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Neck
or Back Pain |
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Spinal
pain has many different causes. Some associated symptoms may include
stiffness of joints, chronic muscle spasms, discomfort with movement,
and even an inability to sleep due to being unable to get comfortable
at night. Although there are many, many more associated symptoms with
spinal problems, all of the above cause a decrease in a person’s
daily activities.
Gentle chiropractic care has been shown
to be an effective method of treatment for both alleviating the above
symptoms and getting to the root of the problem. Patients have the
choice of just “patch-up” work to lesson or eliminate pain
or “corrective care” to prevent any further spinal decay. |
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Disc
Problems |
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There
is a soft gel-like structure between each vertebra called an intervertebral
disc. Its function is to cushion the vertebrae so that the bones in
each spinal segment do not touch each other. A good comparison of
an intervertebral disc is a “jelly donut”. The donut has
a doughy outer layer that keeps the jelly contained within the donut.
If the donut is squeezed, the jelly may begin to slowly ooze but still
remain inside the donut.
Similarly, a spinal segment may develop
what is known as a “disc bulge”. Squeeze hard enough and
the jelly begins to come out of the donut. Over time — either
due to trauma or years of misuse — a disc bulge will worsen and
become what is known as |
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a
“herniated disc”.
Both a disc bulge and a herniated disc
are serious problems that will not instantly disappear. As the bulge
grows, the vertebrae start moving closer to one another and may begin
to start touching, causing extreme pain. As the bones approximate
(or touch), the spinal nerve which exits between each vertebrae may
become compromised causing extreme pain. Numbness down the arms or
legs (depending on the area of injury), in extreme cases, may cause
loss of use of the associated limb.
If left untreated, the patient may need
surgery. If treated early enough, chiropractic care has been shown
to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the above conditions. |
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Whiplash |
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Whiplash
is caused when a sudden jolt to the body occurs, causing minute tears
in ligaments and other soft tissues that add support to the cervical
spine, also known as the neck area. It is most commonly seen with
automobile accidents but any sudden trauma can be the culprit. Associated
symptoms include neck pain, headaches, and tight muscles in the neck/upper
back area.
If left untreated, an individual can
start developing a “numbness” sensation radiating down the
arms into the fingers. All to often, people may not feel immediate
discomfort, but as days go on, pain may begin to set in. It is best
to have your spine checked immediately after a trauma because this
is a very critical point in establishing a proper healing process. |
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Headaches |
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Headaches
have a wide variety of causes. Muscle tension alone makes up about
90% of all headaches. Many people feel that chronic headaches are
just a "normal" part of everyday life, and that simply "popping"
an aspirin or two relieves the often agonizing pain associated with
both common stress/tension type headaches or even migraines. People
with muscle tension (stress) headaches can sometimes find relief in
changing daily habits, such as reorganizing their workspace environment
to be ergonomically correct. Also minor stretching of the neck muscles
while sitting at their desk may often help to alleviate some of the
symptoms of headaches.
Migraine sufferers usually do not suffer
from the same frequency of pain as people with stress headaches, but
the intensity and duration can be severe often interfering with an
individual's everyday living habits: lost work being one. Usually
migraine sufferers have such debilitating pain, that the only remedies
seem to be a dark room and sleep. Migraine sufferers usually do not
receive relief from the extreme pain and feel that they have to learn
to live with the problem.
The good news is that people don't have
to and shouldn't live with chronic debilitating pain. Chiropractic
is a safe, drugless profession that has a proven track record with
the treatment of the chronic pain associated with migraines by getting
to the cause of the problem, not just covering it up with temporary
fixes to mask the symptoms.
Many headache sufferers wish they would
have first tried a Chiropractor's gentle approach to the treatment
of their problem, saving them missed time from their family and away
from work - not to mention money. |
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Pinched
Nerves |
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Improper
sleeping habits, sudden movements and falls are what most people report
as the cause of “pinched nerves.”
A sudden onset of pain from normal,
everyday movements demonstrates the existence of a weak part in the
body’s main support systems, the spine and/or muscular systems.
This pain which usually lasts 3 to 4 weeks in duration, if left untreated,
is still the weak link when the pain subsides. Its origin leaves the
person susceptible to further injury at a later date. Even though
the pain may be gone, the cause is still present.
Receiving treatment immediately begins
the healing process sooner and can cut weeks of pain to just days.
For information on maladies associated
with pinched nerves, click on Neck or Back Pain,
Leg Pain/Sciatica, and Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome. |
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Scoliosis |
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The
normal spine’s vertebrae, when viewed from front to back, are
neatly stacked one on top of the other. When viewed from the side,
the spine has three natural curves: one in the neck, one in the
mid back and one in the lower back, all of which forms an elongated
S.
The
abnormal scoliotic spine, when viewed from front to back, shows
excessive bending and/or twisting.
This condition is more common in young
girls than boys. Also, present research indicates that, if a mother
has scoliosis, her daughter is more than likely to develop the condition.
Traditional manipulative techniques
have been shown to both reduce and often correct the spinal distortions
of scoliosis by using gentle, safe adjustments and, depending on
the severity, other non-surgical, non-invasive therapeutic methods.
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Chiropractors
are trained to recognize the development of
soliosis. And, if you know that you have scoliosis, you can rely on
a Chiropractor to take steps to correct the scoliotic condition. But,
the most successful cases to treat are the ones discovered at an early
age — as young as 5 or 6 years old.
Some
early warning signs include: 1) head titled to one side, 2) shoulders
not level, 3) one shoulder more prominent than the other, 4) one arm
hanging lower than the other, and 5) hips not level.
If
you suspect that your child exhibits one or more of the warning signs
listed above, you should have her (or him) immediately evaluated by
a professional, such as a Chiroprator, who is trained in “postural
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Leg
Pain/Sciatica |
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In
some instances, patients may feel a tingling or numbing sensation
down the back of the leg. This is due to a condition, called sciatica,
which is an inflamation of one of the largest nerves in your body.
The pain associated with sciatica can also be severe; it can be so
painful that some sufferers describe it as a knife-like, shooting,
stabbing pain.
The normal path of pain usually begins
in the lower back and runs down the length of the “sciatic nerve”in
the leg. It may even run all the way to the foot. Although there may
be many causes of sciatica, the most common is from pressure on the
sciatic nerve due to spinal misalignment. Chiropractors correct this
misalignment. When proper alignment of the vertebrae is restored,
joints and discs no longer exert pressure on the nerve.
Millions of sufferers from sciatica
have benefited from the non-surgical, drug-free approach chiropractic
care affords. |
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Muscle
and Joint Pain |
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One
of the most common reasons people visit Chiropractors is muscle and
joint pain. That's because the muscular and skeletal system comprise
over 50% of the body's overall make-up.
Most people think of pain as the problem.
But pain is actually a warning mechanism letting you know there is
a problem somewhere in the body, which if left untreated, can cause
significant discomfort or immobility.
Mainly, there are two different types
of pain, known as acute and chronic. Acute pain normally starts with
an injury and develops suddenly, such as a strained muscle from a
sports injury. Chronic pain is longer term pain, usually the result
of an acute injury left untreated, such as back pain from spinal decay,
years after the initial strained muscle from a sports injury, for
example.
Chronic injuries usually involve the
formation of "trigger points" located within muscle tissue
and end up interfering with everyday life. The formation of trigger
points limits the body's normal muscle activity causing tired achy
muscles, muscle fatigue, and poor posture. Prolonged poor posture
habits cause the normal biomechanics of the spine to become limited,
stressing the vertebral joints, causing spinal decay. Trigger points
are also common to a "dis-ease" known as Fibromyalgia, although
not everyone with trigger points has Fibromyalgia.
Chiropractic Care affords greater limits
on spinal ranges of motion, eases pain, reduces inflammation, and
improves the overall quality of life safely and effectively. |
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Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome |
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Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most widely known Repetitive
Stress Injuries. These types of injuries usually result from prolonged,
improper body mechanics. CTS is common with computer users, carpenters,
secretaries, and musicians.
Some symptoms of CTS include a “pins
and needles” feeling in your hand. Severe pain may also be
associated as well as a decrease in strength with regards to grasping
or to turning movements similar to opening a jar. Although most
of the pain associated with CTS is felt in the wrist and/or hand,
the problem may actually be coming from the neck. The nerve associated
with CTS is known as the “median” nerve. This nerve actually
begins in the neck area of the spine and runs through the shoulder
area, continuing the whole distance of the arm through the wrist
and branching into the thumb and first few fingers.
When the spinal column impinges on
the median nerve and affects the arm, wrist and hand, this is what
is known as Double Crush Syndrome (DCS). In this case, the bones
in the neck actually compress the nerves as they exit the spinal
column — what chiropractors call a vertebral subluxation —
and cause many of the associated symptoms of CTS. The medical approach
is to treat the wrist/hand with injections or surgery, but that
doesn’t always correct the problem.
Both CTS and DCS are problems that
cause many people to lose time from work, along with pay and decrease
productivity in the work place. Prevention is the best answer when
it comes to occupational injuries such as CTS/DCS. Proper ergonomics
(body mechanics) should always be stressed in the work environment
to avoid problems. But, periodic spinal check-ups with a chiropractor
should also be included to reduce the chances of suffering from
the collateral effects of vertebral subluxations.
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Sports
Injuries |
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Chiropractic
care isn’t just treating people in pain; it’s also maintaining
the normal balance of the muscles and bones of the spine. Keeping
your spine healthy can add “life to your years” and keep
you in top form to continue being actively competitive in sports.
In today’s sports arena, chiropractors are the norm.
Many top athletes use Chiropractic to
keep them healthy so they can perform better and subsequently have
longer sports careers. Many of the associated pains of the “weekend
warrior”, if left untreated, can develop into serious conditions
limiting their leisure activity. Chiropractic’s unique, safe
treatment methods get to the cause of the problem and, not only relieve
the pain, but also keep the spine and surrounding tissues strong to
ward off possible injury. |
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Auto
Accident |
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Injuries
sustained from motor vehicle accidents require that special attention
be given to the spine and the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and
tendons.
One of the most common injuries associated
with automobile injuries is known as whiplash. If left untreated,
whiplash can result in long-term chronic neck pain and even some degree
of impairment. Many people actually feel pain for many years after
the accident. Some symptoms of whiplash include pain and stiffness
in the neck area, headache, and a "pins and needles" sensation
radiating down one or both arms, possibly into the fingers. Low back
pain/ numbness is also commonly seen with motor vehicle accidents.
The forces associated with some auto
accident injuries can cause a structural deformity in the spine causing
it to lose the normal, natural curve it needs to help maintain proper
muscular balance in the neck and upper back area. Other problems known
as bulged discs, or even worse, herniated discs may occur from the
incident. Patients are normally given painkillers and told to go home
and rest. But, over time the pain may begin to get so bad that surgery
may be indicated, which only trades one problem for another.
Chiropractic care gets to the root of
the problem safely, gently, and without the use of drugs or surgery. |
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Pregnancy
Care |
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Chiropractic
for expectant moms? You bet! Low back pain, mid back pain, and numbness
down the legs and arms are common problems associated with pregnancy.
Expectant moms often have no where to
turn with these problems. Pain killers and medications often are not
an option for patients due to the negative side-effects which can
cause further problems with the pregnancy.
But, a healthy spine allows joints to
function properly, easing some of the discomfort. As the pregnancy
progresses, the body releases special hormones which causes ligaments
to "stretch", making it easier for the birthing process
on joints, namely the pelvis. As the ligaments weaken, the body adapts
to the changing environment and the soon to be mom's center of gravity
changes.
As this change occurs, the spine must
adapt, sometimes causing mal-alignment of the spine, which cause spinal
misalignments. These mal-alignments can cause pressure on the spinal
nerves as they exit the spine, also called “Subluxations.”
By correcting these misalignments, muscular tensions ease and allow
the spine to function properly, setting the stage for a less painful
and uncomfortable pregnancy.
Many women have experienced first hand
the benefits of safe, gentle, chiropractic care during the full term
of their pregnancy, safely, without the use of drugs. |
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