Learning Vault

Chiropractic for Jaw Pain

Posted on January 20, 2020January 20, 2020 by Qerulina delGado

When you suffer from pain in and around your jaw, it can disrupt your day-to-day activities. Fortunately, chiropractic for jaw pain is an effective alternative treatment solution that lots of people are taking advantage of.

Jaw pain can significantly affect every aspect of your life. Whether it’s talking, eating, working out, simply opening your mouth, or even sleeping – when you have jaw pain, it means bad news. On top of this, jaw pain can get extremely frustrating because of the noises it makes and headaches it brings.

Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD)

Temporomandibular Dysfunction or TMD, for short, is a common condition we see at our clinic. TMJ disorders affect the temporomandibular joint, facial nerves, and jaw muscles.

Essentially, this condition means that a patient’s jaw is not working right. It’s a blanket term for the inflammation in the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that links the jaw to the skull.

The jaw is an important part of the body.

There’s a number of causes and symptoms for when your jaw is not working like how it’s supposed to. A pervasive motivation to seek chiropractic for jaw pain is to get rid of the pain and the cause of it.

The jaw joint, which is commonly referred to as the TM joint, is located on both sides of the head. Its primary function is to link the temporal bones of the skull to the lower jaw bone, which is called the mandible.

The muscles that control the jaw joints are fastened to the mandible. They make it, so the jaw moves freely with our control. When we open our mouth, the upper ends of the jaw joints on either side run along with the joint socket, right below the skull.

When we close our mouth, the jaw joints revert to the original placement.

People with jaw pain often hear a popping sound in the jaw when they close their mouths.

TMJ disorders are common. The pain ranges from mild to severe. Aside from the pain, this condition can also include teeth grinding while the patient is asleep or awake, trauma to the jaw, degenerative disc diseases, arthritis, nail-biting, autoimmune conditions, and even nail-biting.

According to TMJ.org, about 12% of Americans suffer from jaw pain at some point in their lives – and many of them don’t realize the benefits of chiropractic for jaw pain.

Our Jaw

Like with any other joint in our body, our jaw is just as multifaceted and complex. It can start causing a problem if we’re suffering from:

Teeth grinding can contribute to jaw pain.

Trauma or accident
Extensive dental work
Poor posture of the neck and head
Teeth grinding
Stress

Can a Chiropractor Help with TMJ or Jaw Pain?

If you’re wondering if chiropractic for jaw pain is a viable treatment option, we have good news for you. A visit to your local chiropractor can help ease jaw pain.

On top of that, your chiropractor can recommend some soft tissue stretches you can do at home. These exercises can help with loosening up the jaw joint and muscle – ultimately reducing jaw pain.

Chiropractic Care for TMJ Disorders

Chiropractors focus on three muscles when treating TMJ disorders: masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid. Aside from these three muscles, they also carefully check the jaw joint itself, the suboccipital muscles, and the two vertebrae at the top of the jaw joints.

Masseter – the muscle in the upper jaw area that helps in chewing. When you place your hand on your cheek, then open and close your mouth, you’ll notice your masseter expanding.

Temporalis – the thin, clam-shaped muscle on the sides of the head. One of the main functions of this muscle is for chewing. It covers most of our temples.

A Serious Concern

Essentially, chiropractors will want to make sure that every part of the jaw area is aligned correctly. The treatment will depend on your specific condition.

Your chiropractor will have to check what direction the jaw slipped to know what type of chiropractic adjustment needs to be applied. Ultimately, the goal is to realign your jaw joints, reduce the pain, and prevent it from ever recurring.

If you want to know more about chiropractic for jaw pain, or if you’re suffering from jaw pain and want to look into how chiropractic treatment can help your condition, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Pinched Nerve Relief: Chiropractor and Other Methods

Posted on December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

Dealing with a pinched nerve can be very uncomfortable. It can generate problems that are short or go on for quite some time. They are typically caused by disc issues in the spine, setting pressure on the spinal nerves ending in pain. Where you feel the discomfort depends on where the nerve is being pressed. Here is what you require to know about managing a pinched nerve and how your chiropractor can assist you in solving this unpleasant problem.

What Causes a Pinched Nerve?

The nerves in your body stretch from your brain to your spinal cord, and to your extremities; they carry messages throughout your whole body. When these nerves are compressed, the discomfort usually transpires. But how does the nerve become pinched or compressed?

There are a lot of reasons that can cause a pinched nerve. Usually, repeated movements can start nerve compression in tight spaces that nerves move through in joints, without much protection from soft tissues. An added reason for a pinched nerve is herniated or a bulging disc in the back. Your chiropractor can assist in concluding what is causing the issue so it can be approached simultaneously with the pain.

What You Should be Aware Of

There are a lot of symptoms that can be associated with a pinched nerve. These include:

Radiating pain that travels down an extremity
Discomfort, usually in the legs, lower back, or neck.
Weakness in the limbs during activities
Tingling or numbness
A burning sensation

Pinched Nerve Relief

Fortunately, there are numerous ways you can get pinched nerve treatment and alleviate pain:

Take A Break

Like many infirmities, an excellent long break is usually the most suitable solution. This involves providing the affected or surrounding joints and muscles with a rest, limiting any further use. If a particular movement is aggravating the pain, avoid moving that way, and isolate that area.

A chiropractor advises against slouching for a long time.

It is also vital that you ensure to get adequate sleep (and if you can, add a couple of extra hours each night). Your pinched nerve signs should start to reduce after the first night quickly, as you are giving your body a chance to recuperate.

Correct Your Posture

Bad posture is a huge reason for pinched nerves. Squatting awkwardly or arched over puts undesirable stress on weaker parts of your back and neck; numerous individuals who work in an office or at a desk everyday experience pinched nerves as an outcome because of inappropriate position.

So it is time to correct your posture. Assure to keep your back upright while you sit, and be sure that your monitor is at eye-level so that you are not looking up or down for hours on your desk.

Stretch

Pinched nerves can seldom be fixed by simply stretching out the pressed and stressed nerves, and this means some performing stretches. Do not worry – you do not have to be a master yogi; moderate and occasional times are sufficient for successful pinched nerve therapy. Remember: keep it light, overdoing your repetitions can sometimes worsen your situation.

Use Ice And Heat

Using heating pads and ice packs to your pinched nerves in intervals can assist in decreasing any swelling and inflammation surrounding the injured area. It is necessary to reduce any redness, as this inflammation can further add to the tension throughout the nerve.

An ice pack can give relief to pinched nerve, but a chiropractor could also help further.

Alternate on applying heating pads and ice packs on the area, ‘hydrotherapy.’ Apply the ice pack with moderate pressure to the swelled area for 15 minutes, three times a day. Performing this for more than 15 minutes is not advised, as it will slow down the healing method by decreasing blood flow.

For heat, a heating pad or hot water bottle should be pressed gently against the area for an hour, 4-5 times per week. Alternatively, you can have warm baths.

Exercise A Standing Workstation

As we said before, bad posture is one of the leading causes of pinched nerves, particularly amongst those who remain at a desk in an office every day. Substituting your desk with a standing workstation is an excellent way to get rid of any pinched nerve from happening.

Not only standing workstations help you correct your posture, it additionally keeps your body more energetic during the day. If a standing workstation is not possible, then try to stand up and practice 5-10-minute walks once an hour.

Get A Brace Or A Splint

Pinched nerves need isolation and rest; proceeding to use the affected muscles, joints, and nerves may only worsen your situation, probably leading to more long-term and severe indications. Pinched nerves in the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) can be challenging to fix since a lot of our movements require hand and wrist activities.

A splint is an excellent way to preserve and relax the injured area. Even if you can manage your actions throughout the day, it is still challenging to restrict your body from shifting while you are sleeping. A splint limits any adverse movements through day and night.

Care from a Chiropractor

Chiropractic care is a great way to ease pinched nerves – and it is something we can do for you now. A licensed chiropractor has specialized knowledge of the nerves and the body and knows where to administer pressure to relieve tension, hasten recovery, and decrease pain.

Chiropractic attention for a pinched nerve involves realigning your spine to have you back to health. There are a lot of stress factors that take place that can generate pinched nerves, and chiropractors specialize in fixing pinched nerves as well as anticipating them.

Chiropractic Care for a Pinched Nerve

Posted on December 17, 2019December 27, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

When the surrounding tissue applies excessive compression to a nerve, pinched nerves happen. It’s a painful and comfortable experience that most people go through. Let’s look at how chiropractic care for a pinched nerve is an effective treatment option.

Those who suffer from pinched nerves are mostly people in their 50s, people who do heavy manual labor, and those who lead an active lifestyle, such as athletes.

Can you treat a pinched nerve? Is chiropractic care for a pinched nerve a worthwhile alternative?

In today’s post, let’s see the answers to these questions.

Pinched Nerve Causes

Before we proceed with the answers, let’s first take a look at the causes of a pinched nerve.

As we mentioned above, too much compression on a nerve by the tissues around it lead to pinched nerves. In some cases, it can also be caused by a herniated spinal disk, or when the cartilage or bone is compressed.

In other cases, compressed tendons or muscles can also lead to pinched nerves. The compression greatly interferes with the function of the nerves. This interference causes pain, weakness, tingling, and numbness.

Pinched nerves can occur mostly anywhere in the body. Our joints and spinal are mostly susceptible. For instance, a herniated spinal disk occurring in the lower part of your spine can also put pressure on the nerves around it. This condition results in pain that may travel down to your legs.

Many areas of the body are at risk for pinched nerves.

The pain is usually concentrated. However, there are some causes where the pain can radiate externally, which incapacitates the patient.

Similarly, a pinched nerve in the wrist can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome brings numbness and pain in your fingers and hands.

There are also some health conditions that can cause compressed tissues on nerves. Some of these include but are not limited to:

Obesity
Diabetes
Work Stress
Certain Physical Hobbies and Sports Activities
Rheumatoid
Injuries
Moving or Sleeping the Wrong Way

With rest, treatment, and chiropractic care for a pinched nerve, most patients can recover within a few days or weeks.

Once the pressure from the nerve is alleviated, the nerves return to their normal function. It’s easier to avoid permanent damage from a short-term pinched nerve – especially if you seek treatment right away.

Symptoms

If you experience any of these symptoms, you may have a pinched nerve. To confirm the diagnosis, consult with your primary care physician to discuss your treatment options.

When left untreated, pinched nerves can lead to more serious health problems. So if you feel like something is wrong, listen to your body and get the treatment you need – before it’s too late.

Feeling like your hand or foot “fell asleep”
Severe headaches or migraines
Low back pain
Neck pain
Numbness in the areas supported by nerves
Pain in the arms or legs
Pain in the spine
Burning, tingling, or sharp pain
Weakness while doing any activities

Chiropractic Care for a Pinched Nerve

A non-invasive, conservative, and natural treatment option, more and more patients are turning to chiropractic care for a pinched nerve. This treatment method focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system using hands-on techniques.

In addition, chiropractic patients don’t need to rely on medications (that could be harmful) or be put through surgeries.

Gentle chiropractic adjustment techniques help the body strengthen its healing abilities with scheduled sessions. Depending on the severity of the condition, some patients are able to start healing only within a few minutes of a chiropractic session.

In the chiropractic discipline, pinched nerves refer to a misalignment or subluxation of the spine. This misalignment causes nerves to be irritated or compressed. Chiropractic care is an effective option to address this health condition.

A well-aligned spine is needed to avoid pinched nerves.

There are multiple stress factors that contribute to pinched nerves. Chiropractic care specializes in alleviating the stress to manage pinched nerves and prevent them from happening again.

Don’t Let Pinched Nerves Disable You

Every patient’s condition is different – and not all pinched nerve cases are the same. An effective way to treat pinched nerves is to know what caused it in the first place.

Our chiropractor will carefully evaluate your situation to come up with a personalized care and treatment plan for you. This personalized treatment plan will help you recover faster, alleviate the pain, and help get you back to your normal, daily activities.

Call us today to schedule a consultation.

Effects of Untreated Sciatica Pain

Posted on December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

It’s easy to identify sciatica because of the sharp, excruciating pain that shoots from the lower back down your leg. That’s because the word “sciatica” explains the indication affecting your sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in your body. This nerve starts in your lower back; go through deep within your buttocks; and runs down your legs and end in your foot. Your sciatic nerve controls several muscles in your lower legs and gives sensation to your lower extremities.

When you build up sciatica, your sciatic nerve becomes sore, which triggers your sciatica symptoms. In some cases, mild forms of sciatica relieve with time. But when they continue or are left untreated, you run the risk of having lasting problems.

Understanding Sciatica Pain

Sciatica pain affects up to 40% of American men and women. It develops when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched or compressed. Two of the most frequent causes of sciatica are excess bone development in the vertebrae — also called bone spurs — as well as herniated discs. When you have a herniated disc, the jelly-like filling in the disc swells out of shape and press on against nerves in the area.

Risk Factors of Sciatica Include:

Slouched positions can cause sciatica pain to get worse.

Poor posture or sitting in slouched positions
Developing a tumor, blood clot, or abscess
Having a nerve disorder like diabetes
Being overweight or obese
Having age-related adjustment to your spine

When your sciatic nerve becomes compacted, it constricts the nerve, causing swelling and sciatica symptoms. Sciatica symptoms frequently consist of pain that spread out from one side of your lower back to your buttock and follows your sciatic nerve down your leg. It can range from a dull throbbing pain to sharp and debilitating pain. It is also common for sciatica to feel like jolts of electrical shocks, and they frequently become worse if you cough, sneeze, or sit for longer periods.

Asides pain, sciatica symptoms can also consist of numbness, muscle weakness, or tingling in your leg.

Problems If Sciatica Pain is Left Untreated

Numerous issues can occur from untreated sciatica pain. You may experience:

Loss of feeling – In severe cases, you may experience loss of sensation in the affected limb. This can impact mobility and add problems on top of the pain you may be experiencing.
Loss of bladder control – In some unusual instances, the part of the spinal cord that lets you control over your bladder may be impacted, leading to loss of control. That’s why it’s so imperative to seek out help when you begin having symptoms and evade potentially severe outcomes that could affect you for the rest of your life.
Nerve damage – If you don’t search for medical treatment for your situation, then you run an extremely high risk of suffering nerve damage that may be long-lasting. If that occurred, then the hurting in the legs and back may only get worse with time, finally getting to the point in which the things you’ve been undertaking to help out ease pain, for instance, pain medications, are no longer helpful.

When to See a Doctor

Mild sciatica pain frequently goes away over time. Call your doctor if self-care measures are unsuccessful to ease your symptoms or if your pain lasts longer than a week, becomes increasingly worse. Get urgent medical care if:

A chiropractor can help find relief for sciatica pain

The pain follows a rough injury
You have trouble controlling your bladder or bowels
You have swift, severe pain in your leg or low back and muscle weakness or numbness in your leg

Prevention

It’s not always possible to avoid sciatica, and the situation may recur. The following can play a crucial role in protecting your back:

Exercise regularly. To maintain a healthy back, pay particular consideration to your core muscles — the muscles in your lower back and abdomen that are necessary for alignment and proper posture. Ask your doctor to suggest specific activities.
Maintain proper posture when you sit. Select a seat with excellent lower back support, a swivel base, and armrests. Consider placing a rolled towel or pillow in the bottom of your back to maintain its typical curve. Keep your hips and knees level.
Practice good posture. If you stand for long hours, rest one foot on a small box or stool from time to time. When you pick up something heavy, let your lower legs do the lifting. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Keep the load near your body. Avoid twisting and lifting simultaneously. Look for a lifting partner if the object is bulky or heavy.

How Chiropractic Care for Kids Work

Posted on November 25, 2019November 25, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

It’s a well-known fact that regular chiropractic care can lead to improved health and wellness for adults. However, is it also suitable for children? Chiropractic care for kids offers numerous advantages.

According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, consistent and regular chiropractic care for kids has led to significant improvements in immune system functions, behaviors and attitude, and sleeping patterns.

At Heart of Texas Chiropractic, kids are welcome in our clinic. In today’s post, let’s look at how chiropractic care for kids works.

Is Chiropractic Care for Kids Beneficial?

A growing child will experience a lot of tumbles. From learning how to walk and run to engaging in physical activities, games, and sports – it’s not uncommon for them to go through pains and aches.

How does chiropractic care for kids work?

While these minor stumbles are part of a growing child’s day-to-day life, they may shift the musculoskeletal system of a child – which may lead to misalignments. These misalignments may cause interference to the functions of the nervous system of a child. Worst case scenario, these accidents could be the cause of a child’s inability to function independently.

Since chiropractic focuses on correcting misalignments and subluxations, chiropractic care can vastly improve kids’ health – as well as their musculoskeletal system and their overall wellness.

How Chiropractic Care for Kids Work

The body of a growing child changes and develops at an astonishing rate. While this factor allows chiropractic care and treatment to be effective for children, it also means that a chiropractor treating a child must have plenty of patience and an excellent bedside attitude.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, the joints of a growing child are in the process of forming. Due to this, chiropractic adjustment techniques must be practiced with less force yet more speed.

Chiropractic care for kids necessitates specific contacts, techniques, and depth.

This need led to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association to develop specialized chiropractic training programs dedicated to pediatric chiropractic care and treatment.

What Parents Can Expect

With pediatric chiropractic care, parents can see numerous significant benefits in their kids. The ICPA reports that kids who get regular chiropractic care have experienced the following:

Better Sleep

Discomfort, tension, and dysfunction can make sleeping difficult.

With chiropractic care for kids, these issues can be addressed, leading to better and improved sleep. And as they get enough sleep and rest, their bodies can develop adequately so they can function more efficiently.

Better Behavior and Attitude

Any parent who has had to deal with a child lacking in sleep will attest to this fact: improved sleep vastly enhances a child’s attitude and conduct. This can help reduce any neurological issues by correcting subluxations.

Enhanced Immune System Abilities

Children’s bodies don’t have a fully developed and strong immune system yet. Along with everything else, a child’s immune system is still immature and has a lot of growing to do.

Because of this, misalignments that impair a child’s neurological functions can negatively affect their immune system. Expert chiropractic care can correct these misalignments or subluxations – which then supports children’s immune system and support its growth and development.

When Should I Take My Child to the Chiropractor?

ICPA recommends that a child get his or her first chiropractic appointment as soon as possible. Newborns, for instance, can experience several issues such as ear infections, colic, and other breastfeeding difficulties. The birthing process could have brought these problems.

Newborns and infants can also benefit from chiropractic care.

Plenty of studies have proved that chiropractic care is even beneficial to newborns and infants. On top of this, expectant mothers who have had consistent chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy have reported that they experienced reduced pain and an overall easier birthing process.

Pediatric Conditions Chiropractic Can Treat

Regular wellness appointments allow a chiropractic professional to identify and treat any issues quickly and efficiently.

Other benefits of chiropractic care and treatment for kids can also manage the following conditions:

Digestive issues
Ear infection
Allergies
Asthma
Sleep problems
Colic
Concentration and behavioral issues
Headaches
Sports injuries
ADHD
Irritably baby syndrome
Autism

If you’re unsure if the condition of your child can be treated with chiropractic care, consult with your pediatrician.

Chiropractic Care for Kids Takeaway

Chiropractic care for kids, when administered by an experienced and highly trained chiropractor, is a safe and effective treatment option.

If you have any other questions about how our services can help your kids, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

10 Ways for Pinched Nerve Relief

Posted on November 14, 2019December 17, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

A pinched nerve happens when pressure or force is put on a region of a nerve, making it send warning signals to the brain. Pinched nerves are generally caused by an injured nerve, and symptoms can consist of weakness, pain, and numbness.

In this article, find out about how to provide pinched nerve relief and how to avoid them in the future.

Symptoms

The warning indicators sent by a pinched nerve may cause handful different symptoms in the body, especially in the area in the region of the nerve.

A pinched nerve may cause numbness, weakness, tingling, or pain.

Signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve consist of:

Stinging pain, such as pins and needles
Tingling
Muscle weakness
Numbness
Burning
Pain
The area may feel it has “fallen asleep”

Symptoms may as well be worse whilst lying down or just after waking up.

A pinched nerve furthermore puts a patient in more risks for other issues. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, and tennis elbow may come out in individuals with a pinched nerve.

Pinched nerves can happen everywhere in the body but take place most often in the wrists, elbows, neck, and back.

There are some ways a person can get pinched nerve relief

Extra Sleep and Rest

Resting the area and getting sufficient sleep may assist to treat indications.
Sleep is vital for a healing nerve. The body repair itself while asleep, so providing it more time to do so may assist lessen symptoms faster.

In a lot of cases, resting the affected part and getting extra sleep is sufficient to let the pinched nerve to repair itself.

While taking care of a pinched nerve, it is important not to overuse the nerve. Nerve damage can worsen by overuse. An individual with a pinched nerve should steer clear of any actions that aggravate the damage to the nerve. They should also try to sleep in a pose that reduce the stress on the nerve.

Change of Posture

A pinched nerve may be caused by or made worse by poor posture. Standing or sitting with a wrong posture for extensive periods puts needless stress on the body, which may injure the muscles, and spine, leading to a pinched nerve.

Using adjustable chairs, neck rests, and cushions, when sitting may aid reduce pressure and permit the nerve to mend.

Ergonomic Workstation

People suffering from pinched nerves possibly will try creating changes in their workplace.

Using an ergonomic keyboard and mouse may help lessen pressure in the hands and wrists. Raising a computer monitor to eye level may help lessen text neck and symptoms of neck pain.

Using a standing workplace can assist keep the spine flexible and moving, which could decrease back pain and provide pinched nerve relief.

Ergonomic workstations have a variety of positional options, appropriate for a lot of types of pinched nerve. Standing desks are obtainable by purchasing online.

The most excellent way to find the correct position is for an individual to test with the settings to see which position lessens pressure.

Pain Relief Medications

Over-the-counter pain drugs may as well facilitate pinched nerve. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can assist decrease relieve pain and swelling in cases of minor pinched nerves.

NSAIDs, for instance ibuprofen, are accessible for purchase over-the-counter or online.

As with any drug, it is vital to check with a doctor for dosage suggestions and any possible interactions prior to using NSAIDs.

Yoga and Stretching

Yoga and gentle stretching may assist ease pressure on the nerve, and offer pinched nerve relief. It is essential not to stretch too much, as this may create symptoms worse.

If an individual experiences any pain or uneasiness whilst exercising, they should stop right away to avoid injuries to the nerve any further.

Massage or Physical Therapy

Getting a massage may help lessen physical pain and stress. Applying mild pressure around the affected area may aid ease tension, and a complete body massage can aid the muscles relax.

Deep tissue massages may not be the best idea since the additional pressure may make the signs worse.

Physical therapy, using an arrangement of gentle stretches, exercise, and massage, can help provide pinched nerve relief.

Splint for Pinched Nerve Relief

If it is achievable, wearing a splint on the affected spot can assist prevent additional damage and facilitate the nerve to heal. This is a standard treatment for pinched nerves in the wrists and hands.

Many individuals in addition sleep with the splint on to avoid any discomfort in the night and help them rest. The splint will aid take pressure off the nerve.

Elevate the Legs

Individuals with pinched nerves in the back may stumble on relief by elevating their legs to get rid of any strain from the spine.

An individual can attain this by putting some pillows beneath their knees, so their legs are at a 45° degree angle to the body.

Ice and Heat Packs

Alternating among ice and heat packs can aid decrease inflammation and swelling in a lot of cases. The combinations of cold and hot boost the circulation of fresh blood to the area, which may assist alleviate pain.

Hold an ice pack over the affected spot for about every 15 minutes interval, three times a day to help lessen swelling. Heat pads can be applied for longer periods, up to 1 hour, three times a day.

Lifestyle Changes

In the long-term, accumulating a low-impact exercise, such as bicycling, swimming, or walking on a daily basis may help lessen symptoms and maintain the body in shape. Losing extra weight can assist decrease pressure on the nerves, and the additional mobility from a habitual workout may lessen swelling.

Stretching before or after low-impact drills can assist keeping the body flexible and decrease pressure and swelling around the nerves.

Causes of Pinched Nerves

Taking steps to get better posture whilst standing or sitting may help offer pinched nerve relief.

A pinched nerve normally happens when a nerve is broken and cannot send normal signals to the brain, which may cause feelings of tingling and numbness.

A pinched nerve can occur for a range of reasons. A herniated disc or bone spurs that apply pressure to the nerve might cause it. It might also be caused by arthritis in the area.

In addition, certain actions and behaviour can cause a pinched nerve. Walking standing, or sitting with poor posture can contribute to a pinched nerve.

Injuries caused by repetitive actions or sports may apply pressure to the nerve. Extra pressure and weight caused by obesity may as well lead to pinched nerves.

5 Quick Tips to Relieve Sciatica Pain

Posted on November 4, 2019November 4, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

The best way to alleviate sciatica pain—which begin in your lower back and get worse as it shoots down the back of your thigh—is to care for the primary condition that’s causing it. But if you experience an unexpected sciatica pain and require instant pain relief, try out these tips in addition to discussion with your doctor.

The initial line of action for a sciatica pain frequently consists of nonsurgical methods such as heat treatment, cold treatment, and pain medications.

Apply Heat or Ice

For a lot of individuals with sciatica pain, having heat or cold therapy on hand is the initial line of defense. Heating pads and ice packs are reasonably inexpensive, easy to carry, and can provide pain relief in a pinch.

When sciatica pain begins, wrap up ice in a cloth or towel and put it on your lower back for about 15 minutes. This may decrease local swelling and ease the sharp pain. If your skin begins to feel numb, take away the ice pack right away.

To apply heat therapy, place an electric heating pad or hot water bottle next to your lower back, buttock, or the back of your leg for 10 to 20 minutes. The warmness dilates blood vessels, escalating blood flow and calming your muscles, so you may experience less pain and find it easier to stretch or use afterward.

You may want to alternate heat and ice treatment to see which brings you the most relief.

Stretch Your Hamstrings and Do Low-impact Aerobic Movements

An exercise program that is modified to the original cause of sciatica pain can help to decrease pain and give conditioning to stop future flare-ups.

It may appear counter intuitive, but resting for more than a day or so doesn’t make sciatica pain leave. Stretching and exercising, then again, can increase blood circulation to the upset areas and help reduce your pain.

If you do not habitually stretch your hamstrings, they can become tense and rigid, irritating sciatica pain. One straightforward way to loosen these muscles is to do a seated hamstring stretch.

To start, sit on the border of a chair with 1 foot flat on the floor and the other legs unbend out in front of you with the heel on the floor. Then crease up, keeping your shoulders and head vertical, until you feel a moderate stretch at the back your leg. Hold for 30 seconds.

Low-impact aerobic exercise can free endorphins and decrease the swelling around your sciatic nerve roots. Taking a walk around your neighbourhood or on a treadmill, with short walks and a vertical posture, is a straightforward place to begin. A lot of people with sciatica pain furthermore find relief when they attempt aquatic therapy.

Exercises that support your core can also do well for you, as these muscles hold up your spine and help care for you from injury when twisting or extending. A stronger centre may help stop or lessen sciatica pain in the future.

Take Over-the-Counter Sciatica Pain Medications

Your pain is probably due to swelling of the sciatic nerve, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory remedies, such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (e.g., Aleve), be capable to reduce the swelling and reduce the pain. Discuss the benefits and disadvantage of a variety of over-the-counter medications with your doctor or pharmacist previous to using them, and always follow the directions on the label.

Give Yourself a Massage

When sciatica pain hits, you probably can’t get an instant massage therapy meeting. You can, on the other hand, provide yourself a relaxing massage by means of a tennis ball.

To try out this DIY massage, basically lie on the floor and place the tennis ball beneath your buttock or upper thigh, slowly rolling over it until you locate a tender spot to focus on. The tender pressure from the tennis ball may give relief alike to what you would acquire from a typical pressure-point massage. Stop immediately if you feel unexpected pain.

Try Mind-body Techniques

One pain management alternative involves using the power of your mind to lower your insight of sciatica pain. Mind-body techniques, which consist of deep breathing exercises, meditation, guided imagery, and cognitive behavioral therapy, can be useful in relaxing your muscles and, to a degree, increasing your sense of manage over the pain. You may find that these techniques help decrease anxiety and depression often related with chronic pain.

Since your sciatica pain may be triggered by one of many original conditions, it is not likely that all these tips will work for you. If your sciatica pain gets worse and harshly disturb your daily life, check with your doctor about supplementary pain relief options, which may comprise chiropractic manipulation, epidural steroid injections, and more.

How Chiropractic During Pregnancy Helps

Posted on October 23, 2019November 25, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

Pregnancy is a precious and exciting time. However, with all the changes that it brings, it’s common for expecting mothers to feel overwhelmed. One of the best things they can and should do is to ensure that they are taking care of their body – and this includes their spine structure. Thus, many women have tried chiropractic during pregnancy – and benefitted from it.

Paying careful attention to your spine – especially for would-be moms – is crucial. A healthy spine can help ensure a safe, quick, and healthy labor, delivery, and recovery.

Is Chiropractic During Pregnancy Safe?

This may be the first question on your mind. It’s normal to have doubts about any healthcare treatment option, especially for women who have a developing child inside of their bodies.

In today’s post, we aim to help you understand what professional chiropractors do, how chiropractic during pregnancy can help treat women, and the many other benefits chiropractic can offer.

Chiropractors: Alternative Health Professionals

Chiropractors are health practitioners that are highly trained to asses any misalignments of the joints.

They use adjustment techniques to the musculoskeletal system to treat and manage conditions such as headaches, back pain, sciatica, neck pain, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, arthritis, pinched nerve, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

Chiropractic Care

This type of treatment is built improving your spinal structure and musculoskeletal system so your body can function correctly. By ensuring that the spine and other parts of your body such as your joints and ligaments are not misaligned, you can help regain your body’s inherent ability of self-healing.

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Let’s face it: While expecting a new baby is a fun, exciting, and special time, pregnancy can cause many changes in women’s bodies. These changes often bring a significant amount of pain and discomfort.

Whether it’s in the form of pelvic pain or severe back pain, these aches and pains are unavoidable, and they come with being pregnant.

Chiropractic during pregnancy can help strengthen your body so you can withstand the hardships of labor.

Below are the conditions pregnant women often experience and how chiropractic care during pregnancy treats them.

Back Pain

A pregnant belly is a good sign that your baby is developing well inside your womb. However, a growing belly may also mean extreme back pain.

Your center of gravity is altered during pregnancy. You can’t bend your knees as much, your hips spread out more, and you experience what is called a pregnancy waddle.

These are indicators that your body can’t maintain a healthy posture anymore because of your growing belly – which then leads to some severe strain on your back.

The pain can range from mild to severe. While back pain is more common during pregnancy, it can also manifest during postpartum.

Aside from pregnancy, back pain is also due to hormone changes, weight gain, and stress.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is found in the lower back area all through the buttocks and hips. When the sciatica nerve becomes strained, which can often occur during pregnancy, expect to experience pain, numbness, and inflammation.

To some, sciatic nerve pain is due to a herniated disk.

While it’s rare for pregnant women, it’s best to consult your doctor if you’re experiencing severe pain in your sciatic area.

Pelvic Pain

The pelvis, which is located at the bottom of the spine, is a large bone structure in the body. It supports your truck and connects it down to your legs. It also provides support to your internal organs.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD), also called pelvic girdle pain, is common among women. This condition occurs when the hormones in charge of preparing your body for labor and delivery are overworked. These hormones contribute to your pelvic ligaments becoming too relaxed.

If the ligaments in your pelvis are stretchy and not firm, your pelvis becomes misaligned, which is the cause of severe pelvic pain.

Positive Outlook

Is chiropractic during pregnancy safe? Yes, it is. Scientific research and evidence have pointed out that chiropractic care and treatment is safe for pregnant women and the developing baby inside the womb.

Chiropractic during pregnancy is safe and effective.

Chiropractors, during their training, learn how to treat and address the conditions pregnant women experience.

If you have more questions about chiropractic care and treatment techniques during pregnancy, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Why are Chiropractors Indispensable?

Posted on October 13, 2019October 13, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

Chiropractic services are some of the safest drug-free, noninvasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches and other neuromusculoskeletal ailments. Although chiropractic has a satisfactory safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks connected with chiropractic, however, are very minimal.

A lot of patients feel quick relief after working with chiropractors, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, headaches and tiredness. Present literature shows that minimal discomfort or soreness after spinal manipulation usually fades within 24 hours.

To add to being a safe form of treatment, spinal manipulation is extremely effective, in some cases having patients back on their feet quicker than traditional medical care.

A clinical comparative trial written by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that chiropractic care along with usual medical care for low back pain gives greater pain relief and a greater reduction in disability than medical care alone. In addition, a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that spinal manipulative therapy and exercise are more effective at relieving neck pain than medication.

Neck Manipulation

Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through proper cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment or neck manipulation works to improve joint mobility in the neck, brings back range of motion and eliminate muscle spasm, which aids relieve pressure and tension. Patients typically notice reduced pain, soreness and stiffness, along with greatly improved ability to move the neck.

Neck manipulation is a genuinely safe procedure. While some reports have connected high-velocity, upper-neck manipulation with a certain type of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, research suggests that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke after a chiropractic neck session than they are after consulting their primary care medical doctor’s office.

It was also stated that vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke is a very rare event and that this kind of arterial injury usually takes place spontaneously or after everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming or having a shampoo in a hair salon.

Patients with this condition may experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care—usually at the chiropractors’ or medical doctors’ office—but that care is not the reason for the injury. The best evidence demonstrates that the incidence of artery injuries connected with high-velocity, upper-neck manipulation is extremely rare – about 1 case in 5.85 million manipulations.

To put this risk into perspective, if you drive more than a mile to get to your chiropractic session, you are at far more greater risk of possible injury from a car accident than from your chiropractic visit.

It is important for patients to know the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for neck and back pain—prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or prescription opioid pain medications—as these options may provide risks significantly greater than those of manipulation.

According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths in relation to gastrointestinal bleeding can be connected to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen. In addition, as many as one in four people who had prescription opioids long term for non-cancer pain in primary care situations struggle with addiction.

Furthermore, surgery for conditions for which manipulation may also be used carries risks far greater than those of chiropractic treatment. Even prolonged bed rest have some risks, including muscle atrophy, cardiopulmonary deconditioning, bone mineral loss and thromboembolism.

An intensive review of scientific evidence in relation to neck pain treatments found at least as much evidence connected to the safety and effectiveness of common chiropractic treatments, including manipulation, as for other treatments such as prescription and non-prescription drugs and surgery.

If you are seeing chiropractors for neck pain or headache, be very specific about the symptoms. This will aid your doctor to determine the safest and most effective treatment, even if it includes referring you to another healthcare provider. If the issue of stroke worries you, do not hesitate to talk about it with your chiropractors. Depending on your clinical condition, he or she can discontinue manipulation and can instead recommend joint mobilization, therapeutic exercise, soft-tissue techniques or other types of therapies.

Ongoing Chiropractors Research

The American Chiropractic Association believes that patients have the right to know about the health risks connected with any kind of treatment, including chiropractic. Today, chiropractic researchers are involved in studying the benefits and risks of spinal adjustment in the cure of neck and back pain through clinical test, literature reviews and publishing papers reviewing the risks and complications of neck adjustment.

All available evidence states that chiropractic treatment holds an extremely small risk. Chiropractors take the issue of stroke and the safety of patients very seriously and committed in training and postgraduate education courses to fully understand risk factors in patients and to continue providing treatment in the most effective and responsible way.

How Effective is Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica?

Posted on September 25, 2019December 5, 2019 by Qerulina delGado

When you want a natural, medication-free way to manage sciatica pain, consider chiropractic treatment for sciatica and lower back pain.

Chiropractic care is safe and reliable. Compared to taking medication to manage pain, chiropractic treatment for sciatica uncovers and addresses the root of the problem – not just treating the symptoms.

What are the causes of sciatica?

The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and goes all the way down to the legs and feet; it’s the longest and widest nerve in the human body.

Pregnancy and excessive weight gain are some of the causes of sciatica.

Sciatica is caused by a strain or pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back. It’s usually the result of a herniated disc, bone spurs (also known as osteophytes), or muscle strain. The other causes of sciatica are:

Arthritis, which occurs when there is inflammation or swelling in the joint area within the spine.
Spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing or tapering of the spaces between the spinal cord.
Spondylolisthesis, which occurs when a vertebra skids onto another vertebra right below it.
Degenerative disc disease.
Pregnancy

Aside from these causes, other conditions that can trigger sciatica include excess weight gain, not being active, wearing high heels regularly, using a mattress for sleeping that is too soft and has no stability.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Before you seek out chiropractic treatment for sciatica, let’s look at the symptoms of this condition first. When you experience the sensation of what feels like an electric shock, burning pain, or searing that goes down into the back of your legs and the buttocks area, then that is most likely sciatica pain.

Shooting pain in the lower back and leg area are symptoms of sciatica.

Usually, the pain only happens on one side of the body. However, many patients have reported experiencing it on both sides of their body. Also, the pain radiating down from the legs is more severe than the lower back.

Some patients have reported that the pain can be extremely severe. However, for other patients, the pain may not be as severe, but it is more frequent and gets worse over time.

The other symptoms of sciatica are:

Difficulty walking
Difficulty standing up because of shooting pain
Pins and needles
Numbness or weakness in the leg or foot
Burning or tingling pain running down the leg and foot

If you don’t seek chiropractic treatment for sciatica, the condition can get worse as time passes. This scenario may eventually lead to more severe or even permanent damage. Incontinence or loss of functional mobility is some of the serious results of sciatica pain.

Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica Is a Natural Pain Relief

According to research, medication for sciatica treatment only addresses the pain, not necessarily the root of the problem. Even worse, some of this medication causes uncomfortable side effects such as fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, or dizziness.

An excellent alternative to medication is chiropractic treatment for sciatica. There are also other medication-free ways to manage and treat sciatica. They include:

Stretching exercises
Massage therapy
Yoga

Because a herniated disc usually causes this condition, chiropractic treatment for sciatica pain is particularly beneficial.

A herniated disc, also popularly known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc, occurs in the lower back area, where the sciatic nerve is located. Experienced chiropractors realign the slipped discs, which can also focus on the cause of the pain.

Chiropractic Treatments for Sciatica

Ice Therapy

This technique helps reduce inflammation and manage sciatica pain.

Spinal Traction

One of the chiropractic treatments for sciatica is spinal traction. This involves decompressing the spine, a technique also called “distraction.” It makes use of gentle stretches focusing on the spinal discs and is painless. This technique is also used to straighten the spinal cord; it can enhance the body’s ability to self-heal.

This chiropractic technique also helps pull in fluid and nutrients into the spinal disc, promoting rehydration. When bone spurs cause sciatica, this technique is particularly effective.

Diversified Technique

Another chiropractic treatment for sciatica is known as diversified manipulation or adjustment. This technique involves a low-amplitude, high-velocity push to get back proper spinal alignment.

Myofascial Release Technique

When a strain on the muscle causes sciatica, an experienced chiropractor usually uses the myofascial release technique. This therapy involves minor pressure on the myofascial tissue that connects and protects the bones and muscles.