight) and para-sympathetic (rest, relaxation and repair) nervous systems. See chart below:

The central nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord is the more well-known system. However, the autonomic nervous system is actually much “older” than the central nervous system as it evolved much earlier to control our physiologic processes. The ANS regulates involuntary physiologic functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion, sexual function and especially chronic pain. That is, the ANS regulates the functions of our internal organs such as our stomach, heart, lungs and intestines.

The autonomic system reaches every cell in the body via peripheral nerve ganglia, nerve plexus and assorted peripheral nerves. We access this system via injections into the spinal/epidural space, nerve ganglia and plexus:

  • Lower-Back (lumbar) Spinal and Epidural spaces – Three layers of tissue cover the spinal cord called the pia mater (which is directly attached to the spinal cord), the arachnoid mater (the middle layer) and the dura mater (the outermost layer). The epi-dural space is the area directly outside or “above” the dura mater; the spinal or sub-arachnoid space is the area just below the arachnoid mater. The subarachnoid space contains the spinal fluid or cerebral spinal fluid which covers the entire brain and spinal cord.
  • Nerve Ganglia – Ganglia can be thought of as a relay station between groups of nerves. They are a collection of neuronal bodies that run along the entire spinal cord and some extend outward toward some organs. These are the primary transmission stations for the autonomic nervous system, e.g. the Stellate ganglion in the neck and the pelvic ganglia located closer to the reproductive organs.
  • Nerve Plexus – These are dense networks of intersecting nerves (primarily motor and sensory) – usually covered by connective tissue – that affect specific areas of the body. For example, the brachial plexus controls the shoulder, arms and hands and the femoral/sacral plexus controls the entire lower extremity.
  • Peripheral Nerves – These are usually single or smaller groups of nerves that branch directly from the spinal cord.

Please note, we routinely separate the functions of the different nerve groups based on function such as motor, sensory, mixed, sympathetic or parasympathetic. However, the truth is that all these nerves are connected in order that our body functions as a cohesive whole.

An “Interference Field” is the term applied to disruption or blockage of the autonomic or vegetative nervous system (and by extension the bio-energetic field) by trauma, injury, toxins, infection or a combination of these and other factors. This disruption can result in the continuous transmission of pain signals long after the original injury is healed resulting in pain, fatigue, disability and an inability to heal.

Epidural, spinal and neural (ganglia, plexus and peripheral nerves) therapy injections are employed to alleviate pain, disability and also positively affect organ function by removing the impediments to proper functioning of the autonomic nervous system. That is, they remove the interference field by the injection of substances that reduce inflammation, repair affected nerves, enhance immune function and re-set (similar to re-booting a computer) affected segments of the autonomic nervous system.

Please note that interference fields may also exist in scars (from previous injury or surgery), glands, teeth and other tissue. These areas may also be injected with the result being normalization of illness-related nervous system dysfunction and an immediate and dramatic relief of pain, feeling of euphoria and emotional release.