Neck/Back Pain
Pain (that is not associated with trauma) along the spinal column in your neck or back is usually caused by subluxations, or misalignments of your vertebrae. A small misalignment can cause pain by causing pressure on nerves. Left untreated, these subluxations can cause muscle spasms and increasing pain. Chiropractic adjustments properly align your spine so that pressure on joints and nerves is released. It is a direct treatment for the cause of the pain, not a temporary relief like pain relievers or massage.
Please do not get me wrong, therapeutic massage can do wonders for the relief of many muscle and joint issues as well as stress relief and management, but unless the underlying misalignment and nerve pressure is corrected, the massage will have a temporary effect and your symptoms will likely return. That is why the combination of chiropractic and massage is so effective. If you are experiencing back or neck pain visit Dr. Youker today.
Auto Accidents
I truly believe that chiropractors, along with therapeutic massage therapists, are the best at treating the majority of people injured in auto accidents (and many sports injuries). Once the patient has been examined and treated by proper medical personnel for any life threatening conditions which may have been caused by the trauma (breaks, contusions, cuts, concussions, etc.), their next appontment should be with a chiropractor. There can be many underlying problems that can linger long after the acute and sub-acute pain from an accident has passed, problems that can only be addressed and corrected by a chiropractor.
The blunt trauma and whiplash that is experienced in such collisions can not only create strains and sprains, but can cause many malpositions within the spine, one of the most serious being the loss of the neck’s natural forward curve. If these malpositions and structural curves are not corrected quickly, a myriad of health problems can arise, including arthritis to the affected joints. These health issues can begin to appear in as little as a few weeks, but may also gradually appear over the subsequent 1-3 years.
I cannot stress enough to people that have been involved in an auto accident, no matter how minor, that they be examined by a chiropractor specializing in these types of injuries. Studies have shown that an impact as little as 6 mph can cause a permanent injury.
I give the very same advice to my parents that have children participating in sports. The injuries that can be sustained in sports can be just as similar and damaging as being in an auto accident. And when we talk about spinal injuries in chidren, the old adage “As the acorn grows, so grows the tree….” really hits home.
The key to treating these types of injuries is early detection and correction. The longer an untreated misalignment or curvature goes, more damage can occur and the longer it will take to correct.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury for people involved in car collisions and sports injuries. When a car is struck from behind or collides with another object, it causes the neck to snap back and forth violently. This causes the muscles and ligaments to overextend, leading to strains and/or tears. This is referred to as soft tissue damage, and can cause stiffness and soreness. Whiplash can also cause structural damage such as misaligned vertebrae, herniated, bulging or ruptured discs, or nerve damage due to the overextension from the violent movement.
Chiropractic can help with both types of injuries. Adjustments and alignments can be performed specifically for those who have been in car accidents, sports injuries, and have suffered from whiplash. The pressure on the discs and nerves is released when the spine is returned to its proper alignment. Chiropractic and massage can be used to help relieve the pain and discomfort from soft tissue injuries. If you have been in a car accident, schedule an appointment with us before relying on pain medications and surgery.
Allergies
Chiropractic can help reduce the severity and the frequency of your allergies. Chiropractic does not work like an anti-histamine as a direct, short term relief from allergies. Chiropractic allows your body to be better equipped to fight against allergies.
Allergies are a reaction by your immune system to an allergen (substances that normally have no effect on people) resulting in sneezing, coughing, congestion, hives, rashes, and in severe cases, seizure and anaphylactic shock. These symptoms are caused by the histamines your immune system creates in an attempt to protect your body against the allergen.
When your spine is misaligned it can impinge on the nervous system in your body. Studies have shown that the nervous system has an effect on the functionality of your immune system. When your nervous system is under stress and not functioning properly, your immune system cannot work at an optimal level. Chiropractors work with the nervous system by aligning the spine to relieve any stress on nerves. This allows the immune system to work at a higher level, making it easier to fight off infections while recognizing allergens. When your immune system recognizes allergens, it will not overreact to them, or at least not react as severely to them.
If you suffer from allergies, chiropractic may help you find relief. Schedule an appointment today.
Disc Problems
Intervertebral discs are positioned between the vertebrae in the spine. The outside of a disc is made from cartilage, and in the center is a jelly like solution. These discs serve many purposes, including allowing movement of the spine, creating space between the vertebrae, and acting as shock absorbers. The gelatinous middle allows the disc to compress and expand based on impact and movement. Trauma to the spine can cause the discs to herniate, bulge or even rupture. Trauma or direct injury to the area is not the only cause, however. As we get older, the discs can begin to weaken and dehydrate. These conditions can put pressure on the spinal cord and/or the nerves exiting the spine and cause pain and disfunction.
If you suffer from one of these injuries you should consult a chiropractor. Surgery is sometimes necessary, but should always be considered as a last resort. Surgery can be risky, expensive, and can requires extensive recovery time. In many mild and moderate cases, you can experience relief from these conditions through chiropractic. By properly aligning the spine, pressure can be relieved on nerves and on the discs themselves. This will reduce and hopefully eliminate your pain and discomfort and allow you to live a normal lifestyle.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a condition that is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage between joints. Some of the major joints that are affected are the knees, hips, back, neck, and hands/wrist. Arthritis can be painful and can cause the affected areas to not function properly. Arthritis in one area can cause arthritis or other problems in a different joint. For instance, if you have arthritis in your left knee, you may compensate for this by putting more pressure on your right side, leading to right hip problems.
Pain killers can cause temporary relief from pain and discomfort, but it is not a long term solution. Chiropractic can alleviate pain by releasing pressure on the nervous system with proper alignment. It can also restore proper joint movement, helping to ensure that you use proper motion so that you do not cause injury to other parts of your body. We are not concerned strictly with the affected area, but rather the body as a whole. We aim to restore and maintain proper movement and functionality to increase your overall well being.
Joint Dysfunction
Joint dysfunction occurs when joints become stiff and full movement is restricted. It can be caused by an injury, poor posture, overuse/underuse of a joint, muscle imbalance, as well as other factors. Like arthritis, joint dysfunction can cause pain in the joint and the surrounding muscles, and can also cause problems in other parts of the body due to overcompensation.
One common form of joint dysfunction is sacroiliac joint dysfunction, which occurs where the base of the spine meets the pelvis. It causes low back pain and prohibits movement. This condition is often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to sciatica or a herniated disc.
Dr. Youker can properly diagnose this condition and provide relief. Using specific adjustments, active rehabilitative exercises and perhaps therapeutic massage to the affected joint, we can return proper mobility and relieve your pain and discomfort. If you have joint pain, visit us for relief.
Headaches
Many people believe that headaches are caused by loud noise, being tired, or being stressed. While these are all factors that can lead to headaches, the direct cause is often tightness in the neck and shoulders. The tightness can cause misalignments in the vertebrae of your neck, resulting in pain. 80% of all headaches originate from the neck. With a typical cervicogenic (neck origin) headache, a person usually feels pain starting at the base of the skull which radiates into the temples, eyeballs, and forehead. Therapeutic massage of the neck and shoulder muscles can release tension, and a chiropractic adjustment can realign the vertebrae in your neck. Chiropractic can help eliminate the cause of your headaches rather than offering a temporary relief from the symptoms.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition that results when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated. Bulging discs, spinal subluxations, and muscle spasms can all cause increased pressure on the sciatic nerve. When this happens it causes pain, numbness, and weakness in the lower back and leg. To properly treat sciatica the cause of the condition needs to be diagnosed and properly treated. Dr. Youker can help you with this.
Pinched Nerve
When a nerve is squeezed or compressed it is called a “pinched nerve”. This can be caused by spinal misalignments, bulging or herniated discs, or other factors. The increased pressure on the nerve causes inflammation, pain, and sometimes muscle spasms. The pressure on the nerve must be relieved in order to alleviate the pain. An examination can reveal the cause of the pain, and an adjustment can relieve the pain by properly aligning the spine and addressing the cause of the pain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This condition is most commonly associated with people who are constantly using a computer, or someone who performs a lot of grasping or repetative use motions. Typing is a motion that, when performed repetitively and with poor posture, can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms include pain, numbness, weakness, or a burning sensation anywhere from the elbows down to the fingertips. The nerves in the fingertips travel through the wrist, up the arm, and into the neck. The spine is the center of the nervous system, and if there is nerve constriction in the neck, the pain in your hands and wrists can be relieved by your chiropractor with concentrated spinal and joint adjustments.
If the cause is not located in the neck, many times the muscles and ligaments in the forearm and wrist are the cause, creating a constriction around the nerve sheaths, and the condition can be relieved through neuromuscular massage rather than surgery.
Maintenance Care
We have discussed many conditions that can be relieved through chiropractic. The best way to treat these conditions is to prevent them before they even start. Regular chiropractic visits can help to prevent physical problems and injuries from occurring. Other potential benefits of regular chiropractic visits are increased flexibility and mobility, higher level of energy, improved posture, more effective immune system, better circulation, and an overall better feeling of well-being. Many of our patients prefer this avenue of care, while others prefer to recieve their treatments on an as-neccessary basis, the choice is completely up to them.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition that we still do not know much about. There is no specific known cause, and it could be brought on by many different factors. The main symptom of fibromyalgia is chronic pain throughout the body, mainly located in joints. The pain may be achy, sharp, radiating, burning, or shooting and it may be mild or severe. Fibromyalgia has also been known to bring on other conditions like trouble sleeping, headaches, depression, and anxiety.
While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, chiropractic treatment can help to uncover what may be causing the pain and also provide relief for the pain. The cause of fibromyalgia could be physical, mental, or emotional, so a full examination will be performed. Adjustments and therapeutic massage can be used to relieve pain from the affected areas. The added effects of chiropractic treatment such as increased energy levels, better circulation, and a stronger immune system can also help to fight the effects of fibromyalgia. If you are experiencing symptoms of fibromyalgia give us a call to schedule a consultation so we can establish a plan to start you on your road to recovery.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15965403?dopt=Abstract