Posts Tagged ‘chiropractic’
Chiropractor in Wichita Advises: Don’t Let The Pain of Sciatica Ruin Your Life
As a Wichita Chiropractor for more than twenty years, I have treated many individuals suffering from sciatic pain, I’m truly aware from experience just how disabling sciatic pain can be. Sciatica sufferers are regrettably all too familiar with the deep radiating pain that persists during the day and restricts almost all of their daily activities.
Could your low back pain be generated by sciatica? You are probably experiencing sciatica if your pain travels from your low back, through your buttock(s), down the large sciatic nerve in the back of your leg(s), and possibly radiates into your knee(s). Also, not solely motion, but even sitting can be painful. Frequently lying down will decrease, or occasionally even temporarily eliminate the pain. But, you should be alerted to the fact that sciatica cannot be corrected without proper care.
Radiculopathy
A radiculopathy is a medical term used to describe a condition where a disc has protruded from its natural position in the spine and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) that forms part of the sciatic nerve in the lower back. This type of pressure is extremely painful.
Additional pressure on the intervertebral discs, as well as imbalances in the muscles encasing the spine, can take place during and after long periods of sitting, especially in an awkward position. A specific event or injury isn’t generally the cause of sciatica, instead sciatica is likely to progress over time due to everyday wear and tear on the vertebrae of the lower spine. Over the course of time the lower spine can lose its normal functioning capabilities during common stresses.
When this occurs, the intervertebral disc undergoes small fissures or cracks that then let the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it produces the pain that is commonly called a ruptured, or slipped, disc. Sciatica is the result of the disc pressing on the spinal nerve. Fortunately, most disc challenges, including sciatica, can be completely relieved with chiropractic treatment and management that often includes postural exercises.
Periformis Syndrome
Periformis syndrome is another cause of sciatic pain. Periformis syndrome develops when the periformis muscle, which is superficial to the sciatic nerve, goes into spasm and irritates the nerve. In combination with chiropractic treatment, this kind of sciatica can be significantly relieved by sciatica stretches that your chiropractor will advise you on.
If you are experiencing sciatic pain, it is essential for you to see your chiropractor for treatment. If you are in the Wichita area, as your Chiropractor in Wichita, I invite you to come in to see if I can get you out of pain and help you to get your life back!
Do Tension Headaches or Migraines Interfere With Your Life?
Do you suffer from tension headaches or migraines? If so, you are painfully aware of their incapacitating effects.
Tension headaches: Like it or not, life can be a pain, sometimes, and turn into a tension headache. Many people have experienced more than one. If you’ve had a tension headache, then you probably experience it as a dull, painful ache in your head that is commonly accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure along your forehead or on the sides and back of your head. Occasionally, you might feel a tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and at times you may experience a loss of appetite.
Tension headaches are commonly defined as mild to moderately intense. The severity of the pain varies from one headache to another in the same person, as well as from one individual to another You may have tension headaches regularly or they may take place infrequently. Your headaches are considered chronic if they happen fifteen or more days a month for a minimum of three months. If tension headaches are interferring with your life, chiropractic care may be the remedy. Get in touch with your chiropractor today.
Migraine Headaches: Migraine headaches differ from the average tension-related headache. As reported by the National Headache Foundation, migraines often take place on one side of the head only. The throbbing or pulsating pain is accompanied by nausea or vomiting. One-fifth of migraine sufferers have auras, visual manifestions an hour before a migraine attack, and distrubances like pulsating light, lines or dots.
Do you experience the painful symptoms of migraines? If you do, you know the distressing, incapacitating effects that this kind of condition can have on your life. Unfortunately, you probably know by now that conventional over-the-counter medications are ineffective, and prescription drugs all too often have harmful side effects. Even so, the pain of a migraine can incapacitate you for hours, days, even a lifetime. It’s time to finally get rid of the pain and get your life back! Chiropractic treatment has been proven to be powerful in relieving and eliminating migraine headaches. Make an appointment with your chiropractor today!
Sports Injuries and Chiropractic Care, The Perfect Solution
Sports injuries, today are not just limited to professional athletes or boys who participate in school sports programs. Today, a large number of people of both sexes and all ages are regularly participating in sports and fitness activities. There are women playing traditionally men’s sports such as soccer, basketball, and kick-boxing. The vast majority of both sexes play golf, tennis, basketball, and/or participate in aerobic activities like running. Regrettably, risk of injury is always a possibility with any sports activity.
Nearly all of injuries generally fit into two groups: 1) traumatic injury, such as a slip, fall, or collision and, 2) repetitive stress or overuse injury.
Traumatic Injuries
These injuries create the debilitating problems often associated with trauma. A high percentage of traumatic injuries are to the ligaments, the tissue that connects bone to bone, and to body muscles, although fractures and dislocations do happen at times, in particular with contact sports. Damage to a ligament is called a sprain, while trauma to a muscle or its tendon is a strain. The most frequent places for these types of injuries are the ankles, knees, and shoulders, nevertheless other areas can be affected including the low back and neck. Because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves can be harmed, injury to the neck and low back can be extremely serious.
Traumatic injuries can vary from a mild “muscle pull” or ankle twist to a serious problem requiring surgery. It all depends upon the degree of tearing of the tissues, the location, and the age of the person. Some degree of swelling takes place with most sprains and strains. But, with certain injuries, particularly those of the ankle and knee, there can be some internal bleeding as well. Strains and sprains demand appropriate attention, especially during the initial stages of an injury, to insure correct healing and avoid future disability. Therapy from a competent health-care professional, such as your Santa Barbara chiropractor, is highly expedient.
If you’ve sustained an injury, the best course of action is to see a professional. Until assistance is attainable, remember the acronym, PRICE:
P Protect injury to prevent additional damage
R Rest the injured area
I Ice injury to abate swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C Compress injury with a specifically designed or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E Elevate the injury, particularly when dealing with ankles and knees
By all means it is important to get the injury properly evaluated by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to ascertain the amount of damage. Nearly all of these injuries can recover, although they do need knowledgeable treatment during the various stages of healing. If not carefully monitored and treated, a sprain or strain injury can result in long-lasting joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. A chiropractor that is trained in the treatment of sports injuries can give expert advice and management you’ll need to insure that your injury will recoverl in the best possible way. Call your chiropractor if you have sustained a traumatic injury.
Overuse or Repetitive Strain Injuries
These injuries are becoming more prevalent, especially among individuals going out for sports such as golf, tennis, bowling, and any other activity that necessitates the same movement over and over (repetitively). An activity as uncomplex and healthy as running, especially on a treadmill, can also be a factor.
Repetitious activity can frequently create a very slight strain to tissues, expressly tendons and muscles. But, it is the accumulative effects of the repetition that causes the more serious problem. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common types of overuse injuries. Over time the muscle or other affected tissue develops changes that no longer allow it to function correctly, resulting in pain, stiffness and disability. Certain factors predispose a person to these sorts of injury. Some are “intrinsic,” i.e., the factor is found within a person’s own body. Other factors are “extrinsic,” which means that the factors are external and can generally be changed or controlled by the individual.
Some of the most widespread intrinsic factors for injury
Age is the most common intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that individual to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. There are those who are born with joint or muscle problems. And, finally, previous injuries are a factor as they often keep the joints or muscles from functioning properly.
Extrinsic factors for injury
Extrinsic factors are numerous. For instance, sports equipment can insufficient–an inappropriate grip size of tennis racket or worn-out running shoes are clear examples, even a playing surface can be a factor, e.g., a too-hard surface for soccer or an uneven treadmill. Improper technique in any sport, such as an incorrect golf grip is, as they say, an injury waiting to happen Another factor is poor conditioning. Some individuals are injured because they are deconditioned. Added frequency or extended duration of an activity, without easing slowly, can cause the conditions for injury. Insufficient flexibility can produce injury if a person is too stiff to do an activity properly. Lack of warm-up, like stretching and suitable preparation, is a common factor in injuries. And, lastly, and maybe surprising to some, stress is a factor. Muscles that are tense and inflexible as the result of stress are too tight and, hence, unprepared for most sports activities.
It is important to remember that the majority of factors are extrinsic and, consequently, they are factors that can be individually controlled. Before starting a new sport, or as a way to prevent injury in a current sport, it’s wise to get an assessment of your current body condition. If you’ve been injured, it is crucial to seek out a experienced professional, like a chiropractor, to diagnose the nature of the injury and design a plan of care. If left untreated, an injury will not only prohibit someone from participating in a favorite activity, but can significantly affect someone’s life in general. Treatment such as joint manipulation, massage, bracing, and specific exercises is often required to stabilize the condition. A chiropractor is your best source of help. Call a chiropractor if you’re either thinking of beginning a new activity, you’re feeling pain related to a current sports activity, or you’ve sustained a sports injury. Your Chiropractor has years of experience helping people just like you.
Change Your Posture, Get Rid of Your Knee Pain
Besides spinal conditions, knee pain and disability is one of the most widespread dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system. Conditions concerning the knee can be divided into several classes including improper mechanics of the knee and faulty foot mechanics that compensate for foot pain, frequent overuse of the knee joint, inflammation due to arthritic changes in the joint, and traumatic injury from events such as sports and falls.
Non-trauma knee problems: The most prevalent cause of non-traumatic pain is insufficient mechanics of the knee joint and the related stress on the soft tissues of the knee. Usually, the part of the knee implicated is the patella or knee-cap. Often the patella does not move smoothly or does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee producing too much stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This specific condition is often called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). This problem is due to imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that connect to and move the patella. Imbalances in the muscles related to knee movement frequently begin from lower back ailments, particularly in the sacroiliac joint. Imbalances in muscle groups that join to the knee can also lead to pain and dysfunction. For example, pain on the medial or inside of the knee occurs when the muscles on the insides of the thigh are strained and rigid. Mechanical knee pain is also produced by gait deviations such as pronation.
Evidence of overuse includes pain during activities such as climbing stairs, running, jumping, as well as pain upon rising after prolonged sitting. Some women are likely to be predisposed to painful overuse conditions for anatomical reasons, however such conditions are frequently caused by wearing high heels on a regular basis.
It is important to re-establish proper muscle balance, restore appropriate motion to the patella and other knee joints, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot. In certain cases, a brace is used to aid with the alignment of the patella or to stabilize the joint. Chiropractors, such as your chiropractor, are ideally trained to provide knowledgeable assessment and management of these conditions.
Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries commonly occur during sports that involve running and jumping, especially. When the knee is pulled or contorted beyond the strength of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can happen creating a sprain. The muscles that facilitate movement of the knee can also be torn during injury creating a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a slight injury that requires little care to a extreme injury necessitating surgery. The knee also has two special “cartilages” – the menisci – between the tibia and the femur that allow fluid mobility and cushioning. These cartilages can also be torn during trauma, and commonly require surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.
Traumatic knee injuries can cause serious pain and swelling and need prompt diagnosis and treatment. In most instances a qualified chiropractor, such as your Chiropractor, can manage these conditions, but there are some injuries that require the craft of an orthopedic surgeon. In any event, it is vital to stabilize the injured joint as soon as possible and to ice the injured area, if possible, until the injury can be examined.
Conditions such as poor mechanics and problems due to overuse, as well as traumatic injuries, need to be fixed at an early stage. If not, the tissues of the knee joint, especially the cartilage, will start to erode. As a result the bones will rub on one another, and changes such as bone spurs can take place. This painful problem, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is commonly progressive with age. Usual treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Nevertheless, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that are very effective such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely beneficial in reducing the pain. Your San Jose chiropractor is very knowledgeable about anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, sufferers can often assist themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.
Is it safe to exercise (go for a run) after a chiropractic adjustment?
I’m feeling a little lightheaded and this is my first chiropractic treatment. Is it safe to exercise?
Anything that tenses the back/core muscles is a bad idea immediately after an adjustment. Yoga would be the best thing to do along with steam or hot tub.
How much can I expect to spend on a first chiropractic visit in the SF Bay area?
I really want to try chiropractic for my back, but am not sure I can work it into my finances. Please do not answer if you are not in the San Francisco Bay area. I am sure it differs from area to area.
just call a chiropracter's office, ask them what it costs if one has no insurance, good luck
Does chiropractic really helpful for lower back pain and neck pain?
Is chiropractic safe, effective and cost-effective for back pain? Does the full spinal x-ray cause any harms to the body? Why are there some practice of chiropractic still continue on without a clear x-ray image? Is the x-ray mandatory for chiropractic?
My first chiropractic experience was out of desperation. I had such pain in my hands and numbness and every doctor offered surgery to cure the carpal tunnel syndrome I had. The chiropractor explained that not all hand pain is from carpal tunnel and checked me out. His opinion was that I had pinched nerves in my neck, treated it and over the course of a couple weeks, eased the discomfort and also taught me ways to help myself. I haven't had to go back because now I know how to help myself. He also brought me through a serious bout of muscle spasm in my back. my regular doctor had me off work for 3 weeks, taking lots of muscle relaxers and laying around the chiropractor told me of natural muscle relaxers and how to care for myself and had me back to work in 3 days but kept treating me for about a week. As far as I am concerned, he is a gift from God!! He also did the exrays and diagnosed the arthritis in my spine years before my regular Doctor did.