When your tooth hurts, you seek out a dentist. When a skin problem arises, a dermatologist can offer relief. For problems with the musculoskeletal system such as back pain, a chiropractic physician is your best option. Chiropractor back pain treatment plans are solely created on an individual basis, to fit each patient to their specific healthcare needs. There are many causes of back pain and many locations throughout the back where pain can arise.

Cervical Pain

The cervical spine is the region of the back that includes the spinal vertebrae from C1 to C7. This neck portion of the back can be injured from whiplash, sprains, strains and other forms of trauma and poor posture. A cervical spine fracture or a herniated disc will cause a tremendous amount of pain in the neck.

Thoracic Pain

The thoracic spine includes vertebrae beginning at T1 and extending to T12. This portion of the spine is the longest segment, covering most of the back beginning at the upper shoulders and extending to near the bottom of the ribcage. This large segment of the spine is the least flexible and because of this, back pain is less common in the thoracic spine.

Lumbar Spine

The lumbar spine contains the L1 through L5 vertebrae. It is this region of the spine that, when there is dysfunction or injury, will cause low back pain. Low back pain is very common and in most cases the cause of pain is not life-threatening. There are some rare medical conditions that do produce feelings of low back pain however, so it is important to seek treatment for persistent low back pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A chiropractic physician is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of back pain. The goal of chiropractic care to is eliminate the cause of the back pain whenever medically appropriate through conservative care options such as rehab, massage therapy and chiropractic manipulation. From a patient evaluation and physical examination, a chiropractic physician will determine if treatment is appropriate. There are some medical conditions that would prevent a chiropractor from beginning chiropractic care for a patient and in these instances, the patient would be referred to another medical specialist for care. For those patients that are indicated for chiropractic treatment plans, the length and type of care required for resolution of the back pain will be dependent on the severity and duration of the pain.

References Cited in this Article

www.spine-health.com                       www.medicinenet.com

Many individuals wonder, “How can I adjust my work station to fit my body?”  Well here’s your chance to learn just that.  Let’s first begin by understanding what the work ergonomics means?  “Ergo” means to work, and “nomics” means rules or laws.  This means the laws of work figuratively speaking.  OSHA defines ergonomics as, “the science of designing the job to fit the worker, instead of forcing the worker to fit the job.”  Ergonomics helps to make the job safe as well as decrease the strain on the human body.  This will help with being healthy and happy as well.  This saves the company much more money in both the short and long term. 

Two Categories of Ergonomic Factors

 There are two ergonomic factors, they are physical and environmental.  Environmental problems include but are not limited to the following: excessive noise levels, inadequate lightening, and fluctuations in temperature.  Physical factors can put pressure on the joints, ligaments, and muscles of the human body therefore causing pain, irritability, and absenteeism.  These are sometimes referred to as Cumulative Trauma Disorders or Repetitive Strain Injuries.  These may include: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Epicondylitis, Tenosynovitis, and Bursitis.  Most of these injuries would not happen if only performed once but thousands of repetitions later it begins to become a physical problem.  Such factors include: thousands of strikes typing, clicking the mouse over and over, and hours of filling, stocking, and lifting.  Awkward positions can also cause a physical problem such as: having an anterior head carriage and rounded shoulders at the computer desk, reaching to the mouse, an abnormal angle while typing, lifting items above shoulders or below the waist, twisting to look at the computer monitor, and bringing the ear to the shoulder while on the telephone.  These can all put unnecessary strain on the shoulders, back and neck creating pressure; therefore, pain.  Too much more on the keyboard, improper grip, and stamping are all types of pressure that can cause repetitive stress injuries as well.  When seated, your elbows should remain hanging at the sides of your shoulders and they should be as relaxed as possible.  In addition, you should use a back rest, keep your feet planted on the floor, and decrease the need to lean forward.  Next, keep your wrists in a neutral and comfortable position and be sure to not bend them up and down or side to side too much.  These are all simple tips that should be practice for Office Ergonomics and also at home too!

Source: OSHA

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.  Millions of people experience pain at some point in their day.  The most common condition linked to neck pain and tension is a cervical subluxation.  Chiropractic treatment for the neck improves the mobility of the spine and restores loss of motion.  Physical therapy and massage therapy for the neck will increase flexibility and strengthen weak muscles in the neck and shoulders.  Nerve Impingement Syndrome and Pain can be evident within the lower back.  Unfortunately, 80% of the population will experience some sort of back pain within their lifetime.  Most cases of back pain are mechanical in origin.  Spinal subluxation and muscle weakness are key elements that are linked to chronic lower back pain.  Chiropractic and physical therapy can alleviate many symptoms associated with such low back conditions such as the following: Sciatica, disc herniation, Scoliosis, spinal degeneration, stenosis, pelvic imbalance, and core strengthening.  The primary causes of Nerve Impingement Syndrome and Pain include the following: auto accidents, pregnancy, repetitive stress, poor posture, lack of exercise, and sports injuries. 

Auto accidents

When you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident, the extent of the physical injury to your spine can not be linked to the amount of damage to your vehicle.  Whether you are involved in a minor “fender bender” or a rear-end collision, you should have your spine evaluated for subluxation and abnormal curvature of the spinal column. 

Pregnancy

In contrast, pregnancy can be a wonderful blessing in a women’s life; however, this process involves a physical change in a women’s body which may result in long term effects to her spine and pelvis.  The effects of pregnancy can result in the following: exaggerated spinal curves, an irritated sciatic nerve, overstretched and weakened abdominal muscles, and loosened pelvic joints.  Chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists are trained in providing safe and comfortable care to women before and after their pregnancy. 

Repetitive stress

Nerve Impingement Syndrome can be caused from repetitive stress.  Whether you’re at work or play, doing the same activity over and over again can produce repetitive stress injuries.  Some symptoms of repetitive stress injuries include: stiffness, pain, weakness, and loss of motion.  Muscles, tendons, and joints that are not properly treated will result in chronic problems. 

Conclusion

Chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists are all skillfully trained in the art and science behind the musculo-skeletal system and can aid in much-needed relief to Nerve Impingement Syndrome.

What is Chiropractic Care?  Chiropractic healthcare is based on the scientific fact that our nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every cell in our human body.  The purpose of the Chiropractic approach is to uncover your health conditions, not merely cover up your systems.  The Chiropractic oath is to help as many people as we can without the use of drugs and/or unnecessary surgery.  Doctors of Chiropractic essentially promote the healing process by minimizing interference to the nervous system.  When the nervous system is free from obstruction, the body can function at its highest level.  Interference to the nervous system, caused by subluxation, will affect how the nervous system relates to the cells to which it travels.

Subluxation

A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that irritates a nerve which affects normal function.  Nerve impingement syndrome caused by subluxation, occurs when a mis-alignment of one or more of the joints in the spine places pressure on a nerve.  Pressure on the nerve can cause interference, resulting in pain, loss of function, as well as other symptoms.  Nerves communicate from the brain through the spinal cord and nervous system. 

Headaches

Nerve impingement syndrome can result in headaches.  Millions of people suffer with throbbing headaches each and every day.  They can be a distraction that affects your family, friends, job, and your ability to live life to the fullest extent.  The most common type of headache is a tension headache caused by muscle tension attributed to subluxation and nerve impingement syndrome.  What are the six misconceptions about headache relief?  1) over-the-counter medication treats the cause of your headache, 2) headache medications can’t harm you, 3) stress causes headaches, 4) headaches go away on their own, 5) all doctors know how to treat headaches, 6) your problem is always where your pain is. Drugs only mask the pain they don’t treat the headache.  Drugs can cause side effects that are far worse than your headache. 

Chiropractor

Stress is a very common way of life but not the cause of a headache.  How your body adapts to stress is the true indicator of health.  If you don’t treat the cause or the root of the problem the headaches will never go away completely.  Chiropractors offer natural and safe alternatives to treat headaches without the use of unnecessary pharmaceutical drugs.  In addition, not all headaches originate in the head.  Many headaches are associated with neck and upper back tension.  Chiropractic Care and Headache Relief go hand-in-hand; talk to your doctor today about your options.

Vertigo is a dizziness feeling when a person is standing completely still.  Vertigo is caused from a dysfunction with the 8^th cranial nerve called the Vestibular-cochlear nerve.  The dysfunction ultimately lies within the vestibular, or balance portion of the nerve and not the hearing portion. 

Symptoms of Vertigo

Vertigo presents the following signs and symptoms: nausea, vomiting, difficulty standing and walking, patient will feel like their swaying when standing still, and feeling of passing out.

Causes of Vertigo

Some known causes of Vertigo include but not limited to the following: Benign paraoxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraine, Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and excessive alcohol consumption.  Vertigo is divided into two classifications: either central or peripheral.

What is Central Vertigo?

Central Vertigo arises from the brainstem and can cause neurological symptoms.  These symptoms can range from slurred speech, double vision, and pathologic nystagmus which is eye fluttering. 

What is Peripheral Vertigo?

Peripheral Vertigo is caused by dysfunction within the inner ear or vestibular system.  Some causes include Meniere’s disease, BPPV, labyrinthitis, and inflammation. 

Nystagmus

Most vertigo sufferers will experience reoccurring symptoms.  This can be detrimental to one’s quality of life.  Nystagmus may be unilateral, bilateral, asymmetric, vertical, horizontal, congenital, or acquired.  Horizontal nystagmus occurs in patients suffering from a unilateral cerebral hemisphere disease, especially with posterior lesions.  Their eyes will drift horizontally towards the side of the lesion. 

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the vertigo symptoms.  Vertigo can be treated with pharmaceuticals taken by mouth, a patch on the skin, or an IV administration.  A bacterial infection causing symptoms will require an antibiotic, Meniere’s disease sufferers may also be required to be on a low salt diet in addition to meds, a hole in the inner ear will require surgery, and BPPV patients will have a maneuver performed on them called the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver.  This is where the doctor places the patient in a certain position in order to move the small stones to their correct position since they become displaced with this condition.  This particular movement is repeated until there is no longer visible eye movement or dizziness symptoms.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Care may be utilized to decrease the symptoms of Vertigo.  Since the C1 vertebra is in such close proximity to the brainstem, when this bone is mis-aligned or subluxated it may cause dizziness or nausea.  C1 has many muscles that attach to it and when they become taut they can pull this bone out of its normal alignment causing a subluxation.  When this happens, some individuals will complain of headaches, nausea, dizziness, eye pain, ear aches, and general fatigue.

Do you ever wonder what exactly a Pinched Nerve is?  Well, a pinched nerve happens when a boney prominence puts added pressure on a spinal or accessory nerve.  This is also what happens sometimes with a spinal or extremity subluxation.  A subluxation is a mis-alignment of the spine and/or extremities that may or may not put pressure on a spinal nerve root or accessory nerve.  A pinched nerve will almost always cause local pain and inflammation.  In addition, a pinched nerve may cause the patient to suffer from reduced range of motion in the affected area. 

The Chiropractor’s Role

The Chiropractor will take a detailed case history and perform a through physical exam to obtain a diagnosis in order to deliver a tailored treatment plan accordingly.  The doctor will perform static and kinetic palpation to effectively determine the level of the subluxation and where the restriction lies.  After this, they will perform a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust to that particular segment in order to correct the mis-alignment.  They will re-check the segment post adjustment to see if the correction has indeed been made.  The Chiropractor may also choose to incorporate some physiotherapy modalities to further heal the pinched nerve and speed up the recovery process.  These modalities may include but not be limited to the following: electrical muscle stimulation to calm down spastic muscles, ultrasound (which is the deepest of the deep heaters working from the bone to the muscle interface), cold laser (this is also a deep heater modality), whirlpool bed, inter-segmental traction (this opens up the facet joints of the spine, taking the pressure off the nerves), and spinal decompression (this machine opens up the disc spaces allowing blood and nutrients to replenish the spine and promote healing to the disc and surrounding structures).  They may also choose to add acupuncture and/or massage therapy to add to the treatment plan.  Massage therapy will help to alleviate any muscle spasms, reduce pain and inflammation, and reduce or eliminate any tender or active trigger points found within the muscle belly or tendinous structures.  After the treatment plan has been sought out, the Chiropractor will perform a re-evaluation to notate the progression and see if the care should be altered, if the patient should be released from care, or if the patient should be referred to another health care provider. 

Do you experience any type of numbness in your extremities?  Unfortunately, there are many causes for Numbness.  Some of the causes include: sitting for extended periods of time, nerve injury, pressure on local and peripheral nerves, shingles, herpes zoster, lack of blood supply, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Seizures, Stroke, Migraines, lack of B12 in the diet, and Raynaud’s phenomenon. 

Herniated Disk

The vertebral column is made up of bones called vertebra.  In between these bones are fibrocartilage jelly-like disks which absorb the shock of the spine.  When were young, these disks are well-lubricated with water; however, as we age wear and tear can cause the breakdown of these delicate disks causing possible disc herniations.  Disc herniations may be contained or non-contained.  In addition to these criteria, they may also be a sequestration, involution, or extrusion.  Herniated discs may cause a number of signs and symptoms not limited to: muscle weakness, pain, inflammation, reduced reflexes and sensations, numbness, and tingling.  Diagnosis of a herniated disk is performed with a through case history and physical exam, this may also include special diagnostic imaging such as an x-ray or MRI.  An MRI is the most sensitive test for a disk herniation.  This will show the exact location and severity of the disk bulge, in addition to determining whether the bulge is pressing on the spinal cord.  When a disk herniation is present in the cervical spine, the patient may experience numbness and tingling down one or both arms; however, if the disc herniation is present in the lumbar spine, the patient will experience numbness and tingling down the posterior leg into the calf and possibly down to the foot.  This will mimic the symptoms of a relatively common condition known as Sciatica. 

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic care is essentially for patients suffering from any type of numbness or tingling.  This is almost always nerve-related and may be treated through manual manipulations to the spine and/or extremities.  Chiropractors are trained in the art of the nervous system, the most important organ system in the entire human body which controls and coordinates every organ and body part.  They will use static and kinetic palpation to effectively determine the level of subluxation within the spine and/or extremities.  They will then deliver a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust in the plane line of the facets to correct the mis-alignment.  They may also incorporate the use of physiotherapy modalities to speed up the recovery process and reduce the numbness and tingling symptoms.

Most Americans will suffer from at least one bout of Neck Pain within their lifetime.  Most incidences of neck pain are related to stress, headaches, or trauma.  The neck is a very delicate structure composed of seven tiny cervical vertebra, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves.  They all work in harmony to create range of motion of the cervical spine such as: flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion.  The atlas is the first cervical vertebra and allows for the most flexion and extension to occur.  The axis is the second vertebra and contains a unique feature to the cervical vertebra known as the dens.  The dens extends upward into the atlas and allows for rotation, the most in the cervical spine. 

Headache

Headaches are a very common source of neck pain and they typically go hand in hand.  There are many types of headaches such as: tension, migraine, sinus, cluster, metabolic, and hormonal.  Their treatment depends on which type the patient has and can range from Chiropractic care, diet changes, pharmaceutical medications, rest, ice, heat, or lying in a quiet room.

Neck Trauma

Neck trauma is one of the most common reasons for neck pain.  This may be due to muscle strain/sprain, whiplash, or a severe blow to the neck from any direction.  Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) occurs when the neck is put into forceful flexion then extension without the person’s control.  This causes compression and lengthening of the associated structures causing tearing of the ligaments, muscles, and tendons.  Although, this may not cause severe pain at the time of the accident, patients usually experience extreme pain following the accident or the hospital stay.  A hard-collar should always be worn prior to the emergency room visit to reduce the risk of paralysis and permanent injury to the cervical spine. 

Chiropractic Treatment

Once the patient is released from the hospital they may seek the treatment of a Chiropractor to reduce inflammation, pain, and restore range of motion.  They will employ the use of the PRICE regimen which stands for protect, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.  They may also incorporate the use of physiotherapy modalities to further start the healing process such as: electrical muscle stimulation, cold laser, and ultrasound.  In addition, other modalities such as massage therapy and acupuncture may be helpful to facilitate healing.  Chiropractors will use static and kinetic palpation to check for areas of subluxation within the cervical spine.  Once located, the Chiropractor will perform specific adjustments to the area using a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust. 

Effectiveness of Massage Therapy 

In 2008, a study was done inColorado at Boulder College of Massage Therapy.  Researchers selected individuals who suffered from tension headaches 2-3 times per week for a minimum of six months.  They were given treatment for 4 weeks and saw significant improvement compared to the group of individuals who received no treatment during that time frame.  During treatment, clients experienced the following things: massage strokes over the base of skull and neck; myofascial release strokes on shoulder and neck muscles; trigger point therapy; and stretching techniques.  During the first week, clients said they experienced headaches half as much as they were before treatment.  At the end of four weeks, headaches had declined significantly.  Also, clients said that when they did get headaches, the severity of pain had decreased after treatment.  When clients came to treatment with a headache, they said the pain would go away about 30 minutes after the session was over.  The conclusion of the study states that pain can be alleviated through massage therapy when treatment is geared toward cranial and cervical muscles. 

Other Massage Treatment 

Massage oils have also been known to relieve headache pain.  Oil is blended together specifically to sooth migraine and headache pain.  The pain relief oil is massaged into the temples, back of the neck, and base of the skull.  If you don’t want to apply this on your skin the other option is too add oil to the bath.  Oils can be purchased in massage therapy stores and are quick and easy to apply to the body.  Another massage therapy method is called trigger point therapy.  The head, neck and shoulder areas are the muscles that send pain to the head.  During a trigger point therapy session, pressure is applied to the muscles in the neck, upper back and shoulders.  When pressure is applied to these major muscles, it helps release tension which reduces the severity of the headache. 

General information

Some individuals rely on medication to relieve pain, but it’s not always helpful.  It can be addictive and lead to other negative behaviors if taken too much.  It’s important to get the right amount of nutrients, sleep and exercise every week to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Your overall health status plays an important role in reducing headaches.  People who are more stressed are likely to get headaches more frequently.  It’s important to review your lifestyle habits and decide if something needs to be changed around in order to improve your current condition.

Chiropractic care and massage therapy work well together for the treatment of musculoskeletal problems for patients. Because these two therapies work well together, many times a chiropractic physician will employ massage therapists in their office to provide a greater scope of care for their patients. Chiropractor massage is more widely accepted and utilized by the patient population. According to a 2005 poll in Consumer Reports, chiropractic care and massage therapy were reported by consumers as their most favorable options for the treatment of back pain. A large percentage of consumers reported that receiving chiropractic care was the most effective treatment option compared to conventional medical treatments and deep tissue massage therapy was rated as a very effective treatment tool for patients who complained of osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. The report also stated that people found the exercises they received from chiropractic physicians to be very effective in helping with conditions such as depression, insomnia, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, allergies and respiratory problems. Alternative and conservative forms of health care such as chiropractic care and massage therapy are becoming more popular among patients because in general these treatments are low risk options that have the potential to relieve pain and discomfort without the use of drugs and surgery.

Very Popular

A chiropractic physician will employ massage therapists because a massage session can be lengthy. Massage therapists are also trained in a wide range of massage techniques so a patient can be sure that they are receiving knowledgeable care from the therapist. A chiropractor may choose to have their patients receive a massage prior to spinal manipulation. This is done to relax the muscles to make an adjustment more easily accomplished. A very popular form of massage therapy is deep tissue massage. This technique works well for chronic muscle spasms, overuse muscular injuries and more. This form of massage is not considered a relaxation massage because it can produce some discomfort. Massage clients may feel sore following this type of massage and it is recommended that a person drink large amounts of water following the session to help remove the lactic acid that is released during the massage. Often times a chiropractic physician will offer chair massage services to the public for free during health fairs, business stress relief days and trade shows. These 10 minute chair massages are performed by massage therapists and are considered mini relaxation massages. Chair massage is just a small taste of what a massage session can do for sore muscles.

References Cited in this Article

www.webmd.com

www.spine-health.com