Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Many people believe that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) originates in the wrist. While TRUE carpal tunnel does reside in the wrist,  many of the symptoms associated with it actually do not originate in the wrist area. Symptoms include tingling, pain, and numbness in the hands. More often, the cause is in the neck. The nerves that exit the neck go into the arms and hands so if the spine is misaligned there is pressure on the nerves, causing the “Carpal Tunnel” symptoms. The problem is that most people don’t realize this and will get surgery on their wrists, only to realize after that they are still having the same symptoms and the surgery was a waste of time and money.

If you or someone you know has symptoms of CTS, before going the aggresive route, start conservatively and get a chiropractic checkup. A chiropractor will be able to tell if the symptoms are caused from the neck or the arm/wrist. If it’s from the neck, in most cases chiropractic adjustments will eliminate the need for more aggresive strategies.

Sciatica

Sciatica

 

Sciatica is defined as pain that radiates from the lower back into the buttocks and down the back of one or both legs, caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerves, the largest nerves of the body.  It usually begins as an acute pain in the lower back and then radiates down the back of either or both legs.  There are five pairs of nerves that exit the spine in the lower back.  These nerves make up what we know as the sciatic nerves.  If the vertebrae or bones in the lower back are misaligned or out of place; or the discs are swollen, bulged or herniated, the result is pressure on those nearby nerves.  This can cause tremendous pain, and normal daily activities become almost impossible.

 

Symptoms of Sciatica include:

           

·        Sensation changes on the back of the calf or the sole of the foot

·        Numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in back of calf or the sole of the foot

·        Weakness of the knee or foot

·        Difficulty walking

·        Inability to move the foot (in severe cases)

·        Inability to bend the knee (in severe cases)

 

Chiropractic care works on correcting misaligned or out of place vertebrae and can remove the pressure placed on the sciatic nerve, reducing pain and improving flexibility and function. I have helped many people who have had debilitating pain and have prevented the need for cortisone shots or worse, surgery.

Backpack Safety

As the school year begins again, it is important to touch on the subject of backpacks.

As a chiropractor I have seen many cases of children ages 5-18 with neck, back, and shoulder pain caused by heavy book bags. What frightens me even more are the number of students who are not in my office-many more are walking around with these problems and not getting them taken care of. This will just lead to worse problems down the road.

One way to solve this problem is to follow these guidelines, set up by the American Chiropractic Association:

• The backpack should not weigh more than 5 to 10 percent of the student’s body weight. For example, if your child weighs 60 pounds, the backpack should not weigh more than 6 pounds.
• The backpack should never hang more than 4 inches below the waistline.
• Both shoulder straps should be worn and wide, padded straps are ideal.
• The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body.

If your backpack does not weigh less than 10% of your body weight, and especially if you are experiencing pain, please be checked by a chiropractor. What may seem like a small problem in school will develop into a much larger problem later in life if not taken care of now.

Kids and Chiropractic

When you are making an appointment with a pediatrician for your child, consider making an appointment for a check-up with a chiropractor as well. “A chiropractor? My kid doesn’t have back pain.” There are huge misconceptions out there about chiropractic. One is that it is only for adults, another is that it is for musculoskeletal problems only, such as neck and back pain. What many people don’t know is that chiropractic is really about removing nerve interference caused by the spine being misaligned and by doing so, allowing the body to heal and increase its function.

One of the first causes of spinal misalignment occurs during the birth process. Even so-called “natural” birthing methods can stress a developing spine and cause irritation to the nervous system.  Later on, learning to walk, riding(and falling off!) a bike, and other normal childhood activities continue to put pressure on the spine. During these periods of growth your child needs to be checked by a chiropractor for subluxations(spinal misalignments). If the subluxations are not fixed and proper spinal motion restored, more spinal problems will occur later in life. Children who get chiropractic adjustments are healthier and avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.

Although chiropractic is not a ‘cure’ for anything, some of the conditions chiropractic has been shown to help with are:

• Ear infections
• Colic
• Bed wetting
• Scoliosis
• Breathing problems
• Difficulties breastfeeding
• ADHD
• Autism, Behavioral and Learning disorders

Chiropractic adjustments are tailored to an infant’s/child’s spine. Most parents report that their children like their adjustments and seem healthier than other children. Also, kids do not need to be seen as often and get better more quickly than adults.

Infants and children are some of my favorite patients. They get great results and they love coming into the office!

Pregnancy and Chiropractic

“Chiropractic care during pregnancy?  Are you crazy?”  This is a common response I get when I suggest chiropractic care for an expectant mother.  The fact is, getting her spine checked is one of the best things a pregnant woman can do, not only for herself, but also for the baby.  The increase of weight is one factor.  As the majority of weight gain is in the abdominal area, the center of gravity shifts forward, which exaggerates the natural curves of the spine.  This affects nerves, muscles, and the mobility of joints.  Ever hear that pregnant women have low back pain?  As the hips expand laterally to help stabilize the body, there is more pressure on the sacro-iliac joints, causing hip pain.  Also, the changing hormones affect the ligaments, cartilage, and bone, causing discomfort.

 

Think these changes only affect the mom?  Think again- the changing spine also affects the developing baby.  An unbalanced pelvis decreases room in the uterus, restricts the baby’s positions, and affects his/her developing spine and cranium.  This may also prevent him/her from getting into the correct position for birth, which can lead to longer, more painful labor, and unfortunately increase the probability of c-sections.

 

Chiropractic care helps balance the pelvis, stabilize the spine, help with discomfort and pain, and it is safe throughout all phases of pregnancy.  Also, a bonus!  Chiropractic care during pregnancy significantly decreases the length of time a woman is in labor.  First- time mothers average 24% shorter labor and those who have already given birth average 39% shorter labor time!

Headaches

I hear it all the time in my practice: I get headaches but they’re just the normal kind. News flash- there is no such thing as a “normal” headache. Headaches are a definitive sign that something is wrong!

There are many types of headaches: migraine, tension, cluster, dehydration. A frequent and overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back. When bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated they can produce throbbing headaches. Aspirin and medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.

Many people find relief and correction with chiropractic care. If a thorough examination reveals reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves, or mechanical restrictions, chiropractic care should be considered.

Many of my patients report headache relief almost instantly. Others find that the correction of their problem takes longer because their spinal problem has existed undetected for many years. Every patient responds differently. Regardless of how you respond, enjoy the drug-free results millions have enjoyed by consulting a chiropractic doctor.

 

 

Whiplash

Most people who are in a “minor” car accident think that if the car didn’t receive much damage that their bodies didn’t either. Unfortunately this can cause a lot of problems down the road.

Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be overstretched or torn. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck can get stretched and irritated. While the occupants can suffer considerable soft tissue injury, the car may by only slightly damaged.

The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can result in headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulders, arms and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back problems. As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months later.

The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustments to help return spinal function. After a thorough case history and examination, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.

If you’ve been in a car accident, visiting a chiropractor can keep you from enduring constant headaches, depending on addictive pain medication, or submitting to surgery!

Athletes and Chiropractic

Most professional athletes work with a chiropractor on a regular basis to increase health and performance. A research study conducted by Drs. Anthony Lauro and Brian Mouch, published in the journal of Chiropractic research and Clinical Investigation, 1991, indicated chiropractic care might improve athletic performance by as much as 16.7% over a two week period. The report also concluded that subluxation-free athletes react faster, coordinate better, execute fine movements with improved accuracy and precision, amounting to an overall better athlete.  Tiger Woods has been quoted as saying “…lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I’ve been going to Chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It’s as important to my training as practicing my swing.”

Chiropractic is beneficial for not only professionals, but everyday athletes as well. I myself am regularly active and have witnessed first hand how an adjustment can balance my running stride, ease the soreness after working out, and generally keep me a healthier person. One of the benefits my active patients have noticed are less general soreness, more energy, and less knee and hip pain.

Chiropractic helps athletes and people working out, engaging in a sport or even just performing daily functions such as walking and sitting, to operate at their peak levels of performance without pain. I highly recommend that you pay a visit to your local chiropractor.

Meniere’s Disease and Chiropractic

Meniere’s Disease is characterized by dizziness and a combination of nausea, inner ear pressure, low-frequency hearing loss, and tinnitis. The cause is unknown and as a result, treatments vary between drugs and surgery…often not producing the wanted outcome. Another option that most people wouldn’t think of is chiropractic. Research has shown that specific upper cervical chiropractic care can bring great results to those suffering from Meniere’s.  The majority of the patients have a history of cervical (neck) trauma, often caused by an automobile accident, that has been left untreated.  This causes the top bone in the neck to misalign and compromise the size of the neural canal space, affecting major centers of the spinal cord and brain, such as the medulla, cerebellum, and vertebral arteries. More information and details can be found here.  Just like anything else, chiropractic may not be the answer for everyone but with its great track record, isn’t it worth a shot?

Alternative to High Blood Pressure Meds

You hear about it all the time…high blood pressure is a huge problem and there is a bunch of information and tips out there about how to manage it. Many of you probably didn’t know that chiropractic can help lower it. A study performed on the upper neck area showed that a very specific neck adjustment can lower blood pressure as significantly as taking two blood pressure medications. The chiropractic technique used was NUCCA, but other upper cervical techniques, such as what I practice-Blair, have the same effect. Read the entire article here.