Neck/Back Pain
Pain along the spinal column in your neck or back is usually caused by altered joint function. Joint restriction, muscle tension and inflammation can cause pain and nerve irritation. Chiropractic adjustments promote normal spinal motion so that stress on joints, muscles and nerves is released. If you are experiencing back or neck pain, contact us today.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The median nerve passes the wrist through a tunnel of bones and ligaments of the hand. When joints and nerves of the neck or upper extremity are altered, symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can occur. This condition is most common among people who perform repetitive hand movements such as typing at a computer, using hand tools, or working in assembly. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, weakness, or a burning sensation. Pain in your hands and wrists very often can be relieved by chiropractic care utilizing targeted spinal and upper extremity adjustments. Start with a call to us today.
Headaches
Many people believe that headaches are caused by loud noise, being tired, or being stressed. While these are all factors that can lead to headaches, a direct cause is tightness in the neck and shoulders. The muscle tension can cause spinal joint dysfunctions and spinal joint dysfunctions can cause muscle tension, either resulting in pain. A majority of all headaches are related to the neck. With a typical cervicogenic (neck origin) headache, a person usually feels pain starting at the base of the skull which radiates into the temples, eyeballs, and forehead. Massage of the neck and shoulder muscles can release tension, and a chiropractic adjustment can correct joint function in the neck. Chiropractic can reduce headaches. Schedule your initial visit.
Disc Conditions
Intervertebral discs are positioned between the vertebrae of the spine. The outside part of a disc is fibrous cartilage and the center is soft and composed of water and collagen. Disc spaces allow for flexibile motion and act like shock absorbers. Poor spinal motion, altered structure, repetitive injury or acute trauma can cause discs to weaken, dehydrate, bulge, herniate or eventually rupture. These conditions can cause pain as well as bony changes of the spine, osteoarthritis, stenosis and reduced ability to do normal activities.
Degenerative disc disease describes these changes which can occur as a result of trauma or "wear and tear." Degenerative changes can also be worsened by inflammation, obesity and sedentary lifestyles. The symptoms may be minimal for some people until joints and nerves are sufficiently affected. Pain may then occur in the neck or back near the involved disc but can also travel to other areas of the body like the buttocks, arms, and legs. Numbness, burning and tingling in the arms and legs may be experienced. Pain can range from mild to severe and debilitating.
Spinal joints, discs and pain are commonly treated by chiropractors, using adjustments, heat or cold, cold laser or pain relieving topicals. When disc degeneration leads to herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, or osteoarthritis, other forms of treatment may be beneficial. This may include physical therapy, stretching, anti-inflammatories or analgesics, and in some cases, surgery. Surgery is a significant intervention, so doing all you can to try to recover before that point, makes sense.
Chiropractic and healthy lifestyle are often successful at improving spinal motion, reducing disc dysfunction, eliminating pain, and helping you get back to your normal activities. If you are experiencing frequent back or neck pain, contact us for help.
Allergies
Chiropractic can help reduce the severity and the frequency of allergies.(1) Chiropractic does not work like an anti-histamine with direct, short term relief from allergies. Chiropractic instersad allows your body to be better equipped to fight against allergies.
Allergies are a reaction by your immune system to an allergen (substances that normally have no effect on people) resulting in sneezing, coughing, congestion, hives, rashes, and in severe cases, seizure or anaphylactic shock. These symptoms are caused by chemicals such as histamines which the immune system creates in an attempt to protect your body against the allergen.
When spinal dysfunction is present it can negatively impact the body's nervous system. Studies have shown that the nervous system has an effect on the function of the immune system. When the nervous system is under stress and not working optimally, your immune system gets stressed as well. Chiropractors work with the nervous system by addressing the spine and influencing nerve function. This allows the immune system to better handle challenges and to respond to your environment in a more balanced way.
If you suffer from allergies, chiropractic may contribute to relief. Schedule an appointment today.
Joint Dysfunction
Joint dysfunction occurs when joints become stiff and full movement is restricted. It can be caused by an injury, poor posture, overuse/underuse of a joint, muscle imbalance, as well as other factors. Like arthritis, joint dysfunction can cause pain in the joint and the surrounding muscles and can also cause problems in other parts of the body due to compensations.
One common form of joint dysfunction can occur at sacroiliac (SI) joints, which is where the base of the spine meets the pelvis. It causes low back pain and restricts movement. This condition is often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to sciatica or a herniated disc.
Your chiropractor can evaluate this condition and provide relief. If you have joint pain, plan a visit.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a condition that is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage between joints. Some of the major joints that can be affected are the knees, hips, back, neck, and hands/wrist. Arthritis can be painful and cause the affected areas to function poorly. Arthritis in one area can also lead to problems in other joints. For instance, if you have arthritis in your left knee, you may compensate for this by putting more pressure on your right side, leading to right hip problems.
Pain killers can bring temporary relief, but it is not a complete solution. Chiropractic can alleviate pain by improving joint motion and balancing movement and muscle tension. We address not only the affected area but also the body as a whole. We work to restore and maintain proper movement and functionality to increase your overall well being. Call to get help.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition that is still not well understood. The main symptom is chronic pain throughout the body, often located in joints. The pain may be achy, sharp, radiating, burning, or shooting and it may be mild or severe. Fibromyalgia has also been known to trigger other problems like trouble sleeping, headaches, depression, and anxiety.
While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, chiropractic treatment can help to uncover some of the causes and aggravators and provide relief. Causes of fibromyalgia can be physical, mental, and emotional, so a comprehensive history and evaluation will provide insights. Adjustments, soft tissue therapy, healthy lifestyle guidance, and energy work can be used to ease discomfort. The added benefits such as increased energy levels, better circulation, and better functioning can also help to fight the effects of fibromyalgia. If you are experiencing pain, reach out to schedule a consultation so we can aid you on your road to recovery.
Pinched Nerve
When a nerve sends pain signals, it is often referred to as a "pinched nerve". The nerve may not necessarily be compressed but may be irritated by altered structure, aberrant motion, and inflammation. These stressors must be reduced in order to alleviate the pain. An examination can reveal the biomechanical causes of the pain and adjustments can often bring relief.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition that results when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated. Bulging discs, injury, spinal dysfunction, inflammation, and muscle spasms can all cause irritation of the sciatic nerve. When this happens pain, numbness, and weakness can occur in the lower back, buttock and leg. To treat sciatica, causes need to be identified and corrected. Your chiropractor can help you with this.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury for people involved in falls, sports, and car collisions. When a car is struck from behind or collides with another object, it forces the neck into extreme flexion and extension. This causes the muscles and ligaments to overextend, leading to strains and/or tears. This is referred to as soft tissue damage, and can cause stiffness and soreness. Whiplash can also cause structural damage to joints, herniated, bulging or ruptured discs, or nerve irritation due to the violent motion.
Chiropractic can help with these injuries. Adjustments can be performed to facilitate healing following a whiplash injury. The stress on joints, discs, muscles and nerves is released when the spine is functioning properly. Additionally, soft tissue treatments such as trigger point therapy, dry needling and cold laser can be used to help relieve the pain and discomfort. If you have had this type of injury, even if a long time ago, schedule an appointment to ease pain and aid recovery.
Wellness Care
There are many problems that can be relieved through chiropractic. Chiropractic wellness visits can increase your resiliency as well as reduce the impact of minor injuries. Other potential benefits of wellness care are better flexibility and mobility, increased energy, improved posture, healthy immune system support, and an overall sense of well-being. Routine maintenance care helps keep the body in its peak condition.
(1)Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15965403?dopt=A...