Neck and Back Pain
When you are having pain, that is typically your check engine light in your body letting you know that something needs serviced. Pain in your neck or back is usually caused by joint restrictions, misaligned vertebrae, or the more technical term 'subluxations'. A small misalignment can cause pain by causing pressure on nerves. Left untreated, these joint restrictions can cause increasing pain, muscle spasms, and decreasing range of motion throughout these regions of the body.
Chiropractic adjustments properly align your spine allowing the joints to start moving how they should be and help to take the pressure off the joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves. It is a direct treatment for the cause of the pain, not a temporary relief like pain relievers. Murrells Inlet Chiropractic takes care of the source of the pain instead of putting a band-aid over it. If you are experiencing back or neck pain visit us today.
Segmental Joint Dysfunction.
Segmental dysfunction is used to describe a joint or joints that are no longer functioning as they were intended to. This may be due to a misalignment, restrictions in mobility and the combined effect of a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. It can be caused by an injury, poor posture, overuse or under use of a joint, as well as muscle imbalance. Like arthritis, segmental joint dysfunction can cause pain in the joint and the surrounding muscles, and can also cause dysfunction in other parts of the body due to overcompensation.
Dr. Katie can properly diagnose this condition and provide relief. Using specific adjustments for the restricted joints we can return proper mobility and relieve pain. If this sounds like something you or someone you know has, please call us today and let us put you on the right track with less joint dysfunction!
Headaches
Many people believe that headaches are caused by loud noise, being tired, or being stressed. While these are all factors that can lead to headaches, the direct cause is tightness in the neck and shoulders. The tightness can cause misalignments in the vertebrae of your neck, resulting in pain. 80% of all headaches originate from the neck. With a typical cervicogenic (neck origin) headache, a person usually feels pain starting at the base of the skull which radiates into the temples, eyeballs, and forehead. A chiropractic adjustment can realign the vertebrae in your neck and myofascial release of the muscles surrounding the area can release tension. Chiropractic can help eliminate the cause of your headaches rather than offering a temporary relief from the symptoms.
Disc Problems
Intervertebral
discs are positioned between the vertebrae in the spine. The outside of
a disc is made from cartilage, and in the center is a jelly like
solution. These discs serve many purposes, including allowing movement
of the spine, creating space between the vertebrae, and acting as shock
absorbers. The gelatinous middle allows the disc to compress and expand
based on impact and movement. Trauma to the spine can cause the discs to
herniate, bulge, tear, or even rupture.
Trauma or direct injury to the area is not the only cause, however. As
we get older, the discs can begin to weaken and dehydrate, otherwise known as degenerative disc disease. These
conditions can put pressure on the nerves around the spine and cause
pain.
If you suffer from one of these injuries you should see a
chiropractor. Surgery is risky, expensive, and requires recovery time.
In many cases, you can experience relief from these conditions through
chiropractic. By properly aligning the spine, pressure can be taken off the surrounding nerves and on the discs. This will reduce and hopefully
eliminate your pain and discomfort and allow you to live a normal
lifestyle.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition that results when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated. Bulging discs, segmental joint restrictions, and muscle spasms can all cause increased pressure on the sciatic nerve. When this happens it causes pain, numbness, and weakness in the lower back and leg. To properly treat sciatica the cause of the condition needs to be diagnosed and properly treated. We can help you do this.
Pinched Nerve
When a nerve is squeezed or compressed it is called a "pinched nerve". This can be caused by spinal misalignments, bulging or herniated discs, muscle imbalances, and degenerative disc disease. The increased pressure on the nerve causes inflammation, pain, and sometimes muscle spasms. The pressure on the nerve must be relieved in order to alleviate the pain. An examination can reveal the cause of the pain, and an adjustment can relieve the pain by properly aligning the spine and addressing the cause of the pain.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common
injury for people involved in car collisions. When a car is struck from
behind or collides with another object, it causes the neck to snap back
and forth violently. This causes the muscles and ligaments to
overextend, leading to strains and/or tears. This is referred to as soft
tissue damage, and can cause stiffness and soreness. Whiplash can also
cause structural damage such as misaligned vertebrae, herniated, bulging
or ruptured discs, or nerve damage due to the overextension from the
violent movement.
Chiropractic can help with both types of
injuries. Adjustments can be performed specifically for
those who have been in car accidents and suffered from whiplash. The
pressure on the discs and nerves is released when the spine is returned
to its proper alignment. Myofascial release can be used to help
relieve the pain and discomfort from soft tissue injuries. If you have
been in a car accident, schedule an appointment with us before relying
on pain medications and surgery.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a condition that
is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage between joints. Some of
the major joints that are affected are the knees, hips, back, neck, and
hands/wrist. Arthritis can be painful and can cause the affected areas
to not function properly. Arthritis in one area can cause arthritis or
other problems in a different joint. For instance, if you have arthritis
in your left knee, you may compensate for this by putting more pressure
on your right side, leading to right hip problems.
Pain killers
can cause temporary relief from the discomfort, but it is not a
long term solution. Chiropractic can alleviate pain by releasing
pressure on the nervous system with proper alignment. It can also
restore proper joint movement, helping to ensure that you are functioning how you should be, with less pain and freely moving joints. We
are not concerned strictly with the affected area, but rather the body
as a whole. We aim to restore and maintain proper movement and
functionality to increase your overall well being.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This
condition is most commonly associated with people who are constantly
using a computer. Typing is a motion that, when performed repetitively
and with poor posture, can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms
include pain, numbness, weakness, or a burning sensation. The nerves in
the fingertips start from the neck and travel down your arm and through the wrist.
The spine is the center of the nervous system, and the pain in your
hands and wrists can be relieved by adjustments not only to the cervical spine but the elbow and wrist joints as well!
Maintenance Care
We
have discussed many conditions that can be relieved through
chiropractic. The best way to treat these conditions is to prevent them
before they even start. Regular chiropractic visits can help to prevent
physical problems and injuries from occurring. Other potential benefits
of regular chiropractic visits are increased flexibility and mobility,
higher level of energy, improved posture, more effective immune system,
better circulation, and an overall better feeling of well-being.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia
is a condition that we still do not know much about. There is no
specific known cause, and it could be brought on by many different
factors. The main symptom of fibromyalgia is chronic pain throughout the
body, mainly located in joints. The pain may be achy, sharp, radiating,
burning, or shooting and it may be mild or severe. Fibromyalgia has
also been known to bring on other conditions like trouble sleeping,
headaches, depression, and anxiety.
While there is no known cure
for fibromyalgia, chiropractic treatment can help to uncover what may
be causing the pain and also provide relief for the pain. The cause of
fibromyalgia could be physical, mental, or emotional, so a full
examination will be performed. Adjustments and myofascial release can
be used to relieve pain from the affected areas. The added effects of
chiropractic treatment such as increased energy levels, better
circulation, and a stronger immune system can also help to fight the
effects of fibromyalgia. If you are experiencing symptoms of
fibromyalgia give us a call to schedule a consultation so we can
establish a plan to start you on your road to recovery.
(1)Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15965403?dopt=A...