Archive for April, 2009
Low Back Pain
Low back pain is a common health challenge that often affects more than 80% of human beings, making it second in commonality only to the common cold. However, unlike the common cold, back pain is often perplexing to most of its sufferers. Your Orlando Chiropractor is an expert at solving that mystery.
Anatomy
Knowledge of the anatomy of the spine is essential in understanding back pain. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back consist of posterior joints called facets that join vertebrae to one another and serve to direct the action of the spine. The inter-vertebral discs connect the bodies of the vertebrae and are composed of a form of tough cartilage that encases a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The principal function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also connect the vertebrae. The wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine is the sacrum and is joined to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. The spinal cord is situated between the facets of the vertebrae. The spinal nerves leave the spine between the vertebrae.
Causes of Back Pain
In most cases, back pain occurs without a trauma, an accident, or a major injury prior to the onset. The cumulative effects of unhealthy sitting posture, harmful work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of healthy exercise, and other poor lifestyle-related factors create most back pain. All of these factors produce stresses and imbalances on the spine and eventually generate pain. This is why people can often injure their back simply by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already at risk and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the condition. When this happens, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Orlando Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.
Disc Problems & Sciatica
Increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles around the spine can come about during and after prolonged sitting, particularly in a unsuitable position. Over time the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses. Finally, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, allowing the soft nucleus to bulge the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it creates the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. If the disc presses on the spinal nerve, an individual can develop sciatica, which is defined as pain, tingling, numbness, and occasionally weakness in the lower extremities. Sadly, if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition isn’t managed appropriately, surgery may berequired to dispose of the herniated disc material. With chiropractic adjustments and care, which often includes postural exercises, most disc complications, including sciatica, can be resolved. If you are experiencing any of the problems defined above, it is essential for you to seek chiropractic assistance.
Spondylosis
Increased erosion and weight-bearing stress on the spine occurs when there is repetitive injury to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments. This stress can negatively affect the cartilage around the joints and engender calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae, forming bone spurs. These spurs can restrict adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This constriction causes a form of arthritis, called Spondylosis, that can also occur as part of the aging process of the spine. Nevertheless, factors such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic care and overall chiropractic management is very effective in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as assisting Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Orlando Chiropractor has helped many Spondylosis sufferers.
Sacroiliac Problems
Another common area of dysfunction or injury in the low back is in the sacroiliac joints. These weight-bearing joints connect the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are usually very strong and stable. However with damage such as falls, sports injuries, or lifting heavy objects, the joints can become unstable and change to an abnormal position. This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Pregnancy can also cause this condition. The imbalances in the lower extremities caused by sacroiliac subluxation can create a functional long and short leg. Pain is felt particularly with prolonged standing and walking, or during and after physical activity, and the individual may experience a lack of energy and fatigue. Many times this imbalance can affect structures further up the spine and people can develop neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches. Chiropractic adjustments and treatment are extremely effective in fixing this problem by establishing proper alignment of the joints.. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can experience effective pain relief.
Spinal Subluxation
Subluxated or misaligned facets joints are a commonplace disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine. Subluxations can happen on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. They not only produce pain, but they can also imparel the spinal nerves as they exit the foramen or spaces between the vertebrae, and create nerve compression, known as paraethesia. Paraesthesia is an alteration of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities more often than notoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is commonly associated with nerve dysfunctionin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also becorrelated with, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best eliminated by chiropractic adjustments.
Trauma
Injury such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can create over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine and lower back and cause considerable pain and immobility. In order to avoid long term disability or the development of any of the conditions listed above, chiropractic adjustments and treatment at the onset of symptoms is very important. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.
Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.
When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and expert treatment for any of the above-mentioned problems of the spine and lower back.
Is it smart idea to get your spine checked while you are pregnant? To begin with, yes it is a great idea to get adjusted while you are pregnant. You’ve probably noticed that, your body is going through quite a lot of changes, and these alterations will continue as the pregnancy progresses. One change that goes basically unnoticed is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. this easing gives the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.
This process, although designed to help the mother during labor, can produce much discomfort in the months leading up to the birth. As the pregnancy advances, more elastin is released, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. In combination with the increased size of the baby and uterus, and you have the formula for severe low back pain. As an Orlando Chiropractor I see many pregnant women in my practice in my clinic for a variety of symptoms, but as a rule it is for their low back pain.
A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy is that there is proof that it can actually decrease labor time. Why is that you ask? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient because they don’t have to fight past misaligned joints.
To answer the second question from the introductory paragraph, yes chiropractic care during your pregnancy is safe. Not only can chiropractic help you with your low back pain and other associated symptoms, such as heartburn, nausea, swelling, etc., but it is safe to both you and your baby. Certain trained chiropractors can also help mothers who have a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. Additional information on the Webster Technique can easily be found online.
To summarize, chiropractic is both beneficial and safe in helping to relieve many of the discomforts of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, I highly recommend that you go to see a good local chiropractor, or if you live or work in the area, look up your Orlando Chiropractor. We can make you feel a lot more comfortable during your pregnancy, and we can even make the labor process easier.
Today’s moms and dads are more concerned than ever about the adverse effects pharmaceuticals have on their children. Parents want to know if there is anything else that they can do for their child than to give them pharmaceuticals.
Parents are disinclined to just mask symptoms with pharmaceuticals, and they are concerned about side effects. Their goal to attain a state of true health for their children has encouraged moms and dads to find health care opportunities that assist their child’s own inherent ability to be healthy.
Chiropractic care is that option. All children are healthier with 100% nerve function. The immune system is controlled by the nervous system. When it is operating at its peak, children stay healthier. As far as a child’s health is concerned, “the best offense is a good defense.” Everyday, children are exposed to massive amounts of airborn, food-born, and contact bacteria. So many bacteria, in fact, that it would be unfeasible to immunize them against them all. Your Orlando Chiropractor is very familiar with colds, sore throats, ear infections, fevers, colic, asthma, tonsillitis, allergies, bed-wetting, infections, pains, falls, stomach-aches, and the hundred and one little (and big) things children go through as they grow up.
A chiropractor is committed to helping keep your child healthy and strong so that the complaints that appear to be an unavoidable part of childhood, either won’t affect your child as intensely or won’t affect them at all. chiropractic adjustments aids in removing interferences to the innate healing power that runs through your child’s body. When that power is released, the healing results that take place quite frequently are profound.
Furthermore, a child is lesslikely to be injured at play or in sports when his or her spine is in alignment. In addition, children who are brought in regularly for chiropractic care don’t seem to experience as many “growing pains” as other children.
Each day at your Orlnado Chiropractor we have happily noticed that more and more parents are bringing their children to our clinic to help to take care of the questions and concerns they have about their children’s health. All children are deserve the right to manifest their fullest potential. Chiropractic care for children at your Orlando Chiropractor is safe, gentle and effective.
Introduction
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most common nerve entrapment disorder. As the name implies, these conditions come about when a nerve is trapped or constricted between other tissues of the body causing irritation and dysfunction of the nerve.
Anatomy
The carpal tunnel is positioned in the underside of the wrist and is a passageway in which the median nerve travels through on its way to innervate the hand and fingers. In addition to the median nerve, the carpal tunnel is comprised of the nine tendons of the forearm muscles that are responsible for bending and flexing of the fingers and thumb. There are also arteries and lymphatic vessels that furnish circulation to the hand located within the tunnel. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist bones and the top of the tunnel is covered by a strong band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. The diameter of the carpal tunnel is about the same as the index finger making the carpal tunnel a densely-packed space. The flexor tendons, arteries and median nerve are expected to glide without friction past each other during wrist and finger movement.
If the tendon size increases from inflammation or hypertrophy (growth), or if the carpal tunnel size dimenishes due to an improper use of the carpal bones, the median nerve can become constricted or entrapped by the carpal tunnel. At first, carpal tunnel symptoms often include, pain, numbness, pins and needles, and tinging in the fingers and hand, particularly the thumb and adjacent two fingers. These symptoms are especially noticeable in the night and often wake people from their sleep as the individual has to sit up in bed and shake-out and/or rub the hands in order decrease these unpleasant feelings. The hands can also feel inept, weak and fatigue easily with activity. Eventually, grasping small objects using the thumb and fingers can be seriously affected and, without treatment, can result in complete debilitation of the hand.
The following are typical causes and corresponding conditions:
- repetitive and forceful grasping with the hands
- prolonged computer usage especially with poor wrist position
- activities that require repetitive bending of the wrist
- broken or dislocated bones in the wrist which produce swelling
- arthritis, especially the rheumatoid type
- thyroid gland imbalance
- sugar diabetes
- hormonal changes associated with menopause or pregnancy
Although any of the above can predispose one to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, in many cases the cause is unknown. However, people who perform jobs that require use of vibration tools and machinery, and/or work in extreme temperatures are often subjected to this condition. In addition, repetitive housework as seemingly inconsequential as wringing clothes by hand, can bring on carpal tunnel symptoms. However, the continuing increase in computer use is the most compelling explanation for the number of individuals who are suffering with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome today. The repetitive motions of typing on the keyboard and moving the mouse over extended periods of time is a primary indicator for many people with CTS.
Treatment
Proper diagnosis and management of this condition is essential in order to curtail the disabling symptoms associated with the advancement of CTS. I as, an Orlando Chiropractor has many years of experience in this area. Chiropractors are well-trained in treating CTS. In addition to chiropractic adjustments of the wrist joints, treatment by chiropractor may include inflammation reduction therapy such as ultrasound or low level laser. Electromusclestim can often help to strengthen the weak muscles of the forearm and soft tissue massage is effective in stretching contracted tissues. You might be advised to wear a splint or support, especially at night, to help retain the wrist in a neutral position to decompress the carpal tunnel. Your Orlando Chiropractor will also give you specific exercises to stretch and/or strengthen muscles of the forearm and hand.
Whenever we wake up in the morning with a stiff and painful neck, the propensity is to blame the predicament on our pillow, bed, or sleep position during that night. We also try to figure out what is taking place when sudden neck movement causes a sharp pain that feels as if “something” has slipped out of position or that a nerve is being “pinched.” It is important to understand that most neck problems are rarely caused by a single incident, but rather by the cumulative effects of unsuitable sitting posture, unhealthy work and living habits, lack of beneficial exercise and flexibility, and other lifestyle-related factors. Obviously, some neck challenges are due to traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury.
Anatomy
To understand neck pain, it is necessary to be aware of the anatomy of the spine. The movement of the spine is guided by neck vertebrae that are composed of posterior joints, called facets, that link vertebrae to one another. Inter-vertebral discs, composed of strong cartilage, connect the “bodies” of the vertebrae. This tough cartilage surrounds the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The principal function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. The spinal cord is situated between the facets of the vertebrae. Spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae and impart energy to muscles and organs of the body. Transversely, they carry sensory impulses, including pain information, from the body to the brain. The nerves that go out from the neck are in charge of the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The natural forward curve of the neck balances the weight of the head and decreases stress on neck vertebrae. For more information please feel free to visit your Orlando Chiropractor.
Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use
More and more people are now earning a wage sitting at a desk in front of a computer. The use of computers has risen astronomically, and many individuals spend eight to ten hours a day slumped over the keyboard and staring at the monitor. When we sit with our head in a forward bent position-the posture that most desk workers assume-the ligaments that hold the facets together and the muscles in the neck are put under tremendous strain. In addition, the normal forward curve of the neck becomes reversed causing more stress upon all the surrounding tissues of the neck. All of this can lead to spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the primary causes of spinal nerve pain. Besides general pain, spinal nerve inflammation in the neck can produce symptoms like headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.
Headaches and Chiropractic Care
Headaches or migraines are usually associated with dysfunction of the cervical spine. Symptoms, from a dull ache to throbbing pain, are created when the cervical vertebrae lose their natural position or motion and sensitive nerves and blood vessels, related to structures in the head are stretched or agitated. In many instances the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, called trigger points, can also refer pain to the head. Of course there are other factors associated with headaches including toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. But, the alignment of the neck and the inflammation of surrounding tissues should be a primary consideration when treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractic treatment and management have proved to be very effective in the treatment of headaches. Ask your Orlando Chiropractor about the benefits of Chiropractic care.
Whiplash and Chiropractic Care
Unfortunately, many people are involved in car accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common. During such a collision, the head of the passenger in the front car is powerfully jerked back, and then forward, causing harm to the structure of both the front and back of the neck. This type of injury is often called a whiplash. Even at low speeds, the amount of force generated by such an accident is very intense and can cause damage to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Besides neck pain and immobility, symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and shoulder pain, tingling in the hands and fingers and weakness of the arm and hand are associated with whiplash injury. Immediate evaluation and x-rays are extremely important in order to rule out a fracture. More often than not in almost all cases, the injuries are primarily to the soft tissues and joints. Proper care is essential in healing from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your Orlando Chiropractor is educated to understand whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from injury to recovery.
The most commonplace reason for visits to a pediatrician is earache. By the age of three years, more than 70 percent of children will have had at least one incident of earache, and about a third will have had more than three incidents. Although, what might be surprising is that earache is also the most widespread basis for children under the age of five years to be taken to the chiropractor’s office.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Earache and Ear Infections
A pediatrician who suspects that a child with an earache has a middle ear infection will generally prescribe antibiotics as a typical course of treatment. New research, however, has ascertained that this type of treatment is often imprudent. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, and since the child’s middle ear infection may be caused by a virus, antibiotics are ineffectual. This may be the explanation for a child’s chronic ear infections.
One of a number of assessments that your Orlando Chiropractor can make is whether the earache or ear infection is created by irritation of the small nerves in the spine, called free nerve endings.
An aberrant tension in the small muscles of the neck is produced when these nerve endings are irritated. Pressure created on the lymphatic drainage ducts as a result of muscle tension can prevent adequate drainage from inside the ear. This problem prevents the body from naturally correcting the problem. Additionally, balance can also be affected.
Inadequate drainage of lymphatic ducts can be identifed by a chiropractor if there is more tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles on the side with the earache. The chiropractor also looks for spinal vertebrae that are either moderately out of alignment or are not moving within their normal range. This problem may have been due to any one of the many bangs, jolts and falls that the majority of children encounter in the early years of their life. Frequently, a short course of spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles can help to restore normal lymph drainage. If your child is suffering from an earache or an ear infection, contact your Orlando chiropractor as soon as possible.
Advanced Research and Guidelines
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection, the most frequent childhood disease after the common cold, accounts for nearly 30 million doctor visits every year. In addition, at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are causelessly prescribed for the condition.Just recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating pediatric ear inflammation, and expressly recommended a period of “watchful waiting” since, in many cases, infections clear up on their own, without medication.
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) endorses the AAP on the guidelines and reiterates that chiropractic care is a “good first option” for treating ear infection conservatively. “Doctors of chiropractic have been treating children for decades with great success – helping them to avoid painful ear infections, antibiotic overuse and resistance, and ear tube surgery,” said ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC. “Particularly when dealing with young children, drugs and surgery should be an absolute last resort.”
The achievement of many different movements and activities is the result of the complexity of the shoulder joint. Anatomically, the shoulder involves three different bones – the scapula, the clavicle, and the humerus – many connecting ligaments, and approximately 20 different muscles. The primary articulation, the glenohumeral joint, is connected by ligaments and a group of muscles (and their tendon attachments) known as the rotator cuff. shoulder pain and disability are usually caused by problems with the rotator cuff. As with other joints, shoulder problems can be caused by trauma such as sports injuries, mechanical dysfunction due to imbalances in the muscles, or by wear and tear of the tissues around the joint. Arthritic changes do occur in the shoulder joint, but not as commonly as in the weight-bearing joints of the spine, hips and knees.
Anatomy
The nerves in the cervical spine region innervate all of the muscles of the shoulder, elbow, arm and hand and can often pinpoint the root of the shoulder problem. If these nerves are irritated, the shoulder muscles can become tight or weak producing dysfunction in the normal mechanics of the joint, particularly in the rotator cuff. A similar problem can occur if one overburdens the shoulder in sports such as tennis and golf, or in other repetitive activities that cause the muscles of the joint to become overly tight or strained. People are at risk of developing imbalance and shoulder problems if they sit too much in a lazy position, or with their shoulders held forward.
Rotator Cuff Syndrome
Pain and limited motion will continue to occur until the imbalances and irritation are rectified. The severity can vary from a slight “catching” or pain to an almost entire inability to use the shoulder. patients of all ages are afflicted by this painful problem known as Shoulder Impingement or Rotator Cuff Syndrome.
Frozen Shoulder
Another common predicament is ” frozen shoulder. “This often debilitating condition happens when the ligaments and tendons of the glenohumeral joint grow so inflamed that adhesions occur making the joint almost stuck together. This results in intense pain, as well as limitation of shoulder motion that makes even dressing oneself difficult! Left alone, frozen shoulder can take several years to resolve on its own, if ever, and therefore attention by a professional, such as your Orlando chiropractor is crucial. The disorders mentioned above are the most prevalent of all shoulder disorders.
Treatment
Most shoulder treatments are generally the same. Muscle imbalances can be fixed with chiropractic treatment that includes soft tissue mobilization modalities to restore proper mobility to the shoulder joints and to correct any subluxations in the spine. Special rehabilitation exercises suggested by your Orlando chiropractor are also vital for a thoroughand fast recovery.