Back Pain
Since back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, it is vital to know how to prevent the cause of back pain. By maintaining a healthy diet and weight, remaining active and avoiding prolonged inactivity or bed rest are all important ways to avoid back pain. Before doing exercises or any physical activity, it is recommended to warm up and/or stretch.
Neck Pain
The neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. The cervical spine supports the full weight of your head which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.
Headaches/ Migraines
Nine out of ten Americans say that they suffer from headaches. Some of these people experience headaches frequently. Some experience constant headaches that are very painful. These can even make a person nauseous. Ninety-five percent of headaches are tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused from a disease, but from something in your body that is not sitting correctly.
Auto Injuries
Even a "minor" crash can result in serious injuries like ligament sprains. This can lead to chronic pain and disability if not treated properly. In fact, research shows that early treatment is the best way to prevent long-term symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments are effective because they help restore the healthy, normal function of your nervous system without the use of drugs or surgery.
Sciatica
Sciatica is characterized by pain in the lower back that radiates down one or both legs. The pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, like “pins and needles” or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity from mild to severe, and frequency may range from occasional to constant. The onset is generally gradual and not necessarily associated with a previous event. Sciatica is also known as radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is when natural changes in the discs of your spine cause pain. The discs between vertebrae act as shock absorbers for your spine, and as you age, they begin to lose flexibility. While this is a normal part of aging, it should not cause pain. If you experience pain due to this, it is classified as degenerative disc disease.
Each disc is composed of a sturdy outer wall and a soft, gel-like inner core. When we are born, these discs are primarily composed of water, but as age advances, the discs lose some of this water content and begin to get thinner. As you might imagine, this means each disc doesn’t absorb the shocks of everyday life as well.
Whiplash
According to the American Chiropractic Association, one of the most common causes of neck pain is whiplash resulting from a car accident. A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress wreaks havoc on your whole body. Regardless of its origins, stress always takes a toll on the body. Mental, emotional, and physical stress describe any unpleasant living condition which can lead to negative effects on health; such as, increased blood pressure, depression, apathy and increased muscle tension to name a few. Many people find their modern lives are too busy with multitasking, job responsibilities, family and expenses leaving insufficient down time for relaxation. Alliance Chiropractic and Wellness Center is here to help guide and support you to make more positive choices for your health and wellness.
Scoliosis
When detected early, scoliosis can be managed and treated to prevent the problem from getting worse. With scoliosis, the spine has abnormal curvatures to the side or even twists. Most cases of scoliosis appear for unknown reasons as scoliosis tends to develop before puberty in adolescence, in children who previously had no spine issues.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CTS is a problem of the median nerve which runs from the forearm into the hand. When there is excessive pressure in the wrist, it causes swelling of the median nerve. This small area called the carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel at the wrist made up of bones, soft tissues, nerves, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. When the median nerve which runs through this tunnel gets compressed it causes pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in the hand and wrist which radiates into the forearm. The carpal tunnel is the most common area that gets compressed in both the hands and feet.
Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve can happen in a variety of places throughout the body with some of the most common being the lower spine, wrists, neck, and legs. A pinched nerve occurs when the muscles or tendons around the nerve are inflamed, putting pressure on the nerve and either causing pain or even numbness throughout the extremities related or attached to this affected nerve.
Numbness & Tingling in Arms or Legs
Tingling and numbness in the arms or legs is a sensation that most people have experienced at some point in their life. The body is full of nerves which can become restricted, causing either numbness or a tingling sensation. Many times, having our arms or legs ‘fall asleep’ is not an indication of any underlying problem despite how odd it may feel at the time. When people feel ‘pins and needles’ after sleeping, sitting, or laying for long periods of time, then it may be time to see your chiropractor.
Plantar Fascitis
One of the most common causes of foot pain is plantar fasciitis. Characterized by a sharp pain in the heel of your foot, plantar fasciitis is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament which is the nerve that connects the heel bone to your toes. The pain is primarily located in the heel but can be present anywhere along the length of the ligament. Pain from plantar fasciitis is usually the worst after you have been sitting for long periods of time or when you get up in the morning.
Tendonitis
Because your knees bear so much weight and force throughout your life, they go through a lot of wear and tear. When you play sports or have a job that requires bending, lifting and other physical labor, your knees are especially vulnerable to injury or tendonitis. When the tendon which connects muscle to a bone gets overused or injured, it can result in tendonitis.
The symptoms of tendonitis include:
- Soreness in or around your knee
- An aching sensation or throbbing
- Mild to severe discomfort
Pre/Postnatal Chiropractic
Here at Alliance Chiropractic and Wellness Center, we offer a conservative approach to treating pregnant women. Our prenatal care is gentle and safe. We aim to alleviate the stress and strains of pregnancy while improving comfort for both the mother and baby. We understand the physical changes that come with pregnancy, and we offer relief without using any drugs.