CHIROPRACTIC
CARE
HEALTH BENEFITS
Thank you in advance for taking the time to discover chiropractic and its powerful effects on human health.
Each year more than 15 million North Americans choose chiropractic for safe, natural and effective relief from back pain, neck pain, headaches, extremity pain, poor overall health, low energy levels and much more.
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WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC
According to The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, "Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health."
THE GOAL OF CHIROPRACTIC
Because chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spinal region, many individuals incorrectly assume that chiropractors treat only back and neck ailments. While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, it's not the only goal. The objective is to restore and optimize human health. In fact, according to a statement from The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, "The purpose of chiropractic is to optimize health."
HOW CHIROPRACTIC WORKS
You may be wondering... how can the same chiropractic treatment which effectively treats my back pain also optimize my health? The answer can be found by looking into the relationship between the spine and the nervous system.
As you may already know, the nervous system is the master controller of all living cells, tissues and organs; orchestrating and coordinating all cellular functions. The spinal column encases the nervous system (spinal cord and nerve roots) and is responsible for its protection.
Because of this intimate relationship, biomechanical and structural problems in the spinal column can irritate parts of the enclosed nervous system. This irritation can result from noxious inflammatory biochemicals released during tissue injury or may result from direct mechanical pressure. In either case, the functioning of the nervous system is negatively influenced as is the functioning of the cells, tissues and organs which are supplied by the affected nerve(s).
The resulting ailment(s) depends on the cells, tissues and organs affected as well as the extent of nervous system compromise.
In short, because the body's innate recuperative powers are affected by and integrated through the nervous system, correcting spinal abnormalities which irritate the nervous system can lead to a number of favorable results in patients suffering from various, seemingly non-spinal health conditions.
WHAT CHIROPRACTICS DO
Practically speaking, chiropractors are primarily concerned with locating and treating vertebral subluxations.
A vertebral subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular (joint) changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.
Using a number of unique and highly refined skills, the chiropractor checks the patient's spine for any misalignments, fixations or other abnormalities (vertebral subluxations). If subluxations or other abnormalities are detected, the chiropractor will generally apply a gentle force in a corrective manner to the affected spinal area.
Chiropractors use many specialized techniques to identify and treat these spinal abnormalities and optimize overall health. In addition to spinal adjustive techniques, soft tissue techniques such as massage, dietary and nutritional counseling, physical therapies, and lifestyle modification programs are commonly employed.
HOW CHIROPRACTIC DIFFERS
There is a significant and very important difference between the way chiropractors and medical doctors approach health ailments.
When evaluating and treating patients, chiropractors take a holistic approach which includes identifying and correcting the cause(s) of the patient's health ailment. In contrast, the medical approach tends to focus more on the treating the symptoms of a condition rather than focusing primarily on the actual cause(s).
Chiropractors believe that correcting the cause of the problem provides significant long-term benefits over only treating the symptoms.
THE Phases of Chiropractic Care
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Relief Phase - Initial Intensive Care
The first stage of chiropractic care treatment is known as “Initial Intensive Care” because it is designed to reduce the presence of the symptoms from your injury. Techniques are delivered that can reduce pain and stop other discomfort. The purpose of this stage is to provide immediate results and help patients continue with their daily activities. While patients are usually encouraged to take it easy, they should remain mobile to reduce the risk of further injury. Some patients take longer than others to achieve relief from pain, but once you are beginning to feel better, you must be very careful not to be overzealous and push yourself to “over do it.” Aggravating your condition by over doing it can slow the healing process. Treatment at this stage can also reduce inflammation and muscle spasms.
Rehabilitative Phase - Improvement of Function
Once pain has been reduced, we will begin the "Strengthening & Rehabilitation" treatment. By restoring optimal strength and flexibility, the function of your neuromuscular skeleton will be improved. During this phase you should be able to perform most normal daily activities without frequent aggravation of symptoms. A home exercise program is recommended to help strengthen and balance your body. In this phase of care, your treatment frequency will begin to decrease and your self-treatment responsibilities will increase. We must be a team working together towards the goal of improving your health. It should be noted that just because pain dissipates, injuries may not be entirely healed and the instructions given to you by your chiropractor should continue to be followed.
Maintenance Phase - Wellness Care
The final part of your chiropractic care "Wellness Care" will involve treatments designed at preventing future injuries or the return of older ones. This usually involves regular check ups with your chiropractor’s office, either yearly or more frequently. Periodic examinations allow for early detection of joint and muscle dysfunction before they become painful. If allowed to go undetected and untreated, minor dysfunction can develop without symptoms until they are aggravated by work habits, lifestyle activities, or other stress factors. Many times patients will invest a tremendous amount of time and energy into obtaining better health just to let it slip away by not maintaining it. Early detection and treatment are important to cost-effective health care. Make the most of your investment in your health by getting regular wellness care.
THE BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC
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COMMON PAIN RELATED CONDITIONS WE
SEE AT OUR OFFICE
NECK/BACK PAIN INFORMATION
Neck pain affects a significant number of individuals. Recent studies have found more than 10% of Americans suffer from neck pain at any given time.
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The reason is that the neck region contains many delicate, pain sensitive structures commonly exposed to abuse and abnormal stresses. Incomplete rehabilitation of past injuries, poor posture, prolonged sitting, and lack of periodic spinal alignments are some of the more common factors in the development of neck problems.
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Fortunately, most individuals suffering from neck problems will find chiropractic care extremely beneficial. Unlike prescription drugs, most chiropractic procedures address the cause of the majority of neck problems, not simply the symptoms. Best of all, chiropractic care is safe, natural, noninvasive and has no side effects.
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CAUSES OF NECK PAIN
There are many causes for neck pain. Some causes result from acute injuries which cannot be avoided, such as an automobile accident resulting in a whiplash-type injury. Other causes can be avoided and result from the use of "bad" or improper habits and techniques, such as poor posture and improper lifting. These "other causes" make up the majority of neck pain causes and can be effectively treated once the cause(s) is/are identified and the appropriate measures to avoid these "bad" and improper habits and techniques are implemented.
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SOME OF THE MORE COMMON CAUSES OF NECK PAIN INCLUDE:
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Incomplete Rehabilitation Of Past Injuries
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Lack Of Proper And Periodic Spinal Alignments
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Presence Of Cervical Spine Subluxations
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Whiplash-Type Injuries
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Improper Workstation Setup
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Poor Posture
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Prolonged Sitting
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Prolonged Use Of Non-Ergonomically Designed Equipment
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Excessive Repetitive Neck Motions
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Improper Telephone Techniques
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Excessive Mental Stress
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Physical Inactivity
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Poor Diet And Nutritional Practices
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TREATMENTS FOR NECK PAIN
Doctors of chiropractic have long known that the most successful treatments involve the identification and correction of the underlying causes of the condition. That's why chiropractic care has been so successful in the correction of back and neck conditions and the number one choice for back and neck care.
MID BACK PAIN
The fast-paced lifestyles of today have taken their toll on the backs of America. Currently, back pain is the number one cause of disability in those aged 19-45 and is the second leading cause of missed work days. Total annual costs for back pain in the US alone are estimated to be in excess of $60 billion.
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CAUSES MID BACK PAIN
Mid back pain is most commonly caused by irritation or injury to the muscles and ligaments of the thoracic spine. The high incidence of poor postural habits, lack of adequate exercise and muscle conditioning, as well as the ever more popular "seated" lifestyles of Americans are all major contributors.
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Chiropractors work hard to identify the exact problems of mid back pain so that only the safest and most effective treatments can be provided. Since the majority of mid back pain cases are caused by soft tissue problems or have a significant soft tissue component, hands on chiropractic treatments are extremely beneficial and have been shown to be superior to other forms of "back" care.
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COMMON EVENTS LEADING OR CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MID BACK PAIN INCLUDE:
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Incomplete Rehabilitation Of Past Injuries
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Lack Of Proper And Periodic Thoracic Spinal Alignments
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presence Of Thoracic Spine Subluxations
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Improper Lifting Techniques
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Auto Accidents
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Improper Workstation Setup
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Poor Posture
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Prolonged Sitting
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Prolonged Use Of Non-Ergonomically Designed Equipment
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Excessive Repetitive Torsal Motions
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Scoliosis (lateral deviation of the spine)
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Physical Inactivity
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Poor Diet And Nutritional Practices
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Smoking
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TREATMENTS FOR MID BACK PAIN
Chiropractic doctors have successfully treated mid back pain for over 100 years. Through the use of natural and safe procedures, chiropractors correct the underlying problems which cause and contribute to the majority of mid back pain cases.
The main treatment employed by the chiropractor is the chiropractic spinal adjustment. This noninvasive therapy consists of a gentle, manually or mechanically applied force into the segments of the spinal column. Spinal adjustments have been shown to decrease pain, increase spinal range of motion, decrease muscle spasm, reduce inflammation, optimize spinal biomechanics, and reduce the recurrence of old injuries.
LOW BACK PAIN
If you're suffering from lower back pain you're not alone. More than 80% of North Americans will at some time in their life suffer from the disabling confines of lower back pain.
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According to experts, lower back pain is the number one disability culprit in workers' compensation claims and accounts for more than $50 billion annually in the US through medical care and lost production. In addition, the latest research shows most lower back problems which cause low back pain do not fully resolve without extensive treatment and proper rehabilitation, contrary to previous beliefs.
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The chiropractic doctor is unique in the health care field in that much of the training in chiropractic colleges is specifically aimed at identifying and successfully treating and managing lower back conditions. General medical practitioners generally lack adequate training in this area and have not learned the skills necessary to most effectively identify and treat most back conditions.
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CAUSES MID BACK PAIN
Many tissues can generate low back pain. Unfortunately, research shows that the exact tissues causing low back pain cannot be specifically identified in up to 80% of individuals. In other words, we cannot single out the tissue(s) responsible for the pain. These patients are said to suffer from "nonspecific low back pain"; the specific cause of the pain cannot be determined.
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Although the specific tissues causing low back pain are difficult to identify, chiropractic doctors have found a number of factors consistently present in low back pain patients. These factors include vertebral subluxations, faulty spinal biomechanics, deconditioned spinal musculature and the practice of poor postural habits and techniques. By addressing these factors - the actual causes of the tissue injury - chiropractic doctors are able to obtain extraordinary results in low back pain sufferers.
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COMMON EVENTS LEADING OR CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN INCLUDE:
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Incomplete Rehabilitation Of Past Injuries
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Lack Of Proper And Periodic Thoracic Spinal Alignments
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presence Of Thoracic Spine Subluxations
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Improper Lifting Techniques
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Auto Accidents
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Improper Workstation Setup
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Poor Posture
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Prolonged Sitting
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Prolonged Use Of Non-Ergonomically Designed Equipment
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Excessive Repetitive Torsal Motions
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Scoliosis (lateral deviation of the spine)
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Physical Inactivity
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Poor Diet And Nutritional Practices
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Smoking
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TREATMENTS FOR LOW BACK PAIN
Doctors of chiropractic are the health care leaders in the treatment of low back pain as well as other spinal conditions. Treatments are gentle, safe, natural, noninvasive and highly effective. Also, the treatments are designed to correct the root cause of your problem and not simply cover up the symptoms you experience. In fact, a Canadian government commissioned study on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of chiropractic management of low back pain concluded,
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"Chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low back pain. Chiropractic management is greatly superior to medical management in terms of scientific validity, safety, cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction."
HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY NECK & BACK
Short-term and regular chiropractic care have a number of benefits including:
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Spinal and Extremity Pain Relief
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Headache Relief
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Increased Mobility and Range Of Motion
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Decreased Stiffness and Muscular Spasms
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Arthritic Joint Pain Relief
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Increased Joint Health
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Increased Performance and Energy
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Increased Sense Of Well Being And Relaxation
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Increased Balance and Coordination
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Reduced Degeneration and Risk Of Injury
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Enhanced Tissue Healing
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Decreased Tissue Inflammation
SCIATICA
CAUSES SCIATICA?
Sciatica is actually a sign that you have an underlying problem putting pressure on a nerve in your lower back. The most common cause of this nerve compression is a bulging or herniated lumbar disc. Piriformis syndrome is another common cause of sciatica. The piriformis is a muscle that lies directly over the sciatic nerve. If this muscle becomes tight or if you have a spasm in this muscle, it puts pressure directly on the sciatic nerve. Occasionally, sciatic pain in men is caused by sitting on a wallet.
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HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE SCIATICA?
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the affected leg. This pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze.
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HOW IS SCIATICA TREATED?
The vast majority of the time, sciatic pain can be relieved through a combination of stretches, deep tissue massage of the piriformis muscle and chiropractic care. Occasionally, in cases where chronic spasm of the low back or piriformis muscles is causing the sciatic pain, it may be necessary to do a procedure called a trigger point injection, where a medical pain specialist injects a small amount of anesthetic directly into a spasmed muscle to break the spasm cycle. However, this is typically not necessary.
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ELBOW PAIN
INTRODUCTION TO ELBOW PAIN
Chiropractic has been proven to be a safe and effective therapy for elbow pain that promotes healing and restores strength without surgery or medication. In terms of elbow pain, chiropractic aims not only to relieve the pain itself but to address the structural components (muscles, skeleton, etc.) that contribute to the condition being there in the first place.
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The elbow is a joint, which is the conjunction (or meeting point) of two or more bones. What’s more, it is considered a ball-and-socket joint, which means that the bones form a cup shape around a slippery, gelatinous sac (forming the “ball”), allowing movement of the joint in more than one direction.
In the case of the elbow there are three bones involved – the humerus (or upper arm bone), and the radius and ulna (which make up the forearm or lower arm). Together, they allow us to move the joint in two different ways – flexing and extending (like doing bicep curls), and pronation/supination (which is when you turn arm from palm facing down to palm facing up, or vice-versa).
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The complexity of bones, muscles, and ligaments meeting at this joint coupled with its range of motion, not to mention its range of everyday movements, can sometimes cause parts of this joint to become irritated or inflamed – the two most common sources of elbow pain. The causes for that irritation and inflammation are most often some combination of overexertion and overuse, though infection, genetics, and degenerative diseases can always play a role as well.
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HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS?
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the affected leg. This pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze.
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HOW IS ELBOW PAIN TREATED?
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Mobilization (in the subacute phase)​
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Joint Manipulation
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Graded Exercise Programs
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Cross Friction Massage
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Ice and Rest
CARPAL TUNNEL
INTRODUCTION TO CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is what’s known as a “repetitive motion injury”, which is just what it sounds like – an injury caused by making some motion or holding some posture repeatedly, over and over. CTS is one of the most common of these types of injuries, and the most common cause of it is typing.
Many people mistakenly refer to carpal tunnel syndrome as simply “carpal tunnel”, but the carpal tunnel is actually a part of the human body – specifically the narrow passageway made up of bones and ligaments in each of the wrists that tendons and nerves pass through to and from the hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome, then, is the set of symptoms arising when these tendons and nerves become compressed or irritated and inflamed.
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HOW DO I KNOW IF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME?
When the wrist is used improperly, when it is overused, or when it is injured, the tissues can become inflamed. When this happens, they press against the nerves and tendons in the carpal tunnel, compressing them, and causing a range of symptoms from discomfort to pain.
To understand the symptoms of CTS better, it helps to understand just a bit more about the anatomy involved. These nerves we refer to, the median nerves, provide sensation to the hand and control their muscle movement. The tendons, meanwhile, are how our fingers are able to bend.
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When carpal tunnel syndrome occurs, then, the sufferer can experience weakness, tingling, numbing, and painful sensations in the hand and wrist, this from the effect on the median nerves; and can have difficulty bending and unbending the fingers, this from the effect on the tendons involved. The one exception, the only finger not usually affected by CTS symptoms, is the pinkie.
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Sometimes the pain and other CTS symptoms can be felt shooting up the arm and the back and the shoulder too. Also in some cases, visible swelling of the hand and wrist may occur. In extreme cases, these symptoms can cause the person to have difficulty holding onto objects, start dropping things, and become unable to perform certain simple motor tasks, like tying shoelaces.
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CTS pain typically worsens at nighttime, and sufferers have been known to be awoken in the middle of the night by the pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is no matter to take lightly. If left untreated, not only can there be long-term numbness in one or more fingers, but the thumb can actually be weakened permanently, and the muscles inside the thumb eventually waste away. Permanent injury happens in about 1% of all CTS cases.
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CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
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When you come to our office, we will make a full evaluation of your condition, particularly to determine whether you’re experiencing CTS on its own or in association with some other medical condition. This evaluation will take into account your medical history, your reported signs and symptoms, and the results of a physical examination.
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Once CTS has been diagnosed, we will begin treatment, which may include soft tissue manipulation and/or joint manipulation, possibly in combination with prescribing certain hand, wrist, shoulder, and neck exercises as well as ice, ultrasound, and/or electric muscle stimulation therapies.
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We'll also recommend ergonomic adjustments to the way you perform the activities suspected in causing or contributing to the condition. Please note, however, that unless instructed to do so by a doctor, you should not engage in CTS wrist exercises on your own volition, as they can prove counterproductive if the swelling and pain have not been reduced, and could make the condition worse. Should you wish to explore CTS prevention exercises, your doctor would be more than happy to recommend some.
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As with almost any medical condition, carpal tunnel syndrome is easiest to treat the earlier it is detected.
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Note: Women are 3 times as likely as men to develop CTS.
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SHOULDER PAIN
Shoulder pain can have a number of different causes, ranging from an injury like a car accident, to a chronic problem like arthritis. Patients who experience shoulder pain may be surprised by the intensity and duration of the pain. The shoulder area is so essential for completing daily activities that it makes sense that the shoulder pain injury should be taken seriously and treated to avoid worsening your condition.
Other Shoulder Symptoms:
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is stiffness, pain, and limited range of movement in your shoulder . It may happen after an injury or overuse or from a disease such as diabetes or a stroke. The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and shoulder movements become difficult and painful. The condition usually comes on slowly, then goes away slowly over the course of a year or more.
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FROZEN SHOULDER OCCURS:
After surgery or injury.
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Most often in people 40 to 70 years old.
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More often in women (especially in postmenopausal women) than in men.
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Most often in people with chronic diseases.
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CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR SHOULDER PAIN
Symptoms:
Some signs that shoulder pain needs immediate attention may include a decreased ability to hold objects, decreased functioning of the arm, shoulder pain that persists even while at rest, shoulder pain that lasts more than a day or two, and unusual twinges or aches in the shoulder area.
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Diagnosis :
Chiropractic care can be an extremely effective treatment for shoulder pain regardless of its cause. A chiropractor will often begin with an examination of the patient's neck area since shoulder pain can frequently be the result of "referred" pain from the neck. Whether the shoulder pain is connected to the neck or is limited to the lower part of the shoulder, it can generally be treated with non-invasive methods of natural healing such as chiropractic care.
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Treatment:
Care for an injured shoulder may include application of heat, application of ice packs, gentle manipulation from the chiropractor to help the shoulder return to its original state of functionality, and gentle stretching and strengthening exercises that the patient can perform at home.
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CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR TMJ
If you experience pain and discomfort in your jaw on a regular basis, you may have TMJ. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint disorder, and it impacts a lot of people. Here are the signs and symptoms of TMJ and how your chiropractor may be able to help.
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What is TMJ?
TMJ is a disorder of the jaw muscles and nerves caused by injury to your temporomandibular joint, which is the connection between your jawbone and skull. An injury in this joint can lead to pain with chewing, clicking of the jaw, swelling of the face, nerve inflammation, headaches and teeth grinding. You can even have trouble with the Eustachian tubes, which are tubes that lead from your ear to your throat.
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Risk Factors for TMJ
TMJ has several risk factors, a few which may surprise you. First, poor posture in your neck and upper back can lead to neck strain which can then lead to jaw muscle malfunction. Stress can also impact TMJ, because it increases muscle tension and jaw clenching. It turns out that women ages 18 to 44 are at the most risk of getting TMJ and if you have any other chronic inflammatory disorders it can also increase your risk.
Causes of TMJ
Though it’s not exactly known what causes TMJ, several common things have been observed in people with the disorder. Some causes may include misalignment of the teeth or jaw, teeth grinding and excessive gum chewing.
Symptoms of TMJ​
The main symptom of TMJ is pain in your jaw joint. The pain can involve your ear, face, eye, neck and forehead. You may also experience popping or clicking of the joint, crackling in the ears, a sense of fullness in the ears, ringing or popping sounds, headaches, blurred vision, tight or stiff jaw or neck muscles, shoulder pain and locking or dislocation of your jaw.
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Diagnosis
To diagnose TMJ, your chiropractor will examine your jaw and may ask you to perform some tasks as they monitor the joint. They can also looks for signs of inflammation or abnormalities in the joint and surrounding muscle. If they diagnose you with TMJ then treatment may include chiropractic manipulation, massage, special exercises and/or hot/cold compresses. Depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor may refer you to a dentist or orthodontist to help treat you in tandem.
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